I was reading Galatians 5 recently and noticed again the two kinds of sins identified with “the sinful nature” in Galatians 5.19 – 21? 

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. (NLT, emphases mine)

I’ve been around church people most of my life, and I can tell you we like to look askance at folks who practice the sins I’ve put in italics above: sexual immorality, lustful pleasures, drunkenness, and wild parties occur (hopefully) outside the church walls and are all on the naughty list! But have you ever been in a church meeting where people are arguing about some fine point of theology or practice or debating about the value of a particular church program or even service times? Hostility? Check. Quarreling? Check. Outbursts of anger? Check. Dissension and division? Check and check. 

Sins in bold are on the naughty list too, and they often occur inside the church walls. 

There are several ways to go off the rails. People given to the outside set of behaviors are ignoring or rebelling against God’s word. Church people given to the inside set are working too hard to enforce some perceived aspect of the law. Both are in error. 

The solution?

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5.22, 23, NLT)

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires.. [The “outside sins”] … You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander,… [The “inside sins”]…You have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony… (Colossians 3.5 – 14, NLT)