Grace in Focus Podcast Summary

Episode: What About the Vice Lists and Believers Suffering With Addictions?
Date: March 17, 2026
Hosts: Bob Wilkin & Ken Yates
Podcast: Grace in Focus, Grace Evangelical Society

Episode Overview

In this concise yet thoughtful episode, Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates discuss how Christians struggling with addictions—such as alcoholism or pornography—relate to the "vice lists" found in passages like 1 Corinthians 6 and Galatians. They address listener questions about whether enduring addictions disqualifies believers from reigning with Christ or inheriting the kingdom, how perseverance relates to ongoing struggles, and how to counsel believers in these situations without damaging assurance or community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Questions & Episode Framing

• Brad asks: How do we counsel believers with addictions who want to please God and receive rewards, yet still struggle?
• Kit asks: Can a believer who endures in faith but struggles in certain areas still reign with Christ?
• The vice lists in 1 Corinthians 6 and Galatians are highlighted, which include sins like drunkenness, fornication, envy, jealousy, and outbursts of wrath (01:01-02:17).

2. Are Addictions or Persistent Sins Disqualifiers?

• Some teach that, if you’re truly relying on the Lord, you wouldn’t have these struggles—an idea both hosts challenge as damaging and unhelpful (02:54).
• Quote:

  “Some would say, ‘Well, if you really were relying upon the Lord, you wouldn't have these issues.’ And that would drive that person away from Christ and away from victory.”
  —Bob Wilkin (02:54)

3. Contextualizing the Vice Lists

• The vice lists are not only about ‘major’ sins but include common struggles (envy, strife, anger) (02:11–04:09).
• There's a "mystery" in how enduring faith, confession, and growth relate to the warnings in these passages.
• Quote:

  “If you’re a perfectionist…you need to be real careful. Cause you can beat yourself up over everything.”
  —Ken Yates (04:09)

• The key biblical promise is: “If we endure, we will reign with him.” Enduring is closely linked to confession of Christ and commitment to his commandments (04:09–05:30).

4. Enslavement vs. Occasional Failure

• The vice lists warn not about all who ever struggle, but about those “enslaved” to such sins—i.e., those who are not seeking change or God’s help.
• Quote:

  “The question is, am I enslaved to jealousy? Am I enslaved to envy? Am I enslaved to alcohol? …It doesn’t mean they don’t experience these sins.”
  —Ken Yates (07:12)

• Believers moving from “carnal” to “spiritually minded” status demonstrate growth and experience increasing victory, not sinless perfection (07:12–08:55).

5. Character of Enduring Faith

• The distinction is drawn between those “confessing their sins” and wanting to change, versus those giving up and enjoying the sin.

• Quote:

  “The one who's wanting to please the Lord, we could say, yeah, they're there, but I don't want them to be there. I'm confessing these things.”
  —Bob Wilkin (08:55)

• Parallel with the parable of the Prodigal Son: one son is far from the father, but the other remains, struggling but confessing and growing (09:30–09:59).

6. Personal Testimonies and Empathy

• Ken shares a powerful example of a military friend who, introduced to pornography by an abusive stepfather, wrestles with addiction but hates it and longs for freedom.

• Quote:

  “He did not want it...there were tears coming down his face.”
  —Bob Wilkin (10:34)

• “If he's crying out to God to change him, then it's hard to say that he's guilty of the vice list because he's not someone who is wantonly doing these things.”
  —Ken Yates (11:02)

7. Assurance, Mystery, and the Need for Grace

• There’s an acknowledged “mystery” in the relationship between struggling with sin, enduring in confession and faith, and Ultimate reward.

• Quote:

  “If a person stays a part of the believing community and is confessing Christ and walking with Christ, confessing their sins, they're going to have some level of rulership in the life to come…we’ve got to finish well.”
  —Ken Yates (11:40)

• The importance of patience, grace, and ongoing growth is emphasized. Even those with lifetime battles can have hope in Christ’s work and in continuing forward (12:42–12:49).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It doesn’t mean they don’t experience these sins.” —Ken Yates (07:12)
• “If he's crying out to God to change him, then it's hard to say that he's guilty of the vice list...” —Ken Yates (11:02)
• “Boy, the judgment seat of Christ is going to be an interesting event.” —Bob Wilkin (12:48)
• “Remember—Always Keep Grace in Focus.” —Bob Wilkin (12:54)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:01 — Framing listener questions: Can believers struggling with addiction expect to reign with Christ?
• 02:11 — Exploring the vice list: Includes “major” and “everyday” sins.
• 04:09 — The need for grace and the danger of perfectionism.
• 07:12 — Distinguishing enslavement from occasional failure.
• 09:30 — Prodigal son comparison; difference between willful rebellion and struggling faithfulness.
• 10:34 — Personal story of addiction and tears, illustrating deep struggle and longing for freedom.
• 11:02 — Sympathy for repentant, struggling believers.
• 11:40 — Enduring is needed for ruling and reigning with Christ.
• 12:42–12:49 — Concluding thoughts: empathy and hope, the importance of patience and perseverance.

Final Reflections

Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates urge listeners not to confuse enduring faith and confession with absolute freedom from all sinful struggles. Persistent, honest striving, confession, and growth in grace are vital, and the "vice lists" are best understood as warnings against enslavement—not occasions for despair. They conclude with a focus on God’s grace and the complexity of the Christian walk, offering hope and assurance to all who truly seek Christ.