We Still Believe in Sin (But Do We Practice It?)
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God… Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6.9-11, 19-20)
In 1 Corinthians 5 and 6, Paul confronts the loose moral attitudes prevalent in his day. He does not pull any punches, insisting “that the unrighteousness will not inherit the kingdom of God” (v. 11). He then goes on to list those who comprise the unrighteous: the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, men who practice homosexuality, and thieves. These are things the Bible identifies as sin.
Perhaps you feel that you have dodged a bullet when you see that list. But do you skip over what's next? The greedy, drunkards, revilers, and swindlers show up in that list.
All of these are identified as sinful by Paul. Those who practice them would not inherit the kingdom of God. Thanks be to God that Paul also uses the past tense in describing the Corinthians: "And such were some of you." In other words, you don’t do such stuff anymore! Why? “For you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God… Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you… You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.”
I am reminded, Lord, of your Word which says, "Friendship with the world is enmity with God... Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (James 4.4). No matter what the world says, help me to listen to what you say about sin. Amen.