"They Which Do Such Things Shall Not Inherit The Kingdom of God"

Listener: Hi Trey and Faith. I hope you are well! Have you done a teaching on Galatians 5:19-21? I'm struggling with God not imputing the sins of the world, and "...they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."  I'm thinking it has to do with Jews during the tribulation period, where the word of reconciliation does not apply any longer, correct?  Thank you!

TTR: Sorry for the delayed response. We have been swamped lately.

Not certain if I've taught on this particular passage or not. Seems like I have. But it is the same as what we find in both Ephesians 5 and 1 Corinthians 6.

This is Paul dealing directly with the church the body, and how they should not let any of these sins be named among them, as becometh saints: (Ephesians 5:3)

Notice he says "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." (Verse 5)

Now compare "saint" with "covetous man." Are they the same? Of course not. But that doesn't mean a "saint" in a moment of weakness is incapable of coveting.

Those of us in the body of Christ, have the title "saint" not "covetous man." Which is why Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6:11 wrote: "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.

12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."

All things are lawful because we are not under the law. (Romans 6:14) So we could covet, but it's not "expedient" for us "as becometh saints."

When Paul says no covetous man, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God, he's not talking about a "saint" that covets, but rather a "covetous man" who is not a "saint."

So in Galatians 5 when Paul said "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God", the "they" he speaks of are not "saints."

Their (non-imputed) sins are not the reason they will not inherit the kingdom of God. The reason for that is they're not a "saint."

You and I are "saints" not a "covetous man", and when we view these as descriptive titles, the premise changes.

Hope this helps bro!