EXCLUDED FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The kingdom of God, over which He made His Son, Jesus Christ its Head and its King, spans from earth to heaven. The kingdom on earth is the body of Christ, His church, while the kingdom of heaven is the home of eternal salvation. It is here that Jesus rules his kingdom and is presently seated at the right hand of God. All human beings must enter His kingdom, the church of Christ, while on earth. Entry is made through obedience to the will of God who commands that one must hear and believe the word of God, which contains His plan of salvation, repent from all past sins, confess Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and Savior of the world, and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. It is at this point that one enters into the kingdom of God; it is only at this time, after one has submitted to baptism, that God adds the repentant believer into Christ's earthly kingdom - the church of Christ (Acts 2:41 & 47).

Only those that have entered into God's kingdom on earth, His church, have the hope of eternal salvation in the heavenly kingdom of God. When one enters His kingdom, they become a child of God; they become heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:17). And it is only those that obey His gospel call, and remain His obedient children, that have a right to the inheritance of the family of God - the right to inherit the heavenly kingdom of God. Using the examples of goats as unrepentant sinners, and sheep as obedient children of God, Jesus, Himself, explains how this inheritance will take place. Only to the faithful will the King say, ... Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matt. 25:34 & See Vss. 31-46). The inheritance of unbelievers and unrepentant sinners will be everlasting punishment (Vs. 46).

Be not deceived! This inspired message from the apostle Paul leaves no doubt - unrighteous men and women will not inherit eternal life. Those that are led to think otherwise are only deceived. Paul warns us that Satan, himself appears to the world as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). Satan has filled the world with false apostles, prophets, preachers, and teachers that will try to lure audiences away from obedience to the will of God, while they, themselves, are filled with the very sins that God deplores. Indeed, the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Be not deceived! In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul specifically mentioned many acts of sinfulness that many of their members had been deceived into committing. There was envy, strife, and divisions among members of the church (Chap. 3); there was fornication and incest (Chap. 5); there was fraud among them that resulted in brethren suing one another (Chap. 6). These, and many other sins, Paul enumerates, that the Christians at Corinth were guilty of, not only committing them, but condoning and overlooking them in others. Paul lists other types of sinners: fornicators, ...idolaters, ...adulterers, ...effeminate, ...abusers of themselves with mankind, ...thieves, ...covetous, ...drunkards, ...revilers, ...(and) extortioners. These sinners, he says, shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

To the Christians that made up the church of Christ in Corinth, Paul said, at one time these types of sinners were some of you. Paul now tells us about a wondrous transition that takes place during the conversion from sinner to saint. When the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ was preached to them, by Paul and other preachers and teachers of God's word, they heard it, understood it, believed it, accepted it, replaced their human beliefs with it, and obeyed it. As taught by Paul, and other ministers of Christ, their obedience led them to be washed - having been cleansed through baptism for the forgiveness of sins. Doing so, they became God's children, sanctified - set apart from the world as servants of God; they became justified - having their sins blotted out, they became just and reconciled to God. Such is God's gift to all that obediently answer His gospel call to salvation. It is given to all Christians by the (Holy) Spirit of God. Be not deceived by Satan! The lesson text tells us about many types of sinners. Recognize them when they appear before you. Be not one of them! Be not excluded from the kingdom of God!