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)

And Such Were Some Of You

Jesus Christ came to earth to bring a peace that passes understanding. It is beyond the comprehension of human wisdom to consider the magnitude of God’s mercy against the sinful nature of men. All men face the wrath of God because of rebellion against the nature of the Divine and the acceptance of wickedness. All sin is the transgression of the law of God, leading to punishment for breaking God’s commandments. The carnal mind leans toward the desires of the flesh to appease and satisfy the lusts of the eyes and flesh and encourage the human will to exalt itself with pride. Everything about the spirit of sin lures the heart’s desire to reject God, seeking the satisfaction of the flesh.

The natural desires of the flesh seek satisfaction with sexuality, worshipping idols, committing adultery, practicing homosexuality, stealing, coveting, and getting drunk, just to name a few. Paul describes the world of his day as not unlike any period of history from Adam to the present day. Satan has filled the world with the desires of the flesh. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and to free men from the bondage of sin. Those who practice unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. There will be no peace in death. Jesus preached often about the lake of fire and brimstone, the second death. There is a place of punishment for all who fill their lives with unrighteousness. God did not leave man in his destruction. Jesus came to bring freedom to anyone who would follow His call.

Corinth was a Roman city that was filled with immorality. If a person were an evil man, his life would be characterized as “living like a Corinthian.” In this backdrop of gross immorality, saints of God appeared who had lived in the sinful desires of sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners. Through the grace of God, these saints had turned away from the unrighteousness of the world and obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul says they were baptized into Christ, set apart for the works of the Holy Spirit, and found justified before God. What can compare to the grace of God to save such people? Only in Jesus Christ.

The joy of Paul’s message to Corinth was what is possible when God is believed and obeyed. Some of the Corinthian Christians were, at one time, part of the wicked world, as illustrated by Paul. Through the mercy of God, they became children of God, leaving that world behind and seeking the eternal weight of glory. Becoming a Christian may have been difficult for some of these saints. Their lives were dramatically changed by the gospel of Christ. This illustrates what Paul told the Roman Christians when he said the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. When the gospel comes to an honest heart, no matter what the person has done, God will forgive those who come to Him in obedience.

A final lesson about the Corinthian saints is the view that evangelistic hearts must take toward those who find themselves in the slavery of sin. Everyone needs the gospel, and some need the gospel more than others. In other words, they have much to give up and change, but through the love of God, anyone can find eternal life. If God will forgive them, we must forgive them. The soul is not to be judged by the actions of the previous life but by the cleansing power of how the grace of God can wipe away all sins. The Corinthians prove that sin can be overcome. We must demonstrate the love of God by embracing these saints into the fold of God. And such were some of you. Praise God.