Page 168 - Eschatology - Masters revised

A fourth is offered only to believers. They can choose to live selfishly for themselves. They are ashamed
and uncommitted to faithfully live for Jesus Christ. These believers have a lack of victory over sinful
practices in their life. They have not cooperated with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to control them so
that His attributes, the fruit of the Spirit, do not show through their life (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5L22-
24).

Ephesians 5:18 (NIV84)18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with
the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–24 (NIV84)22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to
Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

This is the opposite choice as the second choice above.

Galatians 5:19–21 (NIV84)19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and
debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,
dissensions, factions 21 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.

These verses are addressed to believers, members of churches in Galatia. Notice that those who practice
these sinful things “will not inherit the kingdom of God”. This does not mean that they will not be
eternally saved. Eternal life is guaranteed by God’s promises when they believe in Jesus Christ for
eternal life. Rather, these believers will not share in the eternal reward of reigning with Jesus Christ.
For example, there are many princes and princesses born in a royal family to the King and Queen. And
each one of them is a child of royalty. But only one of them will “inherit the kingdom” and ascend to the
throne. And many times in history, being the oldest son of the King was not enough to guarantee you
would ascend to the throne. You had to be evaluated and judged to be worthy of becoming the new
King.

This passage in Galatians 5:21 is withholding the eternal reward of ruling with Jesus Christ from those
who allow these sinful practices to dominate their Christian life. To “inherit the kingdom” means to be
granted the privilege of reigning with Jesus Christ.

This agrees with Jesus Christ’s letter to the church at Thyatira where reigning together with Jesus Christ
is also promised to the overcomer (Revelation 2:26-28).

Revelation 2:26–28 (NIV84)26 To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority
over the nations— 27 ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’—
just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give him the morning star.

Revelation 22:12-15 promises the one who overcomes and has victory over sin access to the New
Jerusalem city.

Revelation 22:12–15 (NIV84)12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to
everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the
Beginning and the End. 14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the
tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice

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