Connected to the "Selfish Gene" article

Galatians 5:19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and 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. (greek definitions of each characterist)

In non-Christians, the temptations are typically overt and visible and in a Christians the temptations may still be their but there are being brought under submission by the Spirit. We are told that the Christian can walk so that these desires are not fulfilled by means of walking in the Spirit.

• Adultery - 3430 moicheia {moy-khi'-ah} - This act of the flesh is a very specific kind of sexual impurity. It is the act of having or the desire for having a sexual relationship in the presence of a marital covenant not to do so. The mind of God is clearly revealed when in Scripture adultery was a capital crime. This was deemed to be an attack against the state as the family is the fundamental building block of any civilization. Without a sound family structure, a civilization turns to chaos.

• Fornication - 4202 porneia {por-ni'-ah} - Although fornication in our language is a very specific form of sexual impurity, this word refers to general sexual impurity which can include fornication, homosexuality, and any other perversion. Unlike adultery, fornication is the act of having or desire for having a sexual relationship without the presence of a marital covenant.

• Uncleanness - 167 akatharsia {ak-ath-ar-see'-ah} - This word has two meanings; the first is a lack of physical cleanliness and the second is a type of financial filthiness. This is not just wealthy but rich in a manner where spending is foolish and uncontrolled. This includes ostentatious and conspicuous spending. This temptation does not honor God as the source of wealth.

• Lewdness - 766 aselgeia {as-elg'-i-a} - This is unbridled lust or public flaunting of lust and shamelessness. Includes indecent body movements as well.

• Idolatry - 1495 eidololatreia {i-do-lol-at-ri'-ah} - The worship of false gods with the worship due the Lord. This is generally the replacement of the creation for the creator. Anything to which allegiance is paid that should be paid to God alone is idolatry.

• Sorcery - 5331 pharmakeia {far-mak-i'-ah} - This is a very interesting word. It is the word from where we get the English word pharmacy. This simply points out the connection between the occult and drug or poison activity.

• Hatred - 2189 echthra {ekh'-thrah} - This word describes those who get into feuds. The word is plural and is not referring to a general hatred but to those who like wrangles and disputes.

• Contentions - 2054 eris {er'-is} - Generally these are disputes that result from foolishness or careless words. Arguing about things that don't matter but nevertheless have broken fellowship over trivial things. This is combated by not allowing ourselves to elevate a trivial matter into a fellowship matter.

• Jealousies - 2205 zelos {dzay'-los} - This is not referring to the good jealousy that a husband might have for the affections of his wife or the purity that God requires from us. This is a jealousy through comparing blessings or competing or rivalry. Remember the mother who killed the mother of a competing cheerleader? Absolute foolishness and jealousy.

• Outbursts of wrath - 2372 thumos {thoo-mos'} - Uncontrolled temper and passion. This is a festering of anger which boils over and defiles others. Losing your temper as a Christian is caused by a working of your flesh and this must be said no to by the working of the Spirit.

• Selfish ambitions - 2052 eritheia {er-ith-i'-ah} - This is a self seeking pursuit of preeminence just like the disciples bickering about who was going to be first among the disciples. Wanting to be great is not a sin if you seek to do so the way Christ has said to achieve greatness through service.

• Dissensions - 1370 dichostasia {dee-khos-tas-ee'-ah} - This is creating a party spirit or creating of factions. The desire to be identified by some name or title is an act of the flesh and must be put to death. Divisions in the church are frequently founded on these ungodly dissensions.

• Heresies - 139 hairesis {hah'-ee-res-is} - These are improper understandings of God's word and a resulting gathering around a heretical teaching. This is promoted by basing our understanding upon our opinions.

• Envy - 5355 phthonos {fthon'-os} - This is a very destructive form of covetousness. While someone coveting may say that he wants something that belongs to someone else, envy goes further and says, "Well, if I can't have it then I don't want him to have it either." It attempts to level playing fields and fights against anyone have blessings that others do not. This is one of the central sins of Communism.

• Murders - 5408 phonos {fon'-os} - This is the putting to death of a human unlawfully. It would not include a wartime killing or the exercising of capital punishment.

• Drunkenness - 3178 methe {meth'-ay} - Drinking to the point of intoxication and thus losing self control. Those who are tempted to drunkenness must say no to these desires. Drunkenness is an act of the flesh, not a disease.

• Revelries - 2970 komos {ko'-mos} - wild and late parties to all hours of the night. There is a heavy emphasis in this word on the actual time that this carousing occurs.

• As he has said in other places, those who continue in these behaviors are not sons of God. Paul is not saying that those who have committed these things are going to hell, but rather those who practice or continue in them. Those who are not going to heaven can be characterized as people who controlled by these desires.