INTRODUCTION
Outline:
1. The Unrighteous Shall Not Inherit
2. The Unrighteous Sins Not Imputed
3. The Righteous Saints Shall Inherit
Remarks:
1. In our lesson today we are going to be discussing the theme “they shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” The Apostle Paul directs his attention to the unrighteousness that was wide spread in the church at Corinth. He states in no uncertain terms such unrighteousness should not be a part of the church; and shall not have inheritance in the Kingdom of God – heaven.
2. First, the apostle states: “the unrighteous mention in this letter shall not be part of the kingdom of God." The sins Paul outlined are listed in three major areas: 1) sexual, i.e., fornication, adultery, effeminates and abusers of themselves with mankind; 2) social, i.e., thieves, revilers, extortions, and covetousness; and 3) spiritual, i.e., idolaters, spiritual fornicators or adulterers.
3. Next, he says: “their iniquities and sins have not been imputed” to their account. Paul says: “they are washed, they are sanctified, and they are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” In these phrases Paul was describing their redemption and reconciliation by the life and work of Christ. They responded to the grace of God and the gospel of Christ. He describes them also as being “new creatures, with old things are passed away, and all things are new.” He speaks here of regeneration and recreation – this was accomplished at their conversion to Christ.
4. Lastly, he affirms: “only the righteous saints shall inherit the kingdom of God.” Paul affirms all who have been “washed, sanctified and justified” shall have entrance first into the church of Christ now; and later into the heavenly kingdom of God. This warning and promise are directed to us in our walk in Christ. All of our sins have been “washed away”; we have been “justified and sanctified” in Christ Jesus by our obedience to the gospel of Christ. Paul states all the sin mentioned in these verses were forgiven when they became new creatures. Trusting God and believing this to be so – what is left behind and require our attention? Peter admonishes us to “add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.” If we do this we can be confident that we shall have an “abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
BODY OF LESSON
I THE UNRIGHTEOUS SHALL NOT INHERIT
A. The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. The unrighteous -- translated, "doers of wrong": referring to 1 Corinthians 6:8, 9-10 (compared to Galatians 5:19-21). Shall not inherit the kingdom of God--which is “the kingdom of righteousness; the kingdom of Christ and of God,” (Romans 14:17; Ephesians 5:5).
B. These are the unfruitful works of darkness and shameful as described in Ephesians 5:11-12. These are similar to the sins mentioned to the Galatians, “now the works of the flesh…are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanliness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, etc.,” Ephesians 5:3-4; Galatians 5:19-21.
C. He warns them that do such; they shall not inherit the kingdom of God. He warns, “Be not deceived, those who commit such shall not unrighteousness shall…,” 1 Corinthians 6:10. The sins Paul describes is listed in three major areas. They are:
1. Sexual, i.e., fornication, adultery, effeminates and whoremongers. a) Fornication is Gr: porneia – forming our English word, pornography. This includes all illicit sexual acts (i.e., fornication, adultery, incest), Matthew 5:32. Paul encouraged these saints, if one burns with the passion of sexual desire – they should marry, 1 Corinthians 7:1-9. b) Adultery is Gr: moichao, an illicit sexual act committed with a married person. c) Effeminate is Gr: malakos, an illicit sexual act committed with male temple prostitutes, or homosexuality (soft, and of uncertain affinity); these are also called the “abusers of themselves with mankind.” All these sexual sins violate the commandments of God. d) Whoremongers, is Gr: pornos, fornicator or whoremonger, all forms of prostitutes and prostitution, Hebrews 13:5. It later included the synagogues of the Libertines, and the synagogues of Satan, Acts 6:9; Revelation 2:9, Revelation 3:9. We will discuss later – the forms of adultery in the New Testament – that can be forgiven by the “grace of God” through the “precious blood of Jesus Christ” which He has shed at Calvary for all generations, Revelation 1:4-5; 1 Peter 1:18-19.
2. Social, i.e., thieves, revilers, extortions, and covetousness. These are sins we commit against one another. Fraud, theft; vile evil speaking; and wicked desires.
3. Spiritual, i.e., idolaters, fornicators, adulterers. Worship of idols. Anything that replaces our devotion to God. We cannot serve God and mammon, Matthew 6:24. This is a form of spiritual adultery, Revelation 2:20-22; Jeremiah 3:6-10.
D. He describes this in simple form, of which they could not be ignorant of, that they which commit such ungodliness shall be destroyed. The most evil among them knew that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God, 1 Corinthians 6:9. They cannot claim to be true members of Christ’s church on earth, nor hope of admittance as redeemed saints into the kingdom of heaven. All unrighteousness is sin; and every sin committed deliberately or otherwise, and not repented of and forgiven, shall bar one from the kingdom of God, 1 John 5:17-19.
