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WHO WILL INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
I) WHO WILL INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
A) FLESH AND BLOOD WILL NOT INHERIT THE IMMORTAL KINGDOM OF GOD
1) [1 Cor 15:40-54]:
(v. 40) There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.
(v. 41) The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
[Bible Knowledge Commentary, Walvoord & Zuck, Eds, Victor Books, USA, 1988, p. 545]:
"The differences in splendor between the earthly bodies and the heavenly bodies suggested to Paul the differences between a natural and a spiritual body."
a) [Dan 12:1-3]:
(v. 1) "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered.
(v. 2) Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
(v. 3) Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."
[Notice that those who are resurrected to everlasting life will be "like the stars for ever and ever." (cp Matt 13:43)]
1 cont.) [1 Cor 15:40-54 cont.]:
(v. 42) "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable;
(v. 43) it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;
(v. 44) it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body."
[BKC, cont.]:
[An earthly natural body is fallen and so is temporal, imperfect, and weak. A heavenly spiritual body will be eternal, perfect, and powerful (cf. 2 Cor 5:1-4). Like a seed sown in the earth and the plant which proceeds from it, there is continuity but a gloriously evident difference."]
(v. 45) '''So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being;" the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.
(v. 46) The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.
(v. 47) The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.
(v. 48) As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.
(v. 49) And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
(v. 50) I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable."
[Those who are in eternal resurrected bodies are in view, and not those who will be in mortal bodies who live and inherit their portion in the Millennial Kingdom. So the Kingdom does include mortals who are flesh and blood, a number of whom will inherit their portion of the Kingdom. These are not in view in 1 Cor 15 but are in view elsewhere:
2) [Mt 25:34-36]:
(v. 34) "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
[Recall that these are the ones who are in mortal bodies that were faithful and survived the perils of the tribulation period]:
(v. 35) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
(v. 36) I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "
[This portion of the Kingdom in view where mortals live will last for 1,000 years and then all mortals who are saved will receive their eternal bodies as well.
But the kingdom of God which is in view in 1 Cor 15 only has eternal beings in view, i.e., those who are resurrected from the dead in imperishable, i.e., immortal bodies who will inherit their portion of the eternal kingdom]
1 cont.) [1 Cor 15:40-54 cont.]:
(v. 51) Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--
(v. 52) in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
(v. 53) For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
(v. 54) When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." '''
B) FLESH AND BLOOD WILL INHERIT THE MORTAL, TEMPORAL KINGDOM OF GOD
1) THE FAITHFUL REMNANT OF ISRAEL WILL INHERIT THE PROMISED LAND IN MORTAL, FLESH AND BLOOD BODIES
a) [Compare Jos 1:1-6]:
(v. 1) '''After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide:
(v. 2) "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites.
(v. 3) I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
(v. 4) Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west.
(v. 5 ) No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
(v. 6) "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.'''
[Notice that Israel will inherit the promised land which other passages indicate will be part of the Kingdom of God]
b) [Compare Isa 65:8-10]:
(v. 8) '''This is what the LORD says: "As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and men say, 'Don't destroy it, there is yet some good in it,' so will I do in behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all.
(v. 9) I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah those who will possess my mountains; my chosen people will inherit them, and there will my servants live.
(v. 10) Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for my people who seek me." '''
c) [Compare Zep 2:9-11]:
(v. 9) '''Therefore, as surely as I live," declares the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, "surely Moab will become like Sodom, the Ammonites like Gomorrah - a place of weeds and salt pits, a wasteland forever. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the survivors of My nation will inherit their land."
(v. 10) This is what they will get in return for their pride, for insulting and mocking the people of the LORD Almighty.
(v. 11) The LORD will be awesome to them when he destroys all the gods of the land. The nations on every shore will worship Him, every one in its own land.'''
[Notice that 'the remnant of My people... the survivors of My nation (Israel) will inherit their land". The word 'survivors' has a mortal implication here, i.e., flesh and blood who will inherit the promised land in the kingdom of God]
d) [Compare Mt 25:31-34]:
(v. 31) ''' "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory.
(v. 32) All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
(v. 33) He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on His left.
(v. 34) "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.' '''
[Notice that the saints in view here are in flesh and blood, mortal bodies at the beginning when they inherit the kingdom of God. There is nothing in the text to indicate whether or not these are Jews and/or Gentiles. Certainly both are on the earth. None are stipulated as being transformed into immortal bodies]
e) [1 Chr 16:17-18]:
(v. 17) "He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
(v. 18) To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit."
f) [Ps 69:36]:
"The children of his servants will inherit it [the promised land, (v. 35)], and those who love his name will dwell there."
g) [Isa 65:9]:
"I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah those who will possess My mountains; My chosen people will inherit them, and there will My servants live."
h) [Isa 11:6-12]:
(v. 6) "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
(v. 7) The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
(v. 8) The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.
(v. 9) They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
[Notice that mortal flesh and blood bodies are in view here]
(v. 10) In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.
(v. 11) In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea.
(v. 12) He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth."
i) [Micah 4:1-8]:
(v. 1) '''In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.
(v. 2) Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in His paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
(v. 3) He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
(v. 4) Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.
(v. 5) All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
(v. 6) "In that day," declares the LORD, "I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief.
(v. 7) I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.
(v. 8) As for you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem." '''
j) [Zech 14:16-21]:
(v. 16) '''Then the survivors from all the nations [after our LORD'S judgment of the nations, Mt 25:31-46] that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
[Notice the word 'survivors' pointing to mortals who are inhabitants of the Kingdom]
(v. 17) If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.
(v. 18) If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
(v. 19) This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
(v. 20) On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD's house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar.
(v. 21) Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD Almighty.'''
[Throughout all of this passage we have mortals in view as inhabitants of the Kingdom who will be blessed or punished in accordance with their obedience. Only mortals have the capacity to disobey, immortals do not]
j) [Ps 72:1-19]:
(v. 1) "Endow the King with Your justice, O God, the royal Son with Your righteousness.
(v. 2) He will judge Your people in righteousness, Your afflicted ones with justice.
(v. 3) The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
(v. 4) He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.
[Notice that mortals are in view here, immortals do not have the capacity to be oppressors or oppressed]
(v. 5) He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.
(v. 6) He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
(v. 7) In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.
(v. 8) He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
(v. 9) The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust.
(v. 10) The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts.
(v. 11) All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.
