Sinful Nature

Galatians 5:19-21
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.

If you’re like me you probably skimmed over this list and thought, “Yep! That’s how ‘they’ live!” Yet if we take a closer look, we will find that we are described in here too. “Hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy…” I wish I could say that not a single one of these describes me, but then I would be lying, and that’s sinful too, so what’s the point of pretending?
I’m sure you noticed the last sentence of this passage, reminding us that “those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” This is where we begin to panic, wondering if our sin means that we won’t be heirs with Christ. Don’t panic. This passage is telling us that it is a life of sin that does not inherit God’s kingdom. It is when sin is a way of life, a constant and consistent way of reacting and living that we must then take a look inside ourselves and begin to ask the tough questions. “Do I desire to change?” “If not, why? Is it that I am lacking conviction from the Holy Spirit, evidence of no relationship with Christ?” “If I have the desire to change, what can I do to allow Christ to begin that process within me?”
If sin is not the way of life for you, then you can probably see the conviction of the Spirit in your life, and the process of change He is leading you through. Yet, we must continue to watch ourselves and our attitudes. Many of the sins we tend to leave un-checked are some of the ones that can be most damaging, because they are subtle and often left to their own devices. If left to simmer and grow they can ruin friendships, relationships, ministries, families, even entire churches. We must listen to the Spirit, and allow Him to guide us and change us, one day, one moment at a time. This means we must be willing to see and admit to our mistakes, wrong thoughts, and negative attitudes.
Is there an attitude or thought that the Holy Spirit has been nagging you about? We need to begin by admitting our sin to God, and asking for forgiveness and help to change. Then we need to find a friend or two with whom we can build an accountability relationship – a safe place to share, grow, and be challenged to change. If you have no one with whom you feel safe, begin by asking God to send someone your way, and watch for His quick (though possibly unexpected) answer.
When we watch for God and follow His lead each day, we will begin to taste of all that He has for us. This, in turn, will keep us from living lives of sin, as we are led in righteousness through God’s Spirit. Let’s start today, together!