Galatians 5:19-21 The Kingdom of God and the Deeds of the Flesh

Galatians 5:19-21 Now 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 the kingdom of God.

There is such a clear distinction between the life of the flesh and the life of the Spirit that Paul calls it “evident,” or “obvious.” While the deeds of the flesh may not be evident for all to see, as they can be done in private, not just in public for all to see, that these deeds are of the flesh and not of the Spirit is without question. Those who walk by the Spirit will most certainly not be characterized by these deeds in their lives. The Spirit and the flesh are at war and so those who are ruled by the Spirit will not live in that which the Spirit cannot possibly do or even look upon with favor.

While these deeds are not an exhaustive list, this list helps us to better identify and define the deeds of the flesh. Deeds of the flesh include sexual sins (“immorality, impurity, sensuality”), religious sins (“idolatry, sorcery”), sins against the love for one’s neighbor (“enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying”), and sins of indulgence (“drunkenness, carousing), and any deeds that are such as these. These sins go against God’s created plan/order, His right to receive all worship, the proper display of who God is, and living under God’s rule. Such sins are proceeding from the corruption of the entire nature of humanity by sin.

Why cannot people who practice these deeds inherit the kingdom of God? Or, to reverse the question, why can those who are part of the kingdom of God not practice these deeds? The kingdom of God, being the realm over which God has direct lordship and is the ruler, will be marked by holiness, for the Lord Himself is holy (Leviticus 19:2). God abhors evil and will not look upon it favorably; therefore the people who are called by His name, living under His ordinances, and indwelt by His Holy Spirit, will not walk in the deeds of the world and of the sinful flesh, which sets itself up as the enemy of God (that is what it means for the desire of the flesh to be “against the Spirit” (Galatians 5:17)). The enemy of God will not be found within “the borders” of God’s rulership.[1]

The people of God will live in a lifestyle of holiness (currently a progressive state known as “sanctification”) because “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21, cf. Jeremiah 31:33). It is not observable by pomp, edifices, or a standing military (cf. Luke 17:20). The kingdom of God is the masses from every tribe, tongue, and nation purchased by the blood of Christ (cf. Revelation 5:9-10) who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit and all of His regenerating work. Thus it is not an outward kingdom, but an inward one, until the return of Christ (when it will be both outward and inward). Thus Paul says, “The kingdom of God is… righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). God’s kingdom is currently His rule in the hearts of His people—the direct rule that makes them all know God (cf. Jeremiah 31:34) and live in accordance with His ordinances.

Paul is showing the Galatians that the outward ordinances of the Law will not work, because the kingdom is first and foremost inward, and then expressed outward, not vice versa, which is legalism. Christians will not desire to walk in the ways of the flesh because they have the Spirit leading and directing them—God is ruling them. This is why Christians will be characterized by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and not the deeds, or fruit of the flesh. The Spirit and the flesh cannot coexist. While it may take some time for the flesh to be rooted out and the deeds of the flesh to become nonexistent in new Christians, this is ultimately and necessarily the ends that are guaranteed. Christians, while they may fall into such sins and even occasionally may stumble into a sinful lifestyle for a while (not being “led by the Spirit”), yet this will not be the habitual state of their lives—God will not allow it. Those who practice the deeds of the flesh “will not inherit the kingdom of God;” “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on Him” (John 3:36). Do not be deceived, dear Christians, those who live a life of practicing the deeds of the flesh will not receive the kingdom of God—they do not have eternal life in them.

Therefore brothers and sisters, seek to root out these sinful desires by the power of the Spirit, by being led by the Spirit. You must seek to take hold of the kingdom of God by force. You cannot sit and wait for the Spirit to move you to do something—the Spirit’s moving in you will be characterized by your desire to fight sin and live in worship of God (cf. Philippians 2:12-13). Seek to practice the spiritual disciplines that you may draw nearer to God (Donald Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life will prove to be a helpful aid to you in this). And do not forget to both reveal the kingdom in the way you live (cf. Matthew 5:13-16) and to take the message of the kingdom to the world (Matthew 24:14).

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[1] “The borders” of God’s Kingdom are not physical borders, but rather a dynamic border—all that God has claimed as His own, i.e. all that lives in subjection to Him.