The result of sin’s control in our lives is clear. It includes sexual sins, impure acts and wild living.

情欲的事都是显而易见的，就如奸淫、污秽、邪荡、

情欲的事都是显而易见的；就如淫乱、污秽、放荡、

情欲的事都是显而易见的；就如淫乱、污秽、放荡、

顺从罪恶本性而行的事显而易见，如淫乱、污秽、邪荡、

肉体所行的都是显而易见的，就如淫乱、污秽、邪荡、

肉体的行为是清清楚楚的，它们就是：通奸、淫乱、污秽、好色、

情慾的事都是顯而易見的，就如姦淫、污穢、邪蕩、

情慾的事都是顯而易見的；就如淫亂、污穢、放蕩、

情慾的事都是顯而易見的；就如淫亂、污穢、放蕩、

順從罪惡本性而行的事顯而易見，如淫亂、污穢、邪蕩、

肉體所行的都是顯而易見的，就如淫亂、污穢、邪蕩、

肉體之行為是顯而易見的，就是：淫亂、污穢、邪蕩、

肉體的行為是清清楚楚的，它們就是：通姦、淫亂、汙穢、好色、

夫形軀之行顯著、即淫亂、污穢、邪侈、

夫從欲者、其行可知、姦淫、苟合、污穢、邪侈、

縱欲之行、顯而易知、即姦淫、苟合、污穢、邪侈、

夫情慾之事、亦顯而易見也；凡姦非污濁、淫蕩奢侈、

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity,

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior,

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity,

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are[ these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity,

Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,

Don’t you know that people who do wrong will not receive God’s kingdom? Don’t be fooled. Those who commit sexual sins will not receive the kingdom. Neither will those who worship statues of gods or commit adultery. Neither will men who sleep with other men.Neither will thieves or those who always want more and more. Neither will those who are often drunk or tell lies or cheat. People who live like that will not receive God’s kingdom.

As a result, they don’t live the rest of their earthly life for evil human desires. Instead, they live to do what God wants.You have spent enough time in the past doing what ungodly people choose to do. You lived a wild life. You longed for evil things. You got drunk. You went to wild parties. You worshiped statues of gods, which the Lord hates.Ungodly people are surprised that you no longer join them in what they do. They want you to join them in their wild and wasteful living. So they say bad things about you.

But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart. Those are the things that make someone‘ unclean.’Evil thoughts come out of a person’s heart. So do murder, adultery, and other sexual sins. And so do stealing, false witness, and telling lies about others.

There should not be even a hint of sexual sin among you. Don’t do anything impure. And do not always want more and more. These are not the things God’s holy people should do.There must not be any bad language or foolish talk or dirty jokes. They are out of place. Instead, you should give thanks.Here is what you can be sure of. Those who give themselves over to sexual sins are lost. So are people whose lives are impure. The same is true of those who always want more and more. People who do these things might as well worship statues of gods. No one who does them will receive a share in the kingdom of Christ and of God.Don’t let anyone fool you with worthless words. People who say things like that aren’t obeying God. He is angry with them.

So put to death anything that comes from sinful desires. Get rid of sexual sins and impure acts. Don’t let your feelings get out of control. Remove from your life all evil desires. Stop always wanting more and more. You might as well be worshiping statues of gods.God’s anger is going to come because of these things.That’s the way you lived at one time in your life.But now here are the kinds of things you must also get rid of. You must get rid of anger, rage, hate and lies. Let no dirty words come out of your mouths.

But others will be thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. Those who are afraid and those who do not believe will be there. Murderers and those who make themselves impure will join them. Those who commit sexual sins and those who practice witchcraft will go there. Those who worship statues of gods and all who tell lies will be there too. The lake of fire is the second death.”

At one time we too acted like fools. We didn’t obey God. We were tricked. We were controlled by all kinds of desires and pleasures. We were full of evil. We wanted what belongs to others. People hated us, and we hated one another.

Some people plant to please their desires controlled by sin. From these desires they will harvest death. Others plant to please the Holy Spirit. From the Spirit they will harvest eternal life.

You are still following the ways of the world. Some of you are jealous. Some of you argue. So aren’t you following the ways of the world? Aren’t you acting like ordinary human beings?

Evil thoughts come from the inside, from a person’s heart. So do sexual sins, stealing and murder.Adultery, greed, hate and cheating come from a person’s heart too. So do desires that are not pure, and wanting what belongs to others. And so do telling lies about others and being proud and being foolish.All these evil things come from inside a person and make them‘ unclean.’ ”

So don’t live under the control of sin. If you do, you will think about what sin wants. Live under the control of the Holy Spirit. If you do, you will think about what the Spirit wants.

Outside the city are those who are impure. These people include those who practice witchcraft. Outside are also those who commit sexual sins and murder. Outside are those who worship statues of gods. And outside is everyone who loves and does what is false.

If you live under the power of sin, you will die. But by the Spirit’s power you can put to death the sins you commit. Then you will live.