(v. 12) For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
(v. 13) He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
[Notice that immortals are in view throughout this passage, especially in light of being saved from physical death. Immortals do not have that possibility.]
(v. 14) He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
(v. 15) Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.
(v. 16) Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field.
(v. 17) May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.
(v. 18) Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
(v. 19) Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen."
2) THOSE BELIEVERS IN MORTAL BODIES WHO ARE FAITHFUL WILL INHERIT THEIR PORTION OF THE MORTAL KINGDOM
a) [Compare Mt 25:31-34]:
(v. 31) ''' "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory.
(v. 32) All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
(v. 33) He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on His left.
(v. 34) "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.' '''
[Notice that the saints are flesh and blood, mortal bodies at the beginning when they inherit the kingdom of God. There is nothing in the text to indicate whether or not these are Jews and/or Gentiles. Certainly both are on the earth at this time. And the reason why these saints will 'take (their) inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.' is stipulated below, (because they were faithful)]:
(v. 35) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
(v. 36) I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
(v. 37) "Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
(v. 38) When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
(v. 39) When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
(v. 40) "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' '''
b) [Jas 2:5]:
"Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?"
[Notice that it is those who are rich in faith, who love the Lord as demonstrated by their faithfulness to Him, who will inherit the kingdom. Not all believers will be this faithful. So not all believers will inherit the kingdom]
c) [Ps 25:12-14]:
(v. 12) Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.
(v. 13) He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.
(v. 14) The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
d) [Ps 37:9]:
"For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land."
e) [Ps 37:11]:
"But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace."
f) [Ps 37:22]:
"Those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off.
g) [Ps 37:29]:
"The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever."
h) [Ps 37:34]:
"Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it."
[All of the passages in Psalms above have faithful Israel in view. Not all Israel will be faithful, so not all will inherit the land, the land which will be a part of the kingdom of God for 1,000 years which will be ruled by those in flesh and blood bodies]
i) [Isa 14:21]:
"Prepare a place to slaughter his sons for the sins of their forefathers; they are not to rise to inherit the land and cover the earth with their cities. The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away. But the man who makes Me his refuge will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain."
j) [Isa 61:7]:
"Instead of their shame My people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs."
k) [Heb 6:12]:
"We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."
[Notice that inheriting what has been promised comes to those who are faithful and patient. Not all believers will be faithful and patient.]
l) [Rev 21:6-8]:
(v. 6) '''He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
(v. 7) He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
(v. 8) But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." '''
II) BELIEVERS WHO CONTINUALLY COMMIT EGREGIOUS SINS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD
A)
(Gal 5:19-21) The Deeds Of The Flesh Are Evident, Which Are:
Immorality, Impurity, Sensuality, Idolatry, Sorcery, Enmities, Strife,
Jealousy, Outbursts Of Anger, Disputes, Dissensions, Factions, Envying,
Drunkenness, Carousing, And Things Like These, Of Which I Forewarn You,
Just As I Have Forewarned You, That Those Who Practice Such Things Will
Not
Inherit - In The Sense Of Becoming Co-Owners / Co-Rulers Of The Kingdom
Of God With Jesus Christ
(Gal
5:19 NASB) "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:
immorality, [i.e., sexuality immorality, 1 Cor 6:9, 18; 2 Cor 12:21],
Impurity, Sensuality, ... (Gal
5:20 NASB) idolatry, sorcery, [Rev 21:8] enmities, [2 Cor 12:20],
strife,
jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes [NKJV: selfish ambitions],
dissensions, factions [NKJV: heresies] [1 Cor 11:19], (Gal
5:21 NASB) envying [Ro 13:13], drunkenness, carousing, and things like
these, of
which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who
practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God." =
1) (Gal
5:19) The Deeds Of The Flesh Are Evident, Which Are: Immorality,
Impurity, Sensuality, ...
(Gal 5:19 NASB) "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, [i.e., sexuality immorality, 1 Cor 6:9, 18; 2 Cor 12:21], Impurity, Sentuality, ..." =
a) Manuscript Evidence For Gal 5:19:
(Gal
5:19 NASB) "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:
immorality, [i.e., sexuality immorality, 1 Cor 6:9, 18; 2 Cor 12:21],
Impurity, Sentuality, ..." =
WH, NU, Sinaiticus*, A, B, C, P, 33, 1739*, syr(p), cop have "fornication" (or "sexual immorality")
TR, Sinaiticus(2), D, F, G, Psi, 1739(mg), Maj, syr(h) have "adultery, fornication"
Although it could be argued that "moicheia" rendered "adultery" was accidentally deleted due to homoeoteleuton (the next word "porneia" rendered "fornication" has the same last three letters), the manuscript evidence speaks against this. The additon of "adultery" to this list of the works of the flesh most likely exhibits a scribal attempt to harmonize Paul's list with Jesus' list of vices, as recorded in Mark 7:21-22. This insertion found its way into the majority of manuscripts and into TR, followed by KJV and NKJV.
b) (Gal
5:19) The Deeds Of The Flesh Are Evident, Which Are: Immorality,
Impurity, Sensuality, ...
(Gal 5:19 NASB) "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, [i.e., sexuality immorality, 1 Cor 6:9, 18; 2 Cor 12:21], Impurity, Sensuality, ..." =
At
Gal 5:19, author and apostle Paul begins to contrast works of the
flesh - the sin nature, (Gal 5:19-21) - with works of the Spirit, (Gal
5:22-23). If an individual's conduct is
characterized by the traits in the first
list, then he is either not a believer or else a believer who is not
being led by God's Spirit within him.
When
Paul says that the acts of the flesh are obvious, he does not mean
that they are all committed publicly where they may be seen. Some are,
some are not. Instead, he means that it is obvious in the sense of
discernable to all who are properly biblically oriented that such
acts originate with the sinful nature, and not with the nature given
believers by God through the indwelling Holy Spirit within the human
spirit.
It is impossible to tell whether or not Paul was thinking in categories of sin as he wrote. But whether or not he did, four divisions in his list are obvious: first, three sins that are violations of sexual morality; second, two sins from the religious realm; third, eight sins pertaining to conduct in regard to other human beings - i.e., social sins; and finally, there are two typically pagan sins—drunkenness and the revellings accompanying it.
