Together in Christ: 'Headed for Destruction' — Galatians 5:19-21

Saturday, July 19, 2025

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
— Galatians 5:19-21 NLT

Key Thought

These days, nobody seems to want to hear warnings such as the ones in today's verses. However, the Holy Spirit spoke through the New Testament writers and clarified that some behaviors, ways of life, and choices are clearly anti-godliness and are not permitted in God's Kingdom's way of life. People who do these things, the apostle Paul says, "will not inherit the Kingdom of God." If we doubt this truth, all we need to do is listen and look at what other passages say about staying far away from such things and that people who do such things won't be part of God's eternal Kingdom. [1]

While we can have difficulty finding a TV show or movie that does not glamorize and normalize sinful behaviors and seek to make them acceptable, God's message is clear. These behaviors aren't part of His Kingdom. They are the opposite of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. [2] Jesus died and rose again so that the Holy Spirit could empower us to make sinful behaviors — all sin, including the "big" sins in our verses, if they have been part of our lives — our past life and not our current and future one! [3]

[1] Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-13, 18, 10:8; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Ephesians 5:3-9; Colossians 3:5-15; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 2 Peter 2:9-10, 14, 17-20.
[2] Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:28-32.
[3] 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 3:14-21. Whatever we may have done, we can be forgiven and live for God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Remember that the apostle Paul imprisoned Christians and had some of them killed before meeting and accepting Jesus (Acts 22:3-4; 1 Timothy 1:15-16).

Today's Prayer

Father, forgive me for flirting with the world and lowering my guard against Satan's temptations, deceptions, and lies. I know he wants to pull me away from my relationship with You and destroy me and what I hold dear. [A] I need Your help, O God, to keep my eyes focused on Jesus and use the power of the Holy Spirit to produce Your holy fruit [B] in me. I ask for Your help, dear Father, in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

[A] John 8:44.
[B] Galatians 5: 22-23.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
  • Ephesians 5:3-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

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Illustration

Illustration of Galatians 5:19-21 NLT — When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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