We also know that the law isn’t made for godly people. It is made for those who break the law. It is for those who refuse to obey. It is for ungodly and sinful people. It is for those who aren’t holy and who don’t believe. It is for those who kill their fathers or mothers. It is for murderers.It is for those who commit sexual sins. It is for those who commit homosexual acts. It is for people who buy and sell slaves. It is for liars. It is for people who tell lies in court. It is for those who are a witness to things that aren’t true. And it is for anything else that is the opposite of true teaching.

But suppose your hearts are jealous and bitter. Suppose you are concerned only about getting ahead. Then don’t brag about it. And don’t say no to the truth.Wisdom like this doesn’t come down from heaven. It belongs to the earth. It doesn’t come from the Holy Spirit. It comes from the devil.

I’m afraid that when I come I won’t find you as I want you to be. I’m afraid that you won’t find me as you want me to be. I’m afraid there will be arguing, jealousy and fits of anger. I’m afraid each of you will focus only on getting ahead. Then you will tell lies about each other. You will talk about each other. I’m afraid you will be proud and cause trouble.I’m afraid that when I come again my God will put me to shame in front of you. Then I will be sad about many who sinned earlier and have not turned away from it. They have not turned away from uncleanness, sexual sins and wild living. They have done all those things.

Keep far away from sexual sins. All the other sins a person commits are outside the body. But sexual sins are sins against their own body.

They knew God. But they didn’t honor him as God. They didn’t thank him. Their thinking became worthless. Their foolish hearts became dark.They claimed to be wise. But they made fools of themselves.They would rather have statues of gods than the glorious God who lives forever. Their statues of gods are made to look like people, birds, animals and reptiles.So God let them go. He allowed them to do what their sinful hearts wanted to. He let them commit sexual sins. They made one another’s bodies impure by what they did.They chose a lie instead of the truth about God. They worshiped and served created things. They didn’t worship the Creator. But he is praised forever. Amen.So God let them continue to have their shameful desires. Their women committed sexual acts that were not natural.In the same way, the men turned away from their natural love for women. They burned with sexual desire for each other. Men did shameful things with other men. They suffered in their bodies for all the wrong things they did.They didn’t think it was important to know God. So God let them continue to have evil thoughts. They did things they shouldn’t do.They are full of every kind of sin, evil and ungodliness. They want more than they need. They commit murder. They want what belongs to other people. They fight and cheat. They hate others. They say mean things about other people.They tell lies about them. They hate God. They are rude and proud. They brag. They think of new ways to do evil. They don’t obey their parents.They do not understand. They can’t be trusted. They are not loving and kind.They know that God’s commands are right. They know that those who do evil things should die. But they continue to do those very things. They also approve of others who do them.

Though evil people tried to pay me to do wrong, I have not done what they wanted. Instead I have done what you commanded.

The power of sin used to control us. The law stirred up sinful desires in us. So the things we did resulted in death.

The desires controlled by sin do not want what the Spirit delights in. And the Spirit does not want what the desires controlled by sin delight in. The two are at war with each other. That’s why you are not supposed to do whatever you want.

People give birth to people. But the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

Here is what I’m telling you. I am speaking for the Lord as I warn you. You must no longer live as the Gentiles do. Their thoughts don’t have any purpose.They can’t understand the truth. They are separated from the life of God. That’s because they don’t know him. And they don’t know him because their hearts are stubborn.They have lost all feeling for what is right. So they have given themselves over to all kinds of evil pleasures. They take part in every kind of unclean act. And they are full of greed.

I know there is nothing good in my desires controlled by sin. I want to do what is good, but I can’t.

But you are not ruled by the power of sin. Instead, the Holy Spirit rules over you. This is true if the Spirit of God lives in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ.

“‘ “The princes of Israel are in your city. All of them use their power to spill blood.They have made fun of fathers and mothers alike. They have crushed outsiders. They have treated badly the children whose fathers have died. They have done the same thing to widows.You have looked down on the holy things that were set apart to me. You have misused my Sabbath days.You have spread lies about others so you can spill someone’s blood. You eat at the mountain temples. You commit impure acts.You bring shame on your fathers by having sex with their wives. You have sex with women during their monthly period. That is when they are‘ unclean.’One of you has sex with another man’s wife. I hate that sin. Another brings shame on his daughter- in- law by having sex with her. Still another has sex with his sister, even though she is his own father’s daughter.You accept money from people who want special favors. You do this to spill someone’s blood. You charge interest to poor people when you lend them money. You make money from them. You get rich by cheating your neighbors. And you have forgotten me,” announces the Lord and King.“‘ “I will clap my hands because I am so angry. You got rich by cheating others. You spilled blood inside the walls of your city.

My brothers and sisters, you were chosen to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to live under the power of sin. Instead, serve one another in love.

The written law was made weak by the power of sin. But God did what the written law could not do. He made his Son to be like those who live under the power of sin. God sent him to be an offering for sin. Jesus suffered God’s judgment against our sin.

I give thanks to God who saves me. He saves me through Jesus Christ our Lord. So in my mind I am a slave to God’s law. But sin controls my desires. So I am a slave to the law of sin.