The
first three words, then, cover sexual sins. "Sexual immorality" or
"fornication" (porneia) is the broadest term, denoting any immoral
sexual intercourse or relationships. It is often translated
"fornication." In starting with this vice,
Paul begins with what was acknowledged to be the most open and
shameless vice of the Greek and Roman world. From this word comes the
term "pornography." "Porneia" refers to any and all forms of illicit
sexual relationships.
"Impurity" (akatharsia)
is a broad term referring to moral uncleanness in thought, word and
deed. It originally meant the state of being dirty but later developed ethical
overtones, referring to a person who was either morally or ceremonially
unclean. Paul uses it almost exclusively of moral impurity and perhaps
of unnatural vice.
And
"sensuality" or "debauchery" (aselgeia) which connotes an open
shameless and brazen display of these evils. In this regard it is a
fitting term
for what is probably
intended to be a climax of a number of evils on display all at
once.
2) (Gal
5:19-20) The Deeds Of The
Flesh Are Evident, Which Are: Immorality, Impurity, Sensuality, Idolatry, Sorcery, Enmities, Strife,
Jealousy, Outbursts Of Anger, Disputes, Dissensions, Factions
(Gal 5:20 NASB) "idolatry, sorcery, [Rev 21:8] enmities, [2 Cor 12:20], strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes [NKJV: selfish ambitions], dissensions, factions [NKJV: heresies] [1 Cor 11:19]," =
Paul goes on to list two sins of religion: "idolatry" (eidololatria), a worship of the creature - of pagan gods by bowing to idols, and even sexual sin in connection with heathen religion - rather than worshipping the Creator, and "sorcery" or "witchcraft" (pharmakeia), a secret tampering with and at times a worship of the powers of evil. In ancient times the worship of evil powers was accompanied by the use of drugs to create trances. These two terms are also arranged in an ascending horror of evil and indicate that the works of the flesh include offenses against God as well as against ourselves or our neighbors.
Neighbors
are in view in the third section of Paul's list, since this section
includes much of what would today be called social offenses. "Enmities"
or "Hatred" ("echthrai"), is in plural form to denote multiple
manifestations of the quality. It means "enmities" such as those
between
classes, nations and individuals. It is these enmities that have been
broken down for those who are in Christ (Gal 3:28; Eph 2:14-16).
"Strife" or "discord" (eris) is
the natural outcome of hatred both in
the world and
in the church. Four out of six of Paul's uses of the word are connected
with church life.
"Jealousy" or "fits of rage"
(zelos) refers not to
the godly form of jealousy (thumoi), but to the sinful and
self-centered type. "Thumoi" is a godly zeal as well as
righteous anger. When zeal or anger originate from selfish motives and
hurt pride, they are evil and harm others, as Paul implies here.
"Selfish ambition" (eritheiai)
may be translated in many ways:
contention, strife, selfishness, rivalry, intrigues. Its basic meaning
is a selfish and self-aggrandizing approach to work. This and the
preceding three words occur in the same order in 2 Corinthians 12:20.
"Dissensions" ("dichostasiai") and "factions" ("haireseis") denote a
state
of affairs in which men are divided and feuds flourish.
3)
(Gal 5:19-21) The Deeds Of The Flesh Are Evident, Which Are:
Immorality,
Impurity, Sensuality, Idolatry, Sorcery, Enmities, Strife, Jealousy,
Outbursts Of Anger, Disputes, Dissensions, Factions,
Envying, Drunkenness, Carousing, And Things Like These, Of Which I
Forewarn You, Just As I Have Forewarned You, That Those Who Practice
Such Things Will Not Inherit - In The Sense Of Not Becoming Co-Owners /
Co-Rulers Of The Kingdom Of God With Jesus Christ
(Gal
5:19 NASB) Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:
immorality, [i.e., sexuality immorality, 1 Cor 6:9, 18; 2 Cor 12:21],
impurity, sensuality, (Gal
5:20 NASB) idolatry, sorcery, [Rev 21:8] enmities, [2 Cor 12:20],
strife,
jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes [NKJV: selfish ambitions],
dissensions, factions [NKJV: heresies] [1 Cor 11:19], (Gal
5:21 NASB) envying [Ro
13:13], drunkenness, carousing, and things like
these, of
which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who
practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God." =
a) Manuscript
Evidence For Gal 5:21
(Gal 5:21 NASB) "envying [Ro 13:13], drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God." =
WH NU P46, Sinaiticus, B, 33, cop(sa), Irenaeus, Clement have "envyings, drunkennesses"
TR, A, C, D, F, G, Psi, 1739, 1881, Maj, it, cop(bo) have "envyings, murders, drunkennesses"
Although it could be argued that "phonoi" rendered "murders" was accidentally deleted due to homoeoteleuton (the previous word, "phonoi", has the same last four letters), the manuscript evidence speaks against this. The addition of "murders" to this list most likely exhibits some scribe's attempt to harmonize Paul's list with Jesus' list of vices, as recorded in Mark 7:21-22, or with Paul's list of vices in Ro 1:29-31. As in 5:19, this insertion found its way into the majority of manuscripts.
b)
(Gal 5:19-21) The Deeds Of The Flesh Are Evident, Which Are:
Immorality,
Impurity, Sensuality, Idolatry, Sorcery, Enmities, Strife, Jealousy,
Outbursts Of Anger, Disputes, Dissensions, Factions
Envying, Drunkenness, Carousing, And Things Like These, Of Which I
Forewarn You, Just As I Have Forewarned You, That Those Who Practice
Such Things Will Not Inherit - In The Sense Of Not Becoming Co-Owners /
Co-Rulers
Of The Kingdom Of God With Jesus Christ.
(Gal 5:21 NASB) "[envyings, drunkennesses, carousings], and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God." =
The
three key Greek words in Gal 5:21a, "phthonoi" [envyings or hatreds],
"methai,"
[drunkenesses] and "kOmoi" [carousings] are plural
to convey multiple instances of egregiously sinful behavior, cf. Ro 13:13. Although "phthonoi" rendered
"envyings" is closely
related to the Greek word, "zelos" rendered "jealousies," "phthonoi" is
always bad, whereas "zelos" is not.
The last two sins describing notable sinful activities in Gal 5:21a are concerned with sins related to alcohol abuse: "methai" [drunkenesses] and "kOmoi" ["revels" or "orgies" or "carousing"]. They denote pleasures that have degenerated an individual into debauchery. There are more sins that could have been mentioned. For Paul added the words "and the like," indicating that the list is not exhaustive. These three key sins in Gal 5:21 serve with all the other key sins stipulated in vv. 19-20 to demonstrate the active existense of the "flesh" - the sin nature - that is within all of mankind except for Christ Himself. Together they make people acutely aware of the irreconciliable depravity of mortal man without the supernatural intervention of God Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ.
