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Galatians 5:19-21 (JDV)

Galatians 5:19 Now the achievements of the flesh are obvious: whatever results in sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity,

Galatians 5:20 idolatry, alternative spiritual experiences,¹ hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish passions, dissensions, heretical cults,²

Galatians 5:21 envy, drunkenness, excessive partying, and anything like these. I am warning you about these things– as I warned you before– that those who are practicing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

an insult sandwich

When I was growing up in the Southern United States, KKK stood for Klu Klux Klan, a racist organization bent on controlling and terrorizing blacks. But when I went to the Philippines, I discovered that they use the same three letters for an approach to telling someone what they don’t want to hear. KKK stands for kiss, kick, kiss. You soften the blow by sandwiching an insult between two praises.

That appears to be how Paul is operating in this passage. He is condemning some of the specific traits of verse 20 which are associated with the Judaizing heresy which is trying to take over the congregations in Galatia. He lists the traits of verses 19 and 21 because the Galatians think they are beyond those problems.

Paul’s point is that they are all results of walking according to the same flesh. If you want to live the resurrection life, you need to put all that stuff to death.

Lord, you have brought us to new life by your Sacred Breath. Show us how to live consistently according to that new life.