“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. 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.” – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

This passage is the Scripture text for this Sunday’s sermon. I noticed several things about the passage. The unrighteous people, or wrongdoers, will not inherit (enter) the kingdom of God (eternal life). These wrongdoers seem to be the same ones to whom Paul says earlier in verse 1 that the church should not take their disputes (lawsuits) against fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, other members in the church. Paul tells the Corinthian church that the unrighteous (unbeliever), along with a list of the types of unrighteous people, will not have eternal life. Then Paul says this…such were some of you (the church) but, you (the church) were forgiven through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (washed). You (the church) were made holy and set apart to be God’s people (sanctified). You (the church) were declared righteous to God through the Spirit of God and by faith in Jesus Christ (justified). The point seems to be that God expects His people (the church) to act like the church. There should be no unrighteous behavior (insert any of the things listed above…and others!) among God’s people. The church should settle its disputes internally and not take it to the unbelieving world. The church should be morally pure and spiritually mature, distinct from the unbelieving world. Be the church, God’s holy people, that was called out of the world into fellowship with Jesus Christ with the promise of eternal life with our Father, Savior, and Lord. Be the church!