And
to the list of egregious sins which encompasses verses 19-21, Paul
adds a solemn warning, saying that those, (believers, v. 13), who
practice
such sinful activities will not inherit the Kingdom of God. This does
not mean that
if a believer falls into sin such as one or more of the sins listed in
Gal
5:19-21, he thereby loses his salvation from hell unto eternal life.
For loss of salvation is not
in view given that the context is addressing believers, who are
eternally
secure in their salvation from hell unto eternal life 
. Yet through
unfaithfulness they may jeopardize
their inheritance / co-ownership of the Kingdom of God with Jesus
Christ; but not their
residence in it.
So the wayward believer will
not inherit co-ownership
/ co-rulership of the Kingdom of God with Jesus Christ.
Contrary
to those that contend otherwise, the Greek present participle verb
"prassontes" rendered "practicing" does not need to be and is not
accompanied by a Greek
adverb rendered "habitually," in order to fabricate a false distinction
between someone who is practicing such sins as stipulated in Gal
5:19-21 more
egregiously than someone who is doing them less frequently. The
lifestyle of believers who are practicing sins
in the sense of Gal 5:19-21 may be characterized automatically as
habitually sinful without needing the additional word rendered
"habitually." So to practice sins is to repeat them in an habitual
manner. Note that believers
who practice sin might lose their eternal inheritance of the Kingdom of
God, but none are in danger of losing their
salvation from hell unto eternal life / residence - but not ownership -
in the Kingdom of God.
(1 Cor 6:9 NASB) "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
(1 Cor 6:10 NASB) nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God."
ii)
(Gal
5:19-21) The
Phrase Rendered "Those Who Live Like This Will Not Inherit The
Kingdom Of God," Is A Warning To Believers, Secure In Their Salvation
From Hell Unto Eternal Life, To Not Be Unfaithful Because If They Are
They Will Not Inherit The Kingdom Of God - In The Sense Of Not Becoming
Co-Owners And Co-Rulers Of The Kingdom Of God With Jesus Christ. Individuals
Who Were Never Saved In The First Place Are Not In View Who Will Not
Inherit The Kingdom Of God, As Some Contend, For Believers Can Behave
Dispicably And Disqualify Themselves From Their Heavenly Inheritance.
And Neither Is The Loss Of Salvation From Hell Unto
Eternal
Life In View As Corroborated By Earlier Passages In Galatians
And Numerous Other Passages.
(Gal
5:21 NASB) "[envyings, drunkennesses, carousings], and things like
these, of
which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who
practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God." =
Since
passages in Galatians, Paul's other epistles and elsewhere in Scripture
teach that eternal life - the salvation
from hell unto eternal life - is secure within
the believer, ; then the loss of salvation from hell unto
eternal life
is not scriptural and cannot be in view in Gal 5:19-21:
ii_a) (Gal 5:13b) Believers Secure In Their Salvation Can And Do Commit Sins All The Time Even To The Point Of Disqualifying Themselves From Receiving All Or Part Of Their Heavenly Inheritances
(Gal 5:13b NASB) "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another" =
So
it is possible for genuine believers secure in their salvation , as born again children of God by a moment of
faith alone in Christ alone, (Jn 1:12-13 ) who cannot be unchilded , to walk in the flesh and even practice
the egregious sins mentioned in the vice list, (cf. Gal 5:16, 17, 21, 25 and
26), without
losing their salvation.
The
context of Galatians chapter 5 and the rest of Scripture explicitly
reject the false doctrine of the required perseverance of the saints in
order to demonstrate that one is saved unto eternal life . Rather than affirming that all
true believers will walk in the Spirit, Paul commands the believers at
the churches of Galatia to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.
Such an admonition would be misplaced if addressed to an unbeliever
since it is impossible for those devoid of the Holy Spirit to walk in
the Spirit.
There
are clear examples in Scripture of genuine believers who have not
persevered in good works, but who instead have walked in the flesh, who
are nevertheless secure in their salvation, (ref Gal 5:5 ).
1) Solomon ended his life as a hedonist and an idolator (1 Kings 11).
2) Many of the believers in Corinth, although five years old as Christians, were carnal and fleshly - yet they are called babes in Christ (1 Cor 3:1-3).
3) One believer at Corinth was actually living in immorality with his stepmother and was brazenly unrepentant (1 Cor 5:5).
4) A number of believers in Corinth were sick, and some had already died, as a result of their selfish and drunken disregard for the sacredness of the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:30).
5) Demas, whom Paul at least twice referred to as his co-laborer in Christ's service (Col 4:14; Phlm 24), later is said by Paul to have 'forsaken me, having loved this present world' (2 Tim 4:10).
6) Likewise James refers to the need to turn back fellow believers who have wandered from the truth (Jas 5:19-20)
7)
Since no believer can say that
he has no sin nor say that he has not sinned in his mortal life, then
no believer can say that he has been absolutely faithful in a single
moment so as to prove out his salvation by demonstrating a changed life:
(1 Jn 1:8 NASB) "If we [apostles and fellow believers, 1 Jn 1:1-4; cf. 1 Jn 2:2] [should] say that we have no sin, we [deceive] ourselves and the truth is not in us.
(1 Jn 1:10 NASB) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."
ii_b)
Gal 4:1-7 Corroborates The Eternal Security Of The Believer
ii_c)
Gal 5:1-5 Corroborates The Eternal Security Of The Believer
ii_d) Gal 3:1ff And Gal 6:6-10 Work Together To Establish The Eternal Security Of The Salvation From Hell Unto Eternal Life Via A Moment Of Faith Alone In Christ Alone Apart From Any Godly Works For The Believer; Yet Together The Passages Also Establish The Availability Through The Spirit Of God Received Via The Believer At The Point Of His Faith In Christ In Order To Enhance That Eternal Life By His Sowing To The Spirit In The Sense Of Performing Godly Works In Order To Reap Eternal Life More Abundantly
Just as Gal 3:1ff and so many other passages have established
that justification / salvation from hell unto eternal
life is secured forever solely via and at the point of a moment of
faith alone in Christ alone apart from any
godly works before, during or afterward that moment; so Gal 6:6-10
establishes that the believer may build upon his eternally secure
salvation from hell unto eternal
life by sowing to the Spirit of God through the grace of God in order
to reap additional blessings as he lives out his mortal life to
further enhance the already secured salvation from hell unto eternal life initially
given to him as a free gift at that first moment of faith alone in
Christ alone, (ref. Gal
3:1-2 ). So Gal 6:6-10
does not
refute the eternal security of the believer by interjecting
faithful godly works in order to be saved from hell unto eternal life.
