(1 Cor 6:9,10 NIV) 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 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 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.
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” Let’s say someone walked up to me on the street and asked, “Rick, have you ever lied?” My response would be, “Yes.” If he continued, “Have you ever cheated?” My response would be, “Yes.” If he went on and said, “Jesus said that as a married man, if you simply looked at another woman and lusted for her, then you have already committed adultery in your heart. Rick, have you ever done that?” My response would be, “Yes.” What if the man said, “Well Rick, then by your own admission you are a lying, cheating, adulterer.” Guess what? He would be right, if it were not for the grace of God and the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ our Lord. But wait… before you judge me, think about yourself. How would you answer those same questions? Can you say that you have never broken any of the 10 Commandments? If you have (and I know you have), then you are guilty and without grace you would be condemned to hell.
I have heard many condemning messages from the passage I have provided for you today. Countless fiery preachers focus on verse 9 and say that no idolater, adulterer, whoremonger, homosexual, drunk, or liar will make it into the Kingdom of God. But those preachers forgot to preach verse 10. In the very next verse we find grace. Paul goes on to say that we were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. So while it is true that no idolater, adulterer, whoremonger, and etc. will enter the Kingdom, we are no longer those things once we accept Jesus as Lord. The same man who wrote this letter, Paul, was clearly guilty of sin before God and transgression before man. Paul knew he had done wrong, but in his second letter to this very same church Paul wrote, “Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one” (2 Cor 7:2). For Paul to say that he had wronged no one, when he clearly had, was an admission that he had received forgiveness of sin through the grace of God. Have you? Have you accepted Jesus as Lord? Have you been washed of Your sin by the Blood of Jesus? Have you accepted God’s free gift of eternal life, given to you by His grace? If you have, then don’t live your life in condemnation. God has forgiven you, so forgive yourself and live in the freedom wherewith Christ Jesus died to make you free!
So what does this mean to you today? A few quick things:
1. No sinner will make it to heaven, period.
2. Once you have accepted Jesus as Lord and have received the forgiveness of sin by His grace, then you are no longer a sinner. You are a child of the Most High God and you will go to heaven, not because of anything you do (as if you earned it), but because of what Jesus did.
3. Without grace I would be a lying, cheating, adulterer, and you would be something similar, but with grace we can walk in the freedom of knowing that we are not perfect, but we are forgiven!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your grace. Your grace is truly amazing. Your Law condemned me. If I were judged by Your Law alone, then there is no way I could make it into Your heaven and there is no way I would be worthy of walking in Your best here in the earth. However, because of what Jesus did and because of the grace extended towards me when I accepted Jesus as Lord, I can now walk in the liberty of knowing that I am a free man. I am not perfect, but I have been forgiven and I walk in the fullness of my heavenly and holy calling by Your immeasurable grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
