In yesterday’s post I went into detail of the sins that were plaguing the city of Galatia. I felt drawn to continue to break down the sins that are also affecting the city of Corinth and the Jewish nation as a whole when referenced in the book of Mark. I will list out Corinth first and if I feel I have not exceeded my personal imposed word limit I may continue straight into Mark, if not I will continue this tomorrow.
So in 1 Corinthians the list of sins vary. As stated in yesterday’s post the reason behind this is that the sins being listed were in general unique for the city being written to, but as we all know are not unique for human kind as a whole, which is why they were also mentioned separately for there was a need to identify them for the entire human race so no one could make excuses as to what this sin or that sin was not listed.
What we must also remember that the base human nature is to live in sin, but we are called to walk in the Holy Spirit which is diametrically opposite that which we as humanity want to do. NOTE: not need to do, but want to do.
Anyway on with the Bible verse:
1 Corinthians: 6:9 – 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, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
The first three were discussed yesterday so I see no need to reiterate those. Just understand that these three were a common pestilence throughout the gentile world, which is why they were seen so much. So next in line:
Effeminate – malakos – a catamite; of persons: soft, delicate. — Catamite – a boy or youth who is in a sexual relationship with a man. In base terms in today’s world – pedophiles.
Abusers of themselves with mankind – arsenokoites – a male engaging in same-gender sexual activity; a sodomite, pederast
Thieves – kleptes
Covetous – pleonektes – a covetous or avaricious person; one desirous of having more. (examples – expensive homes, cars, exclusive communities)
Drunkards – methusos
Revilers – loidoros – a railer, reviler, abuser
Extortioners – harpax – rapacious, ravenous; a robber, an extortioner
What I find the most amazing was the fact that in Corinth there was a need for an admonition by Paul to “Be not deceived.” Yet here we are today nearly two thousand years after the fact and this same warning takes true meaning in today’s churches.
The statement is clear. None of these that live these sins, or the sins listed yesterday, will be received in heaven, yet many churches welcome these sinners in and say “sure go ahead and live in that sin you’ll still get into heaven.”
As we see here from the Bible itself that by saying, accepting and spreading this lie is actually guaranteeing those that live these sins to damnation. Is this the behavior of those that truly know where they stand with God?
The answer is: No they do not.
Those that truly wish to walk in the Spirit do not hate these people, nor do they wish for them to be damned. They truly desire for these people to know and find God, but this can only be accomplished through true repentance. By fully and completely rejecting this sin and even to the point of entering into a marriage with someone of the opposite sex if they cannot refrain desiring their base want of sexual satisfaction if they are homosexual.
For the Bible makes it clear for those that divorce that it would be best to never marry again, but if you through your weakness can not overcome your desires and enter into sin you must remarry so that you will not be left in sin.
Now here someone will insist that they cannot shed this from them. This is what the Bible says:
1 Corinthians 6: 11 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.
“And such WERE some of you”
This is past tense. They are these things no longer, for they are washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus Christ their Savior.