They Have No Inheritance

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.