Confession, Repentance, God’s Grace!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 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.

If we took a look at the above passage – we would probably all find a sin we could hang our hat on at some point in our life’s journey.  If not – I imagine we could think of one or two we could add to the list.  There are two things I wish to point out in this passage – and neither thing has to do with the list of sins mentioned (IMHO this is not a total list of sins by any stretch of the imagination – we can add our own sins to the list if that will help us).

The first thing I wish to point out – is the opening verse of this passage.  Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?  It calls the wicked – the ones who will not inherit the kingdom of God – persons who remain in their sin.  We cannot consider ourselves to be Christians – i.e. saved – if we live in sin (those that follow in the next verse and any others).

That doesn’t suggest that we will not be saved unless we are sinless.  We are called to confess (admit before God) our sins and strive – by God’s grace – to live outside of our sins.  To use a couple of the sins listed we might consider that a person who steals (a thief) who doesn’t confess their sin and strive to turn away (repent) from that sin will have no inheritance in the kingdom.  A person who worships idols (not just statues my friends but money – jobs – possessions – etc.) and doesn’t confess and repent of this sin runs the risk – according to this Scripture – of having no place in heaven.  A person who is immoral in sexual behavior like a promiscuous person who has many partners and sees nothing wrong with this behavior should be concerned about their eternity.  A heterosexual couple living as husband and wife without being married should be concerned.  A same-sex couple living together in a marriage relationship – legal or not – should be concerned.  A list of sins that one might live in without confession and repentance could be inserted here.  All who live in sin – without confession and repentance – should have concern for their eternity.