On the other hand, Gal 6:6-10, does
exhort the believer to sow to the Spirit in
order to reap an ongoing harvest of an enhanced eternal life - an accumulation of the
enhancement of the value
of the believer's eternal destiny with what he continually sows
to the Spirit throughout his mortal life.
But
for those moments when a believer might sow to the
flesh, then he will reap corruption / destruction upon himself
diminishing the value of his eternal life in the sense of losing some
or all of his inheritance of the Kingdom of God, but without
canceling his eternal destiny of salvation from hell unto eternal life
which has already been secured through a moment of faith alone in Christ alone
apart from any godly works, (Gal
5:19-21 ).
(Gal 6:6 NASB) "The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.
(Gal 6:7 NASB) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
(Gal 6:8 NASB) For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
(Gal 6:9 NASB) Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
(Gal 6:10 NASB) So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
(Jn 10:7 NASB) "So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
(Jn 10:8 NASB) All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
(Jn 10:9 NASB) I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(Jn 10:10 NASB) The thief comes only to steal
and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it
abundantly."
****** EXCERPT FROM STUDY ON GAL 6 ******
(Gal 6:8 NASB) "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." =
Since the reception of
salvation from hell unto eternal life is stipulated in
Scripture as a once for all time moment of faith alone in Christ alone
excluding any human doing ;
and since sowing and reaping is an ongoing process of human doing, whether good or bad, such that as one continually sows one continually reaps;
then Gal 6:8 cannot be depicting the reception of salvation from hell unto eternal life, but rather the reaping/accumulation of the enhancement of the value of a believer's eternal life with what the believer continually sows in his mortal life to the Spirit.
[Dr. Zane Hodges, "The Gospel Under Siege", Redencion Viva Publishers, Dallas, Texas, Second Edition, 1992, pp. 86-89]:
'''It is important to see exactly what this text [Gal 6:6-10] says. "Everlasting life," Paul states, is the direct consequence of sowing to the Spirit, of doing good. Corruption is what you reap if you do evil. It is all part of the law of the harvest. A man gets what he deserves to get.
It goes almost without saying that there is nothing said here about the "inevitable" results of saving faith. Indeed, the hortatory thrust of the passage shows the opposite. The Galatians must be careful about how they sow. They must never suppose that they can "mock" God or avoid the inexorable law of the harvest. The final reaping is not a foregone conclusion, but rather it is contingent on not "growing weary" while doing good [Gal 6:9].
But equally there is nothing here about justification by faith or the concept of a free gift. Nothing is plainer than that the "everlasting life" of which Paul speaks [in Gal 6:6-10] is not free, but based on the moral merits of those who reap it. To deny this is to deny the most obvious aspect of the text.
All becomes clear, however, if we simply remember that the Apostle is addressing believers.
(Gal 3:2 NASB) "This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
(Gal 3:3 NASB) Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
(Gal 3:4 NASB) Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
(Gal 3:5 NASB) So
then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among
you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?"
So Paul is addressing those who have already been justified by a moment
of faith
alone in Christ alone and who thereby possess salvation from hell unto
everlasting life as a free gift forever - but without any enhancements.
Naturally Paul knew
that eternal life was freely given (Rom. 6:23; 5:15-18),
just as the Apostle John knew this, (Jn 1:12-13 ; 3:16; 5:24 ; 6:1ff ). But Paul is not speaking about what
the Galatian believers already have, but about what they may yet
receive. Herein
lies the key to this text]'''
ETERNAL LIFE IS EXPERIENCED IN MORE THAN ONE DEGREE
"It must not be forgotten that eternal life is nothing less than the very life of God Himself. As such it cannot be thought of as a mere fixed and static entity. Rather, its potentialities are rich beyond the power of the mind to conceive them. Thus we find Jesus declaring, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). From this we learn that eternal life can be experienced in more than one measure or degree.
But it cannot be experienced at all unless first received as a free gift [by a moment of faith alone in Christ alone]. Not surprisingly, the Creator of the universe has illustrated this with every human life that is born into the world.
No man or woman possesses physical life at all except by his parents imparting it to him. Even physical life, therefore, is a free gift! But when a child is born into this present world, the capacities of human life (all present at birth) must be developed by himself under the guidance of his parents and subsequent teachers. How "abundantly" he will experience human life is determined by his response to instruction and to experience itself.
So it is in the spiritual realm too. In order to have life "more abundantly," one must meet the conditions for this. One must respond properly to his heavenly Parent.
Here it should be stated clearly that in the New Testament eternal life is presented both as a free gift and as a reward merited by those who earn it. But one important distinction always holds true. Wherever eternal life is viewed as a reward, it is obtained in the future. But wherever eternal life is presented as a gift, it is obtained in the present.
Naturally, it goes without saying that no one can ever receive eternal life as a reward who does not first accept it as a free gift. This is the same as saying that a person must first have [physical] life before he can experience it richly.
"If Galatians 6:8 is understood as speaking only of a man's final salvation from hell, then it teaches clearly that this final salvation is by works. Not to admit this is not to be candid. But no one excludes works from his doctrine of salvation more vigorously than Paul does, and he insists that to mix works and grace is to alter the character of both (see Rom. 11:6).
Galatians 6:8 is irreconcilable with fundamental Pauline truth so long as one holds the view that final salvation is under discussion.
But why hold this view? It is easy to understand how the measure and extent of one's experience of God's life must depend on the measure of his response to God. From that perspective the image of a harvest is exactly right. The nature and quantity of the seed we sow determines the nature and quantity of the harvest.
It is obviously wise for a Christian to be reminded that every act he performs is like a seed sown in a field. Its harvest will be either corruption or eternal life. And is there a Christian alive who has not sown much more often to his flesh than he ought to have done? Clearly the Church needs this reminder about the law of life. To make the issue here a man's final destiny in heaven or hell is to lose the whole point of the exhortation.
