Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies. So writes Paul in Galatians 5.20,21. Is he teaching that we get to heaven by what we do? Not at all. The whole point of Galatians is that we cannot get to heaven by what we do. His point is that what we do reflects the state of our heart. If we are doing the works of the flesh (as Paul puts it), then our heart is lashed firmly to the things of this world; we are unregenerate and will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Of course the immediate objection that arises is: But who cannot be charged with one of these sins? If this is the case then we are all guilty (true enough) and none of us will inherit the kingdom of God. John Calvin answers this question: But in this way, we shall be told, all are cut off from the hope of salvation; for who is there that is not chargeable with some of those sins? I reply, Paul does not threaten that all who have sinned, but that all who remain impenitent, shall be excluded from the kingdom of God.
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