“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.” 1 Cor. 6: 9, 10.
The Apostle Paul, upon whom the care of all the churches fell, was concerned for the purity of the churches which he had been instrumental in establishing. Accordingly we find him writing letters to these churches to encourage them to stand steadfast in the faith of the Gospel and also warning them of the many dangers which they faced. In Corinth abuses had crept in which required correction; practices had been adopted inconsistent with the Gospel of Christ; a spirit of licentiousness had been given place to, which, if not dealt with, would mar the Church of God in that part. The Apostle was anxious to have corrective measures applied and Scriptural discipline maintained so that these sins of which he spoke would not destroy the Church in Corinth.
It is mainly the sins of the flesh to which he refers, and he endeavours to convince the Corinthians that those who live in these sins shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous persons, drunkards, revilers, extortioners, he was saying, in effect, are unrighteous persons and “know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” To inherit the kingdom of God the sinner must be delivered from all unrighteousness and made an heir of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
How necessary was the warning given by the Apostle for the Church of Corinth, and how suitable it is for our day also when a spirit of licentiousness has not only flowed in upon our land but even invaded the Church of God also. Today in many circles it is not thought inconsistent with a profession of religion to be living in such sins of the flesh as the Apostle has listed here. What danger the Church of God in the world is
exposed to when place is given to this attitude of mind. It is an attitude which must be corrected if the Church is not to be destroyed. Discipline must be applied and those guilty delivered unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
The Apostle warns the Corinthians saying, “Be not deceived,” lest they should allow things to remain as they were and regard such behaviour as allowable for those who made a profession of Christianity. No, he was saying to them, these are the works of the flesh, “of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal. 5: 21. “Be not deceived,” he was saying, “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.” (Gal. 6: 7, 8).
Is this warning of the Apostle then not a call to us to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God?” (2 Cor. 7: 1). Is he not saying to us with the Apostle Peter: “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul?” (1 Peter 2: 11). Or, as the Apostle Peter says in the same epistle under divine inspiration: “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation: because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1: 13-16).