If the matters just discussed are kept in mind, other passages which
offer eternal life as a future experience based on works can be
understood in their proper bearing. One might think especially of
Matthew 19:29 with its parallels in Mark 10:30 and Luke 18:30. The
eschatological "harvest" is in view in these places. Obedient men reap
an experience of eternal life precisely because they are obedient. But
this in no way conflicts with the reality that such obedience must be
preceded by, and motivated through, a gift of life given freely and
without any condition but faith alone.'''
ii_e)
Numerous Other Passages Corroborate The Eternal Security Of The
Believer
Individuals who have trusted alone in Christ alone unto eternal life immediately have their eternal destiny sealed and secured in heaven by God Himself, (Eph 1:13-14), and have salvation from hell unto eternal life immediately as a possession, (Jn 3:16).
iii) (Gal 5:19-21) The Phrase Rendered "Those Who Live Like This Will Not Inherit The Kingdom Of God," Is A Warning To Believers, Secure In Their Salvation From Hell Unto Eternal Life, To Not Be Unfaithful Because If They Are They Will Not Inherit The Kingdom Of God - In The Sense Of Not Becoming Co-Owners And Co-Rulers Of The Kingdom Of God With Jesus Christ. It Is Not A Warning To Anyone To Be Faithful In Order To Attain Salvation From Hell Unto Eternal Life; Nor Is It An Exhortation To Believers To Act Like - In The Sense Of live Up To - Their Assured Eternal Destiny Of Being Transformed Into Righteous Eternal Beings To Occupy The Eternal Kingdom Of God.
(Gal 5:21 NASB) "[envyings, drunkennesses, carousings], and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God." =
The Book of Galatians is addressed to genuine believers (ref. Gal 1:8-9). There is no indication in the context of chapter five that unbelievers are being warned, as some contend. In 5:13 Paul refers to those addressed in 5:13-26 as brethren. Furthermore, in 6:1, Paul again refers to those being warned as brethren, and he gives instructions for the spiritual among them to restore those who become ensnared by the deeds of the flesh.
Although
there are passages which do exhort believers to live faithful lives in
consideration of their assured eternal destiny, (Gal 5:1 ; Heb 4:14-16; 10:23, 36; 1 Pet 4:19; Ro 12:1ff ; Eph 6:13; 2 Ti 2:11-13 ;
1 Cor 15:58; 16:13), the phrase in Gal 5:19c, rendered, "Those who live
like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God," is not an appeal to
believers' consciences to be faithful because the eternal Kingdom of
God is to be a residence for Righteousness, (ref. Ro 14:17 ); thereby shaming / exhorting
them to live faithful lives in order to represent to the world who they
are in Christ - that their eternal destiny is the Righteous Eternal
Kingdom of God.
iv) (Gal 5:19-21) The Phrase Rendered "Those Who Live Like This Will Not Inherit The Kingdom Of God," Is A Warning To Believers Of The Possibility Of Loss Of Their Eternal Inheritance. It Is Not A Warning To Believers That They Might Lose Their Salvation From Hell Unto Eternal Life If They Commit Such Sins As Specified In Gal 5:19-21
The Phrase Rendered "Those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God," is a warning to believers of the possibility of loss of their eternal inheritance of the Kingdom of God. It is not a warning to believers that they might lose their salvation from hell unto an inheritance of eternal life if they commit such sins as specified in Gal 5:19-21.
[= NO IMMORAL OR IMPURE PERSON OR COVETOUS MAN, OR ONE WHO IS AN
IDOLATOR BE HE BELIEVER OR UNBELIEVER HAS AN INHERITANCE IN THE KINGDOM
OF GOD ]:
(Eph 5:1 NASB) "Therefore [believers, v. 4:30)] be imitators of God, as beloved children;
(Eph 5:2 NASB) and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma..
(Eph 5:3 NASB) But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;
(Eph 5:4 NASB) and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
(Eph 5:5 NASB) For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
(Eph 5:6 NASB) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
(Eph 5:7 NASB) Therefore do not be partakers with them;
(Eph 5:8 NASB) for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
(Eph 5:9 NASB) (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
(Eph 5:10 NASB) trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
(Eph 5:11 NASB) Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
(Eph 5:12 NASB) for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
(Eph 5:13 NASB) But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
(Eph 5:14 NASB) For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."
Ephesians
5:1-14 defines the situation of a believer who is not walking in
fellowship with God, who is not producing fruit, who is not producing
work for the Lord and is even involved in a lifestyle of sin. The
passage exhorts believers to imitate God in their daily walk. In so
doing it indicates the undesirability and the consequences of a
disobedient life. Verses 7-12 indicate the shamefulness of going back
to the disgusting lifestyle of the world after Christ had sacrificed
Himself so that the believer would not have to be a slave to sin and
suffer eternal condemnation, (v. 2). The passage says to act instead
like the person that a believer is: a child of light possessing eternal
life, (v. 8), rather than to act like the world and suffer the
consequence of losing one's inheritance in, (and not one's destiny to),
the kingdom of Christ for being immoral, (v. 5): .
[= BELIEVERS WHO LIVE UNFAITHFUL LIVES WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF
GOD]:
(1 Cor 6:1 NASB) "Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?
(1 Cor 6:2 NASB) Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?
(1 Cor 6:3 NASB) Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?
(1 Cor 6:4 NASB) So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church?
(1 Cor 6:5 NASB) I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren,
(1 Cor 6:6 NASB) but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
(1 Cor 6:7 NASB) Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?
(1 Cor 6:8 NASB) On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren.
(1 Cor 6:9 NASB) Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
(1 Cor 6:10 NASB) nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
(1 Cor 6:11 NASB) Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
(1 Cor 6:12 NASB) All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.
(1 Cor 6:13 NASB) Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immortality, but the LORD, and the Lord is for the body.
(1 Cor 6:14 NASB) Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.
(1 Cor 6:15 NASB) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!
(1 Cor 6:16 NASB) Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, 'The two shall become one flesh.'
