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 homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Like A Corinthian

When Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthian church, he was writing with a backdrop of a city and empire filled with sexual immorality. Corinth was the seat of government for Southern Greece and a city of great wealth. It was noted for its opulent, immoral, and brutal habits of the people. Paul was not unaware of the challenges the New Testament Christians faced as they lived in the midst of such immorality. Living a holy life in the midst of such unbridled lust was not an easy task. Paul mentions a list of sins that show the depth of spiritual darkness pervading the city. If the list is connected to certain brethren at Corinth, it included those who indulged in sexual sins of fornication, idolatry, adulterers, homosexuals, and sodomites. This list of sins would be indicative of the nature of a place like Corinth.

The immorality of Corinth was so great and well-known to behave in an immoral manner was called “behaving like a Corinthian.” Corinth was home to the temple of Aphrodite, the Greek female god of love that “employed” thousands of prostitutes. Corinth became well-known for bad sexual behavior. To live “like a Corinthian” meant to become a drunk often or to visit prostitutes. Imagine a church of God in this city and the challenges faced to keep a moral compass for the saints who had to live in the midst of such putridity. Paul’s letter to Corinth was a stern letter to write as the apostle knew the darkness the people of God faced.

Throughout the letter to Corinth, the apostle addresses the many problems that impacted the church. One of the things he never suggested was for the saints to leave Corinth. He wanted them to learn to shield themselves against the onslaught of immorality. Warning them of the consequence of sin, Paul reminds the Christians those who practice such immorality will damn their souls. The church existed in a place where immorality was visible, constant, and accepted. It would take great courage to keep pure hearts in such a world. At every turn, sexual immorality was rampant from the common man to the courts of Rome. The child of God must rise above the filth of the world and remain clean.

There is an increasing movement in this country for the acceptance of the vocal minority of those who accept same-sex morality. The LBGTQ movement’s agenda has placed the morally degrading act of homosexuality and its multicolored offspring in every part of society. There are few commercials that do not include some form of the same-sex agenda, including selling house paint, dating sites, insurance, and generic commercials. It is impossible to watch television without being bombarded with the obvious. The subliminal hints of Satan’s minions fill the minds of the worldly to the point of oversaturation. It will probably not get better but will continue to drive headlong to the pits of darkness and despair. The people of God need to prepare for a greater battle of living in the city of Corinth.

Jesus died to remove God’s wrath, but He did not remove sin. It is clear the mission of the adversary. The devil is to fill the world with his insidious and malevolent doctrine of sexual immorality. Sadly, many of God’s people will be taken hostage by the roaring lion, who will destroy their souls with pornography, acceptance of homosexuality, and sexual immorality in all forms. Learning to live in a dark world is to keep the light burning in our lives and homes and for the church to remain apart from the world. It may not be possible to turn the pages of history to a time when the word of God measured morality, but there is no excuse not to stand for truth. There will be days of conflict, and more vocal opposition is coming. In our misguided, woke world, it becomes more militant to stand against righteousness and truth. The child of God will stand for truth. Protect the family. Do not allow the symptoms of a dying world to bring death to your family.