E. Be not deceived. Paul warns them against deceiving themselves: Be not deceived. If any commit these acts of sin, they cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Paul gives a similar warning to the saints at Galatia. Be not deceived “God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting,” Galatians 6:6-8. Illustrate: Law of Sowing and Reaping. The same promise is also granted to us in our giving unto the Lord, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Luke 6:38.
II THE UNRIGHTEOUS SINS NOT IMPUTED
A. Paul specifies the sort of sins they had committed against the commandments of God as: idolaters; adulterers, fornicators, effeminates, and Sodomites; thieves and extortions, revilers; coveters and drunkards, neither of which could inherit the kingdom of God. The unrighteous man is not worthy of the kingdom of heaven. Those who do unrighteousness are worthy of death; “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life...,” Romans 6:23. “All have sinned and are unrighteous before God,” Romans 3:23. God “desires all men to be saved,” 1 Timothy 2:3-6.
B. Paul describes the blessed gift of God to the Romans. Blessed are they whose “sins and iniquities were not imputed to them – i.e., added to their account.” Notice Paul’s discussion of this blessedness. He says: “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin,” Romans 4:6-8.
C. To the Corinthians he states: “ye are washed, ye are sanctified, and ye are justified,” 1 Corinthians 6:11. In these phrases Paul was describing their redemption and reconciliation to God by the life and work of Christ. Their response was to the grace of God and a faithful walk in the fellowship of Christ. He describes them in his second letter as being “new creatures, with old things having passed away, and all things having become new.” He speaks of regeneration and recreation – this of course was accomplished at their conversion and obedience to the gospel of Christ.
D. We speak now of the phrase “but ye are washed.” You are washed, you are sanctified, you are justified in the name of Christ, and by the Spirit of our God. These wicked men and women were “washed from their sins and reconciled unto God.” It was the blood of Christ that cleansed their sins and purified their conscience, 1 John 1:7-9; 1 Peter 3:20-21. Paul lists the sins to which these saints were forgiven. You recall earlier I mentioned that there were several forms of adultery mentioned in the New Testament? We will now deal with a dilemma that faces the church of Christ today. Let’s first overview the major forms of adultery in our lesson. They are:
1. Physical act of adultery. Jesus states, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery…” Matthew 5:27. And Moses: “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” Exodus 20:14. It was this text our Lord addressed to the rich young ruler who asked regarding eternal life. The Lord replied: “…Thou shalt not commit adultery…,” Matthew 19:18. Illustrate: The Woman Caught in the Act of Adultery, John 8:1-11. Could an adulterer like this woman today be forgiven of her sins through gospel obedience? See Romans 1:14-17; 6:17-18; and 10:13-18.
2. Look of Lust. “…But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart,” Matthew 5:28. Notice Peter, “…Having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls: a heart that has been exercised with covetous practices…,” 2 Peter 2:14; 2 Timothy 3:6-7. It appears that the physical act need not be committed to be guilty of adultery – just looking on a woman or man with lust in one’s heart is equal to that of the physical act. Illustrate: Hearts Full of Adultery, Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21-23. Could a man today be forgiven of this form of adultery through gospel obedience?
3. Marriage while being legally bound. Notice Jesus in these passages:
a. “But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, (saving for the cause of fornication), causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery,” Matthew 5:31-32.
b. “And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, (except it be for fornication), and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery,” Matthew 19:9.
c. “Whosoever shall put away his wife and marry another, committeth adultery and if a woman shall put away her husband and be married to another, she committeth adultery,” Mark 10:11.
d. “Whosoever putteth away his wife and marrieth another committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery,” Luke 16:18.
e. A summary of the passages above reveals to put away or divorce one’s spouse (and marry another); he/she committeth a third form of adultery.
f. The marrying of another without a divorce for the “exception” Jesus grants – (i.e., fornication) is considered the sin of adultery. Therefore, marrying another while being bound – one committeth this sin of adultery our Lord describes in these verses. The question then, is this; can a person guilty of this form of adultery be forgiven when they obey the gospel of Christ? I affirm to you – that they have and can!
g. Definitions: 1) Divorce, and put away, both are Gr: apoluo, to be loosed, released from bond, as it pertains to marriage; Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9. 2) Put away, Gr: aphiemi, to send away, to dismiss, to put away a wife, to forsake, leave behind; this word is used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:12. 3) Depart, Gr: chorizo, to place room between; go away, to depart, to put asunder, or to separate, 1 Corinthians 7:15. 4) Bondage, Gr: douloo, “a brother or sister not under bondage in such case,” 1 Corinthians 7:15; and 5) Bound, Gr: doe, to fasten or tie in marriage, Romans 7:1-3.
E. Ye are sanctified, and ye are justified. The conclusion of Paul’s admonition was that these Corinthian’s were once sinners, fornicators, adulterers and effeminates; but now through washing are sanctified and justified. They are in Christ. Old things have passed away; and all things have become new, 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10. Here is the order: Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, and ye are justified. Our justification is through the work of Christ at Calvary; and our sanctification is through the operation of the Holy Spirit – by “the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost,” Titus 3:5; Ephesians 1:9; Romans 3:24-26.