(1 Cor 6:17 NASB) But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
(1 Cor 6:18 NASB) Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
(1 Cor 6:19 NASB) Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
(1 Cor 6:20 NASB) For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body."
iv_c) [Compare Col 1:9-12, 21-23]:
[= LIVE A WORTHY LIFE AND THE BELIEVER WILL SHARE IN THE INHERITANCE OF THE KINGDOM OF LIGHT]
(Col 1:9 NASB) "For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
(Col 1:10 NASB) so that you [believers, (v. 2), will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
(Col 1:11 NASB) strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
(Col 1:12 NASB) giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
(Col 1:21 NASB) And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
(Col 1:22 NASB) yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach -
(Col 1:23 NASB) if
indeed [= especially since] you [Colossion believers] continue in the
faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the
hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all
creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister."
In Col 1:23 the verb form "epimenete" in
the Greek phrase "eige epimenete te pistei" rendered "if indeed you
continue in the faith" is in the indicative mood with the Greek word,
"eige" rendered "if indeed," conveying together the sense of
"especially since." For "eige" + the indicative mood is a first class
if-then expression meaning "since" [it is indeed especially true that] .This
is a deliberately emphatic expression
emphatically exclaiming / declaring how faithful the Colossian
believers were, (ref Col 1:4-8). Paul was stating, 'surely you - the
faithful Colossian
believers - will all the more be presented holy and blameless and above
reproach in
His sight," (v. 22) - albeit their presentation as holy and blameless
will be solely by the
grace of God through a single moment of faith alone in Christ alone +
nothing else; because of what Christ did on the cross and not due in
any way to what a believer might do.
[= BELIEVERS ARE TO WORK FOR THE LORD SO THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE AN INHERITANCE AS A REWARD WHEN THEY GAIN ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN]
(Col 3:23 NASB) "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,
(Col 3:24 NASB) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ Whom you serve.' "
Since
eternal life in the sense of salvation from hell is only received
through a moment of faith alone, not by any works, (ref. Eph 2:8-9 ), and not as a reward, but as a gift;
then
the "reward of the inheritance" for performing works for the Lord in
view in Col 3:23-24, is evidently something more than salvation from
hell - an inheritance as a reward that the believer receives when he enters heaven for his faithfulness during his mortal life.
iv_e) [Compare 2 Timothy 2:11-13]:
[= IF
WE BELIEVERS ENDURE, I.E., LIVE FAITHFUL LIVES, WE SHALL ALSO REIGN WITH
HIM. IF WE BELIEVERS DISOWN CHRIST'S OWNERSHIP OF US, I.E. BE UNFAITHFUL, HE
WILL DISOWN OUR INHERITANCE OF REIGNING WITH HIM]
(2 Tim 2:11 NASB) "It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
(2 Tim 2:12 NASB) If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
(2 Tim 2:13 NASB) If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."
If we, i.e., believers, who are secure in our eternal life, (Eph 1:13-14), endure the difficulties and testing and live a faithful, productive life - full of divine good production, then we believers will not only have eternal life with Jesus Christ in heaven because of our one time expression of faith in Him; but we will also reign, i.e., co-rule, with Him and receive unimaginably glorious rewards.
If we believers disown, i.e., disavow Christ's ownership of us by acting in thought, word and deed in disobedience and unfaithfulness, (cp 1 Cor 6:19-20), then Christ will disown our ownership, i.e., our inheritance of eternal rewards and co-rulership with Him, (cp Col 1:10-12; 3:23-24; Eph 5:5; Gal 5:21).
[=
GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY OF CHOOSING THE POOR TO BE HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM AND
BELIEVERS' FREE WILL CHOICE TO PERSEVERE UNDER TRIALS UNTO THE
RIGHTEOUS LIFE THAT GOD DESIRES RESULTING IN BECOMING AN HEIR TO THE
KINGDOM ARE BOTH IN VIEW]:
(Jas 2:1 NASB) "My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
(Jas 2:2 NASB) For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes,
(Jas 2:3 NASB) and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, 'You sit here in a good place,' and you say to the poor man, 'You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,'
(Jas 2:4 NASB) have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?
(Jas 2:5 NASB) Listen,
my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be
rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who
love Him?"
iv_g) [Compare Mt 10:32-33, 37-39 ]:
[= TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND BE WORTHY: CONFESS AND BE CONFESSED BEFORE THE
FATHER; OR DENY AND BE DENIED YOUR ETERNAL INHERITANCE BUT NEVER YOUR GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE]:
(Mt 10:32 NASB) "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father Who is in heaven.
(Mt 10:33 NASB) But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
(Mt 10:33 NASB) He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
(Mt 10:33 NASB) And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
(Mt 10:33 NASB) He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it."
iv_h) [Compare Mt 5:1-5, 9-12 ]:
[= THE BEATITUDES: THE MEEK, THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL, SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH]:
(Mt 5:1 NASB) "When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
(Mt 5:2 NASB) He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,"
["He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying ..." =
Nine beatitudes are hereafter presented by our Lord to the disciples and the crowd on the mountainside; but His message this time is specifically directed to believers, especially His disciples and it is especially about believers being rewarded in heaven for being faithful:
(Mt 5:3 NASB) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs [i.e., their inheritance] is the kingdom of heaven.
["Blessed are.." = The term beatitude or blessed comes from the Latin 'beatus' which means blessings, and in this context temporal plus especially eternal blessings or rewards are in view.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit" = Our Lord is not describing poverty types. The word poor means aware of one's own spiritual poverty, i.e., spiritual bankruptcy, relative to the righteousness of God. Thus through recognition of one's true poverty in spirit one can rely on the grace of God instead of one's own 'righteousness' for eternal life. One is thereby blessed by God's grace with eternal life so that one may inherit eternal life. But this verse goes further than that for those believers who are "poor in spirit" for it rewards those who continue to be poor in spirit with an inheritance of the kingdom of heaven:
"for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" = implies ownership as well as occupancy of the kingdom. Believers who recognize their own spiritual poverty and thereby rely on God's gracious working through them via the leading of the Holy Spirit in them, (v. 16) rather than doing what they perceive as righteous acts, will be following the path of a faithful lifestyle leading to the reward of their actual inheritance of the kingdom of heaven.
(Mt 5:4 NASB) Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
(Mt 5:5 NKJV) Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth
[i.e., they shall inherit the Kingdom of God which comprises the earth. ["meek" = gentleness, obedience, self-control - under the control of the Spirit.
Since an obedient lifestyle is excluded from what is required for an individual to be saved, (Eph 2:8-9 )
...then salvation is not in view but the reward for the obedient believer of inheriting the earth certainly is.
