The Lord's Side

1 Corinthians 6:9
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were declared righteous in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God.

Paul addresses the church at Corinth with this message. When Paul visited Corinth it was a city known for certain things. It was luxurious, it was modern, and... it was full of lasciviousness and demonic behavior. Envision Las Vegas and you have the city of Corinth. Temples built for Greek gods and goddesses dotted the area and the citizens willingly participated in worshiping these entities, including but not limited to, Aphrodite. With it being recognized as a place to go for vice and sin, it's no wonder that Paul writes the letters of 1st and 2nd Corinthians with grave warnings against specific behaviors that would have been the norm there. He warns in 1 Corinthians 6:9 that the unrighteous will not inherit God's kingdom. He describes in specific detail the types of acts that will cut a person off from being able to be a part of God's kingdom; fornication (sex outside marriage), idolatry (putting anything before God), adulterers (lusting after someone other than your spouse, being with someone other than your spouse), effeminate men (men behaving like women), homosexuals (same gender sexual relationships), thieves, drunkards (in Corinth people drank for fun, like in Las Vegas, social drunkenness was the norm), revilers (those who are abusive in their speech), or swindlers (scammers taking unsuspecting people's money without regard). He has to point out that salvation, though given to us by the grace of God and through the blood of Jesus Christ, is not guaranteed simply because one says they believe it's true. He warned that unrighteous people will not be included in the inheritance of the kingdom.

There is a deep, stark contrast between the kingdom of God and satan's world.

Many Christian churches teach a different theme today. Teachers and leaders won't mention repentance or sin or living holy. They even say that once you are saved you don't have to repent for anything. They say that once you're saved you're always going to be saved no matter what you do. This is not biblical teaching, but sin is uncomfortable to discuss in today's world. It's rampant and it's the culture. Television, songs, movies, magazines, books all include obvious defiance of God's expectations of His people. Walking and doing what He says are requirements. The old testament law was fulfilled in Jesus, yes. So, we're not out sacrificing things to forgive our sins. We're asking for forgiveness from them based on the sacrificial blood of Jesus. He is faithful to forgive us, but we are expected to lead blameless lives and to do our best to stay away from the things He has said are cursed and sinful. That's for our own good, as satan is constantly seeking to devour and sin is exactly the open door he needs to bring sickness, disease, calamity, frustration, confusion, and poverty. God warns us against it to protect us from the results of it.

What about you? Have you made up your mind to follow Jesus and stand on the Lord's side? Ask yourself throughout the day would Jesus sit next to me and participate in what I'm doing? Would the Light in whom there is no darkness be willing to come alongside me and bear with my thoughts and actions? The church really has to come clean. He said "If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, forgive their sins, and heal the land." We need healing. Let the church repent and seek Him now while it's still day.