As we said, we live by the Spirit by acknowledging Christ in all our ways, in the meanwhile singing and making melody in our heart to the Lord. When we live this way it is so much easier to resist sin.

For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so you do not do what you want. (Galatians 5:17 NIV)

We understand from the above verse that we have two forces directed against our personality. One force is the indwelling Spirit of God. The other force is our sinful nature. We must at every point of decision during the day choose to be led by the Spirit of God. This is how we overcome our sinful nature.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. (Galatians 5:18 NIV)

Can you see from the above that Paul was always reacting to the Law of Moses? The Gentile Christians in Galatia were being pressed by Jewish Christian teachers to add some or all of the Law of Moses to their salvation, particularly circumcision. Paul responds that when we are led by the Spirit we are not under the Law. The other side of the coin is that if we are not being led by the Spirit we come under the jurisdiction of the Law.

This is where Gentile Christians are today. They are spiritual "singles." They do not obey the Law of Moses and they do not follow the Spirit. Thus they are under condemnation even though they do not feel as though this is the case.

Next the Apostle Paul feeds us from the tree of the knowledge of evil.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; Idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions And envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 NIV)

Sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery.

Idolatry and witchcraft.

Hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage.

Selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy.

Drunkenness, orgies.

You will find most of these behaviors among Evangelical Christians. We just have not known what constitutes sin under the new covenant or how to deal with it. Yet there are several such lists of sin in the New Testament. I guess the lists of sin have been sealed supernaturally because the pastors and teachers seem to be unaware of them, or else suppose they are addressed to the unsaved.

I think we are hearing much more about the "rapture" and going to Heaven than we do about what behaviors we should be resisting. Is this a fact?

Such behavior is enough to keep us out of the Kingdom of God. These practices are not permitted in the Kingdom! We may talk about going to Heaven. The issue is not Heaven, it is the Kingdom of God whether or not we inherit the Kingdom! You cannot bring sin into the Kingdom. The sins Paul has mentioned produce spiritual death. They are the expression of our sinful nature. It is to these we are in slavery until we choose to follow the Spirit of God and put them to death.

To be continued.