“Be Not Deceived”                       

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

            It matters not what we profess. No man living in sin is a partaker of the Divine nature. “Be not deceived,” imagining that through your knowledge and profession you are saved, even though you live contrary to the righteous character of God. Lest anyone mistake his meaning, Paul plainly describes those people who shall never enter into the kingdom of God. FORNICATORS, unmarried men and women who live in sexual promiscuity - Single people who are sexually active, “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” IDOLATERS “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” This is spiritual fornication. C. H. Spurgeon notes that, “All through the Old Testament, the Lord calls this sin of idolatry by the name fornication, because it is the turning away of that love which ought to be fixed upon the one and only God, and giving it to those who are no gods. ADULTERERS “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Adultery today is as common as sunshine. Therefore it is condoned by society and condoned by preachers; but it is still a high crime against God. Some who read these lines are divorced. Some are divorced and remarried. If you acknowledge and confess your sin, forget it. It is under the blood. God has forgotten it and you should too; but we dare not make it a light and trivial thing, or try to excuse it. EFFEMINATE men “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” The word is only used this one time in the Word of God. I will not make it less than it is. The word means “soft’, “delicate,” “womanly.” These are men who assume the role and identity of women. The specific reference, of course, is to homosexuality. It is a reversal of God’s law, a reversal of the order of nature in creation. ABUSERS OF THEMSELVES WITH MANKIND “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” These are Sodomites, homosexuals, but more. They are the practicers and promoters of all sexual perversion: homosexuality, lesbianism, beastiality, pedophilia, rape, incest, etc. THIEVES “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Thieves are not just bank robbers. They are dishonest people. They may be highly respected by others; but they cheat and steal. COVETOUS PEOPLE “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” The stingy, selfish, greedy miser cares only for himself. He takes, but never gives. DRUNKARDS “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” The use of alcoholic beverages is not condemned, but drunkenness is. REVILERS “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” The reviler is a gossip, a slanderer, one who spreads reproach and scandal, and smears the character and reputation of others. EXTORTIONERS “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” An extortioner is one who gets gain at the expense of others. He takes advantage of other people’s misery and misfortune.

            It matters not what we claim to believe. Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, theives, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners are lost people and shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Anyone whose religion makes allowances for such corruptions simply does not know God.

Don Fortner