Lesson 462

(Lesson 462)(11-20-12) 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commiteth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

Today's lesson gives us the opportunity to clear up a scriptural text that has been misread and confused by literally millions of people throughout the ages, concerning the eternal security of the believer.

Paul said, "Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." Truer words have never been spoken! Most assuredly none of these "sinners" will inherit the kingdom of God. However, those of us whom have accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and allowed Him to act as our mediator before God, are SANCTIFIED against, and JUSTIFIED for the sinful things we do, "And such were some of you: but YE ARE WASHED, but YE ARE SANCTIFIED, but YE ARE JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
Note that Paul said, "And such WERE some of you", that means that those who have been saved by the grace of God, WERE BEFORE guilty of these sins, but have been separated from these sins, past, present, and future, and are no longer responsible for them, since Jesus stands between us and the Father continually cleansing our souls. "1 John 3:9, "Whosoever is born of God DOTH NOT COMMIT SIN; for his seed remaineth in him: and HE CANNOT SIN, because he is born of God." "God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power."

Am I trying to establish that it is perfectly "OK" to sin? NO! Jesus not only stands as redeemer for the saved, He also punishes those of us who disobey him. I know from experience that Jesus punishes the saved when they get out of line.

NOTE: the term "washed" as it is applied in this lesson simply means cleansed of, it does NOT imply water baptism.~