No believer inherits the earth unless he is faithful. When a believer is faithful he is under the control, i.e., filled with or in submission to the Spirit, (Gal 5:16; Eph 5:18-21). He is obedient to the will of God. That's what produces the true meekness and the gentleness in a believer: submission and obedience.
[Wilkin, op. cit., p. 33]:
"The Lord Himself is a perfect illustration of the truth of the beatitudes. He was meek and poor in spirit, and He willingly accepted persecution for righteousness' sake. As a result He Himself will inherit the earth and receive the kingdom. In Ps 2:8 God the Father says....."
(Ps 2:6 NASB) "But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.
(Ps 2:7 NASB) I will declare the LORD’s decree: He said to Me, 'You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
['He [God the Father] said to Me [the Son of God], 'You are My Son; today I have become your Father [in the sense of now granting His Son all the privileges of royalty: rulership and ownership of the Kingdom of God due to His Son's absolute obedience in going to the cross for the sins of the whole world]:
(Ps 2:8 NASB) 'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.' "
[Compare Heb 1:8-9 and 12:2 which reaffirm this point]:
(Heb 1:8 NASB) "But of the Son He says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His Kingdom.
(Heb 1:9 NASB) 'You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.' "
(Heb 12:2 NASB) "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
[Robert N. Wilkin states, (Journal of the GRACE EVANGELICAL SOCIETY, "Christians Who Lose Their Legacy: Galatians 5:21", p. 32-33)]:
"Receiving the kingdom of heaven in this context is a rewards concept. This is easily seen by comparing vv. 10 and 12. Verse 10 says that those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake will receive the kingdom of heaven. Verse 12 says that those who are persecuted for Christ's sake should 'rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.' Receiving the kingdom of heaven is parallel to receiving great reward in heaven just as persevering under persecution for Christ's sake.
Of course, eternal salvation cannot be in view here since it is not a reward for holding up under persecution. It is a free gift (John 4:10ff; Rom 3:24; Eph 2:8-9; Rev 22:17).
Receiving the kingdom in this passage thus refers to some reward. In light of other passages, rulership and its attendant privileges and responsibilities must be in view. All believers will be in the kingdom; however, only faithful believers will rule and possess it (Luke 19:11-27; Rom 8:17; 2 Tim 2:12).
Since inheriting the earth is a synonymous expression to receiving the kingdom, it too refers here to ruling and possessing the kingdom. After all, the kingdom will take place on earth (cf. Rev 20-22). To receive the kingdom is to inherit the earth. Those who are meek [i.e., obedient] will be co-heirs with Christ and will share in kingdom rule and glory]
This eternal inheritance of the Kingdom of God is especially evident in verses 9-12 which cap off the passage and bring home this context:
(Mt 5:9 NASB) "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
(Mt 5:10 NASB) Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Mt 5:11 NASB) Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me."
[Notice that faithful believers only are in view here, as confirmed by the next verse]:
(Mt 5:12 NASB) Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
[Since entrance into heaven is a free gift - an inheritance of eternal life, (Eph 2:8-9 ,
then the reward for believers' service to the LORD must be something
more to occur after the believer enters heaven; and not
in order to enter heaven - which the latter is a free gift not dependant upon service / works for the LORD]
(Gal 6:6 NASB) "The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.
(Gal 6:7 NASB) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
(Gal 6:8 NASB) For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
(Gal 6:9 NASB) Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
(Gal
6:10 NASB) So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all
people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."
Since
Galatians
5:19-23 and 6:6-10 are passages within the same book and within the
same
context: believers walking
in the
Spirit enhancing their own eternal inheritances versus believers
walking in the flesh
resulting in losing their inheritance of the Kingdom of God;
and
since we
have in view the one [= a believer, (Gal 6:6)] who sows to please his
sinful nature, who from
that nature will reap corruption [phthoran = corruption, destruction];
as contrasted to the [believer, (Gal 6:6)] who sows to please the
Spirit, who from the Spirit will reap
eternal life; then the expression rendered "will reap corruption" in
Gal 6:8 is
parallel to not inheriting the kingdom in Gal 5:2. Whatever
corruption
means in Gal 6:7-10 must be parallel in meaning to what the phrase
rendered, "will not
inherit the kingdom"
means in Gal 5:21. The word "phthora" rendered corruption in Gal
6:8 therefore refers to the ruin, destruction, dissolution,
deterioration,
or corruption of all or part of ones enhanced eternal inheritance to be
received in the eternal Kingdom of God. On the other hand, according to
Gal 6:8, the believer who
sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life - in
the sense of reaping an enhanced / enriched eternal life, i.e., an
inheritance of the Kingdom of God, i.e.,
receiving co-ownership and a co-rulership of some kind within the
Kingdom of God with Jesus Christ enhanced by ones faithful sowing to
the Spirit.
These verses are dealing with something which believers reap for work done, because salvation from hell = inheriting eternal life is not a reward for work done, it is a free gift of ones eternal destiny with God. On the other hand, inheriting the eternal Kingdom of God in Gal 5:21 is equivalent to the continual / repetitive reaping toward ones eternal life in Gal 6:8 which has to do with enhancing / enriching the salvation from hell unto eternal life the individual first and forever received when he believed in Christ as a gift.
Inheriting
eternal life unto residence in the Eternal Kingdom of God is not the
same thing as inheriting ownership of that Kingdom:
(Ro 3:21 NASB) "But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
Ro 3:22 NASB) "even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
(Ro 3:23 NASB) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(Ro 3:24 NASB) being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;"
[Note
that in the context of Ro 3:21-24, the Greek word rendered "are
justified," means are declared / established to be Righteous by God
unto salvation from hell with an immediate and present tense possession
/ an inheritance of eternal life through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus] .
(Eph 2:8 NASB) "For by grace you have been saved through faith [from hell unto the heavenlies, (ref Eph 2:6)]; and that [salvation because that is neuter] not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
(Eph 2:9 NASB) not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
(Heb 1:14 NASB) "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?"
(Lk 18:18 NASB) "A ruler questioned Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
(Mk 10:17 NASB) "As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
(Lk 10:25 NASB) "And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
So the expression will reap corruption in Gal 6:8 refers to the loss of eternal treasure and to the loss of present joy, even premature death in the temporal life as well, (1 Jn 5:16-17); and the parallel expression in Gal 5:21 of "will not inherit the kingdom" conveys the same sense of losing out of the co-possession, co-rulership of the Kingdom of God with Jesus Christ, both in the temporal and eternal life.