[BIBLE QUESTION] You have cited 1 Cor. 6:9,10 extensively in several of your gospel messages. Why did you not include verse 11 which places Paul’s admonishment in its proper context?
[BIBLE ANSWER] The passage in question (1 Cor. 6:9,10) [and the verse afterwards] from the New American Standard Bible reads:
1 Cor. 6:9,10 and 11
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:9-11, NASB)
The context of 1 Cor. 6:9,10 goes back to 1 Cor. 5 and the sexually immoral man there (v. 1), who Paul said was wicked and should be expelled from their congregation (v. 13). It also includes those who were wronging and cheating others through disputes taken to court (6:1-8). Paul said in 1 Cor. 6:9,10 (the next two verses) that such people are unrighteous and will not inherit the kingdom of God! That is the true context. He was showing the lethal severity of those sins. [Paul didn’t believe there are Christian fornicators or Christian swindlers, like the once saved always saved people do.] Verse 11 shows that when a person gets saved he turns away from doing such vile things and his spiritual identity also changes through God.
The Unrighteous of 1 Cor. 6:9,10 and Eph. 5:5-7
NOTE: The sins listed in 1 Cor. 6:9,10 are always deadly and are NOT restricted in being lethal only before getting born again. In other words, if a Christian would turn from God to that degree, he will experience spiritual death (lose his salvation). Eph. 5:5-7 is very clear in showing that and overlaps the list of sins mentioned in 1 Cor. 6:9,10:
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person–such a man is an idolater–has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. (Eph 5:5-7)
Saving Faith is Consistent With 1 Cor. 6:9,10
Paul did NOT teach once saved always saved. True saving faith has nothing to do with that heresy. 1 Cor. 6:9,10 applies to all, both before and after initial salvation (getting born again). Let no one deceive you with empty words about 1 Cor. 6:9,10 and the unrighteous.
