The Works of the Flesh
2018-06-09
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
Categories of the Works of the Flesh
This list of sinful works can be divided into four parts:
- Sexual sins. Adultery, fornication, and uncleanness are mentioned. (Galatians 5:19)
- False religion. Idolatry and witchcraft fit into this category. (Galatians 5:20)
- Harm to others. Hatred, variance emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, and murders are all related to this. (Galatians 5:20-21)
- Losing self-control. Drunkenness and revellings are such things. (Galatians 5:21)
These things are the fruit of the old man and the world system. As you can identify a tree by its fruit, you can identify the world by its fruit, which are these things.
Loss of Salvation?
If a believer commits any of these things, does that mean they lost their salvation? Some people believe that. I believe there are parallel passages that answer to the contrary.
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (Ephesians 5:5-8)
A similar list of sins is mentioned in this passage, but we see that “ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). They were new creatures, and as new creatures in Christ, the Ephesians received a similar exhortation as did the Galatians. The Corinthians also were exhorted the same way:
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
It is more clear that they once practiced the works of the flesh, but now “ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). Once again, we are new creatures.
Works of the Flesh as Fruit
A believer truly can fall into grievous sins as listed here. However, this does not mean that if you see a professing Christian enveloped in a lifestyle containing the above, you should not call their faith into question. If people commit these things repeatedly without any conscience, that is a grave concern. It is not a matter of losing salvation; it is a matter that they never were saved in the first place, because they are not the new creature.
However, you cannot be sure if anyone is truly saved. How would anyone know that men such as Samson (Hebrews 11:32) and Lot (2 Peter 2:7-8) were men of faith? Be cautious with whom you keep company. The general rule applies:
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:15-20)