Galatians 5:19-21 inheriting the kingdom of God what does this really mean ? Can one lose salvation ? What does it mean to enter into a relationship with God ? Rewards ?

Let’s begin

Galatians 5:19-21

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.


A lot of people interpret this scripture as a warning to believers, they will take these verses out of context to support that salvation can be lost and that it is by our own works and so called “righteous living” that keeps us saved otherwise we will lose it.

They will say that those who practise habitual sin will not get into heaven, this view is not scriptural and is stated no where within the verse.

If we look at the entire context of this chapter, Paul is encouraging believers to live for God, to live by the fruit of the Holy Spirit and not in the flesh as the unsaved do.

He’s making a comparison between people who live by the flesh and those who live by the spirit. He’s saying do not live like the unsaved as THEY are not going to heaven, but now that you have been saved live by the sprit. Notice he does not say “if you do those things you will not inherit the kingdom God” rather he says “THEY” referring to unbelievers.

Galatians 5:21

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that THEY which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.


Notice that part of this verse states “of which I tell you before as I have told you in time past” where else have we heard a similar scripture like this in the bible ?

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

We must understand that every human being on this earth fits into one of those categories of sin, whether they’ve done it once or whether they’ve done it 100 times.

James 2:10

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Without the blood of Christ covering us we are defined by our sins, we would be a thief, drunkard or sexually ect.. in Gods eyes. However because Jesus came and purged our sins on the cross God no longer sees us as those things anymore, instead he sees his perfect son.

This is why the verse says

1 Corinthians 6:11

11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

We did not become saved because we did stopped committing a certain sin or decided to sin less. We did nothing to earn it, we are justified and washed clean solely on the basis of the Grace of God through Jesus Christ.

The purpose of this message is for people to realise that salvation is not by works by any means necessary, we cannot do anything to lose, earn or maintain it. We are all wretched sinners, It is given to us through the grace of God through believing that Jesus died and rose again for our sins. All the Glory goes to Jesus !!!

It is not Jesus plus good works or Jesus plus good behaviour, it is faith alone in Christ alone and that’s it. When one believes on the lord Jesus Christ that person enters into a personal relationship with him, God wants this relationship to be perused by the believer solely out of love and not out of fear or compulsion by any means.

Paul made it clear that Christians are now under grace and liberty and nothing can send us to hell or separate us from God, we are now free to choose whether we will serve God with  the salvation he has freely given to us or live a carnal fleshly life for ourselves.

Galatians 5:13

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Both decisions have consequences in this life and in our eternal lives, and all believers will ultimately have to stand before Christ and give account of what they did with their lives. They will receive a reward or suffer loss but will still be saved.

Romans 14:12

So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God.

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be SAVED; yet so as by fire.

Thank you for reading and hopefully this makes everyone more appreciative of God’s Grace.

Praise God and God Bless you all 🙏🏾.