Amen!!
It is always good to study the truth by not taking a portion of it out of its context. We have shared the verses from Scripture that reveal the fruit of the Spirit, but let's now look at some of the surrounding verses so that we get a fuller understanding of the message being given in this case by the Apostle Paul.
Galatians is often thought of as the epistle that hammers home the subject of righteousness by faith. And it surely does. But, there is a great success story we must consider as we listen to the teachings based on Galatians. The success story involves not God's success, but Satan's. He has twisted the truth about righteousness by faith in such a manner that sinners can remain sinners and believe they have eternal life. "Just believe" is the mantra of millions of professing Christians. We are under grace, not under law. Obedience in not required for salvation, only faith!
So, let us look at these verses that appear just ahead of the fruits of the Spirit.
Galatians
5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
5:21 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.
When a teacher sent of God teaches from the Book of Galatians, these verses must be a central focus. Why? Because they are not taught properly in professing Christian churches today. These verses reveal that justification by faith is more than "just believing". The devils believe and tremble. Justification by faith is more than a mere profession of faith. Paul lists the above works of the flesh and tells us very plainly that "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
This presents a real problem for the multitude who believe that sin does not disqualify them from heaven. After all justification is by faith ALONE.
How do we reconcile justification by faith and the fact that sin will keep us from heaven? It is not difficult unless one has been drinking cool-aid spiked with poison. The Bible speaks of such a situation. "And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." God will punish those who deceived the nations of the world with false doctrine.
A sinner is justified in having eternal life (salvation) when he dies to self and lives unto Christ. This is represented by baptism. When a person surrenders all to Christ, he is "born again". How is he born again? Jesus tells us that he is born of the Spirit. When self is laid in the dust and man surrenders to the grace of God, He, the Holy Spirit comes into the heart of man. This is why the fruits of the Spirit are seen in the life. Why are not the works of the flesh seen in the life? Because the flesh is kept under by the mind which is now under the control of Christ.
When Adam sinned, he lost the power of self control. He could no longer control the lower powers of the flesh with the higher powers of his mind. Reason, intellect, and conscience were still active, but they could not control the flesh. The carnal mind is enmity (hatred) with God. Adam was aligned with Satan and sin. But, through the indwelling presence of God (reconciliation), man is a partaker of the divine nature. He is given power to control his evil flesh. This is why the promise is made that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. Have you ever wondered why you are tempted beyond what you can bear? It is because the promise is conditioned upon you being a partaker of His divine nature. If you do not have the Holy Spirit in your heart, then you cannot resist the smallest temptation. You may not appear to sin, but God looks upon the heart. He reads the motive of your actions. If you obey because it is in your selfish interest to, that is not the same as obeying from the heart.
The works of the flesh reveal a separation between man and God. This is why those who do such things will not enter the kingdom of God.