"And Such Were Some of You" - a Christian Response to an Unchristian Cultureናሙና

In 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, the apostle Paul wrote, “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. 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.” I believe this passage points us in the right direction for how we should respond to our present societal moment.

First, I believe this passage demonstrates that we should respond to our present societal moment with gospel conviction. As Paul asked the Corinthian church, so he is asking us if we know that “wrongdoers will not inherit God’s kingdom.” In brief, God’s kingdom refers to the “eternal life” or “resurrection” mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:50, where he states, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” Only those with a transformed life will inherit the resurrection, which entails the new heaven and the new earth with the new Jerusalem and God’s presence for all eternity. Do you know this? Do you realize that eternity is at stake?

Do we believe this or not? Do we agree with what God’s Word teaches here? I would go so far as to ask you to ask God to haunt your soul with this gospel conviction that “wrongdoers will not inherit God’s kingdom.” Why? Because if you do not believe in the reality of sin, death, and hell, you will live and die in apathy toward the eternal destiny of your neighbors, your children, and your enemies. Paul wanted the Corinthians and us to have gospel conviction about eternity! God’s inheritance is only for God’s children. Those who have been born again. Those who have been declared righteous by faith in Jesus Christ! If we are not convinced that heaven and hell hang in the balance, we will not be a people of gospel conviction. Instead, we will merely be a people of gospel convenience.