It Starts Small

God’s Word provides detailed explanation of Heavenly wisdom, which leads to godliness, or earthy demonic wisdom which leads to corruption.

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We come down to the final points about ungodly wisdom and the world’s wisdom corrupts the creation of God. Just a few days ago we looked at 19 attributes or characteristics of an ungodly person. Today we look at the results of the fruit of an ungodly person.

Paul is writing to the Galatians and us urging them to not waste the freedom in Christ to swerve themselves. Many pastors, teachers, or commentators use the word license to describe what Paul is talking about. Don’t use your freedom – your license – to sin. When we do, we decide that we are already justified by our faith in Christ, so we do not need to restrain any of our sinful desires. This leads to a person doing whatever comes natural to them. Paul says that our freedom is not to do what we selfishly desire, but to serve each other in love under the power of His Holy Spirit within us. Paul encourages us to to allow God’s Spirit to lead our thoughts, words, and actions instead of following our own.

¹⁶ I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:16-18

Then Paul begins to list the sins a person who squanders their freedom partakes in. Paul lists obvious sins because he is pointing out that while we are no longer living under the law, we are neglecting to see the law point out what is sin and what is not sin.

Paul is not creating a new law to be followed. It is as if he is saying, look we all know what a sinful lifestyle looks like, Here’s a list. He is giving examples of sinful behaviors which do not have anything related to living to the freedom in Christ or by the Spirit of God.

The first three that Paul lists have to deal with sexuality (v 19). Sexual immorality is from the Greek word pornia, and is a catch all phrase for any kind of sexual activity outside of a biblical marriage. Notice we get our word for pornography from this word. Adultery, bestiality, homosexuality, extramarital sex, promiscuity, and so forth are all covered under this idea.

The Greek word for impurity is akatharsia, and refers to any kind of uncleanness in our thoughts, words, and actions. The kind of thoughts that are motivated by lust, greed, or excess are part of this group.

Sensuality is a broad term, referring to a kind of shameless, open lifestyle that flaunts indulgence in doing anything that feels good. It does not take into consideration the consequences or morals. The original Greek term, aselgeia, carries a sense of being out of control; and suggests a person lacking discipline, or any capacity for self-restraint.

In verse 20, Paul gives two sins related to religion and spirituality. Idolatry is the worship of idols and pagan gods. It is the one sin listed throughout scripture that God expresses the most outrage. In Paul’s day, worshipping pagan gods was very much a real practice. It is common today, but more in the sense of putting material things above God. We do not have mega altars in our city to worship pagan gods, instead, we have mega lifestyles that we worship.

Then Paul lists sorcery or witchcraft. The Greek word is pharmakeia, related to the term from which we derive the English word pharmacy. This term implies the use of drugs, potions, and poisons, often for the sake of twisting a person’s mind or spirit. Have you ever wondered why hard alcohol is called spirits? Paul also includes calling on demons or nature in an attempt to access supernatural power without God’s help.

Paul then groups the next sins into what we can call Enmity. Enmity is hate. It is hating certain people or groups. Strife means to stir up discord and division. Jealousy is something that is self-explanatory. Paul says they have fits of anger. The Greek word used is thymoi and implies uncontrolled outbursts of emotions such as rage. Rivalries are divisions between people that are driven by selfish desire. Dissensions are those times we break unity with others for no good cause. Divisions means unjustly or unfairly taking sides against others. The root word is from heresy and is sometimes translated as factions.

In verse 21, Paul continues with Envy. Envy can be wanting something that someone else has to include resenting people who have something we want. Simply put, it is Christ followers who are not content with what God has given them.

Excess drunkenness comes from the term methai which means the effects of consuming too much alcohol. By extension this includes any other mind altering substances. God’s word does not forbid alcohol but always condemns drunkenness (see Ephesians 5:18).

Paul then speaks about carousing. It is not a term used much today. The Greek word is  komōi, referring to a popular practice of the Roman world. Our English would describe these events as bacchanals, or more commonly as orgies. These parties were wild, alcohol-fueled events featuring all sorts of lewd behavior, excessive eating and drinking, wild dancing, and sexual immorality, and the worship of pagan gods.

It is important to note Paul does not list all the fruit of corruption here. Paul is not creating a simplified version of the law. Paul is demonstrating to us what a life spent serving others does and does not look like. Paul’s central focus is to not squander our freedom on the above mentioned sin.

Paul is not saying that anyone who commits these sins are not in Christ. Christ followers still sin. We do not always win the battle with ourselves and let the Holy Spirit lead in our decisions. That is the point of what Paul is sharing and highlighting. Purposefully avoid these sins so that you do not fall back into ignoring the power of the Holy Spirit.

However, Paul gives stern warning. Someone who indulges in these kinds of sins as an ongoing lifestyle without ever turning back—without repenting, or changing course—is not in Christ. There is a marked difference between those who slip into sin, as opposed to those who perpetually revel in it. Those who are in Christ begin to give the Holy Spirit control and turn away from sin, and those in Christ will definitely inherit the kingdom of God along with Jesus.

None of these sins should describe the ongoing lifestyle of one who is free and forgiven in Christ and powered by the Holy Spirit.

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If you are following along in the Journal, the back pages have a table of Heavenly Wisdom vs. Corrupted Wisdom. Today’s scripture is in the blocks under the column Corrupted Wisdom. If you get stuck, you can visit this page and see my example.