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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Heavenly Jerusalem, #41
. . .they which do such things [the filthy works of the flesh] shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:21)
The above is an example of Paul's teachings.
"Shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
Spoken to the Christians or to the unsaved?
If spoken to the Christian, then righteous behavior is a necessity for entering the Kingdom of God whether or not the individual professes faith in Christ.
If spoken to the unsaved, then it is possible the Christian can enter the Kingdom of God apart from righteous behavior. Also, if Paul is speaking to the unsaved, it is implied if the unsaved cease their filthy behavior they can enter the Kingdom of God on this basis.
The determination of which concept is true must be made from a study of the context and from other relevant passages in the Scriptures.
Does the context suggest Paul's warnings are to the person who must receive Christ if he is to escape wrath, or are they directed toward the Christian who must cease sinning if he is to escape wrath?
As to Galatians 5:21, some of the surrounding verses state:
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:24,25)
The above verses are in context with "they which do such things (adultery, fornication, idolatry, hatred) shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Obviously, they are not addressed to non-Christians.
The Epistle to the Galatians is addressed to: "the churches of Galatia."
Is Paul speaking to the unsaved that they should accept Christ so they will not be lost? Or is Paul speaking to the Christians that if they do not walk in the Spirit, thereby overcoming the lusts of their bodies, they cannot enter the Kingdom of God?
It is clear from the context that Paul is speaking to the saints, the members of the churches of Galatia. He is directing them to crucify their flesh, to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the lusts of the flesh.
Therefore we conclude that a Christian cannot continue in the lusts of the flesh and at the same time enter the Kingdom of God. He cannot enter the new Jerusalem. The new Jerusalem is for righteous spirits who have been made perfect.
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven [in the heavens], and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just [righteous] men made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23)
It appears from the Scriptures that we can be saved by faith in Christ and still be bound by various sins, just as Lazarus was raised from the dead at the Word of Christ but still was bound by graveclothes.
But the part of our personality that is sinning has not entered the Kingdom of God because there is no sin in the Kingdom of God. There is no sin in the holy city or it would not be holy. The Kingdom of God is the doing of God's will in earth as it is in Heaven.
To be continued.