1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. 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.”

 

The Evil One isn't focused on dissuading us from engaging in numerous Christian activities. Rather, his aim is to sway us from firmly grasping the absolute truths about God's nature, His character, and the ethical standards of His kingdom. Paul, recognizing this danger, cautioned the Corinthian believers against straying into the perilous territory of ungodly conduct. "Do not be deceived," Paul warned, "the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God."

 

Paul describes some of the areas of wickedness that had become socially acceptable in Corinth. The city was a bustling commercial center, a melting pot of races, beliefs, and languages. It’s culture was characterized by instability and roughness. In fact, the place was so badly debauched that “Corinth” became a byword for immorality itself.

 

So, what did Paul do? He ventured into this city with a strategy. He was “occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus” (Acts18:5). His objective was not to enact legislation but to begin proclamation.

 

 No legislative plan can redeem culture. Instead, there's a divine message sent from God to redeem humanity, and it's straightforward: "Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). The gospel represents God's plan for our world. Through the power and conviction of His word, He intervenes in people's lives, sparking profound transformation. Paul didn't indulge in elaborate rhetoric; he stuck to that singular message, repeating it tirelessly.

 

He understood that it is solely through Christ's sacrificial death on the cross that people can liberate themselves from their ongoing sins, allowing them to embrace a "newness of life" (Romans 6:4).

 

It is dangerous and futile to persist in wickedness. The gospel's proclamation resonates just as powerfully today as it did in Corinth's bustling streets, piercing through the world's deceptive relativism and the misconception that laws alone can transform hearts or inspire faith.

 

What our lives, cities, and nations urgently require is the salvation of sinners. Don't be misled into believing that sin is inconsequential. Don't be misled into believing that our society needs anything other than the message of the kingdom of God.

 

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