III THE RIGHTEOUS SAINTS SHALL INHERIT
A. Paul affirms all who have been “washed, sanctified and justified” shall have an entrance first into the church of Christ now; and later into the heavenly Kingdom of God. His warning and promise is directed also to us as we walk in Christ. Peter adds that if we “add to our faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity or love” we can be confident that we shall be afforded an “abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” 2 Peter 1:5-11, Colossians 1:13. See also 2 Timothy 4:16-18.
B. All that obeyed had an entrance into the church of Christ and the kingdom of God. But what of a believer today; if he/she obeys the gospel of Christ like these Corinthians, do they have an entrance into the kingdom of God? Have all of their sins been “washed away?” Have they been “sanctified and justified” in Christ Jesus after their obedience to the gospel? Paul affirms that we are “all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ,” Galatians 3:26-27; Roman 6:3-4. All the unrighteousness mentioned in these verses was forgiven when we became “new creatures in Christ,” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
C. The question before us now is simply this! Which of the adulterers discussed in this lesson could not be saved by grace; or have their sins “washed away by the blood of Christ” if they obey the gospel of Christ? Who could it be? Maybe it is:
1. The one who committed the physical act of adultery?
2. The one who looked on a woman to lust after her?
3. The one who remarries while being legally bound to another?
4. The one who worships an idol – or commits religious adultery?
D. Could a person like the woman at the well be saved and become a member of the kingdom of God? Illustrate: John 4:1ff; Acts 8:1-5. Should she be instructed to return to her first husband? What instruction did Paul give these saints? Please notice 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. Illustrate: Let Every Man Abide as He has Been Called. All are called by the grace of God, Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Peter 2:9; Colossians 1:13.
1. Is there a command in the bible for one to return to their former spouse, after gospel obedience? Illustrate: Law of Moses, Deuteronomy 24:1-4.
2. Paul’s instruction to the saints, “abide as they have been called,” verse 17.
3. If called being circumcised, or uncircumcised, “let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called,” verses 18-20. Called is, Gr: klesis, Ephesians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:12.
4. If called being a servant, or free, “Brethren, let every man wherein he is called, therein abide with God,” verses 21-24, 1 Corinthians, 1:9, 26.
E. What other acts of righteousness were required of these Corinthians to be forgiven? What else did the apostle Paul ask the drunks, fornicators, or murderers to do to be saved? What other acts of righteousness did the Samaritan woman or others like her need to do to be saved or forgiven of their sins? Notice the bible:
1. The Corinthians. “And many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptized,” Acts 18:8. Nothing else was required for their forgiveness!
2. The Samaritans. “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women,” Acts 8:12. Nothing else was required for their forgiveness!
3. This pattern is for our obedience today, Romans 6:17-18; John 8:31-32, 36.
4. Brethren, it is time we release those guilty of all forms of adultery; just as God has done at the time of their obedience to the gospel of Christ. If not, why not?
5. Can we ask more of these than the Lord? Can we require one to do more than that which is required in the gospel plan? Acts 15:24-29.
6. Have we become judges of one another? Romans 14:10-12; Matthew 7:1-2.
CONCLUSION
A. Summarize main points.
B. First, the apostle stated: “the unrighteous mention in this letter shall not be part of the kingdom of God. The sins Paul outlined are listed in three major areas: 1) sexual, i.e., fornication, adultery, effeminates and abusers of themselves with mankind; 2) social, i.e., thieves, revilers, extortions, and covetousness; and 3) spiritual, i.e., idolaters, spiritual fornicators or adulterers.
C. Next, he said: “their unrighteousness acts were not imputed” to their account. Like them we: “are washed, are sanctified, and are justified in the name of the Lord, and by the Spirit of our God.” In these phrases Paul describes our redemption and reconciliation to God by the life and work of Christ. He describes in his second letter we are “new creatures, old things having been passed away, and all things being new.” He speaks here of regeneration and recreation – this was accomplished at their conversion to Christ. All sins have been “washed away.”
D. Lastly, he affirms: “only the righteous saints shall inherit the kingdom of God.” Paul affirms all who have been “washed, sanctified and justified” have entrance into the church of Christ now; and into the Kingdom of God. This promise is directed to us as we walk in Christ. All of our sins have been “washed away”; we have been “sanctified and justified” by our obedience to the gospel. All of our sins were forgiven and we are new creatures. When old things are passed away and all things are become new – what remains for anyone to return unto? Trusting God and believing this to be so – what is left undone and require our further attention? Here it is! Peter admonishes us to “add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.” If do this we can be confident that we shall have an “abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
E. Invitation, exhortation, and motivation.
