1 Corinthians 6:9

1 Corinthians 6:9 says, 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,  Paul begins to list a number of sins that prevent a person from entering the kingdom of God, beginning with unrighteousness. This is the key to all the others.  We can only find righteousness through faith in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  Paul said he didn't want Christians to be deceived, and that the list of sins that followed would not be allowed in God's kingdom.  Verse ten adds, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. We need to remember that Paul was writing to Christians, who were still fighting over material things.  As Paul listed these sins, I can imagine those listening agreeing with him wholeheartedly.  Such people should not be allowed into the kingdom of God.  Verse eleven continues, 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.  Christians were not and are not saved because of their sinless nature but are saved by having their sins washed clean by the blood of Christ.  All Christians were at some point guilty of some sin against God.  Therefore, we have no reason to feel morally superior to any other Christian.  We were once guilty of sinning against God, and we were under a sentence to death until we came to God through Christ.  Once more, as followers of Christ, we are living in the kingdom of God even now.  This should bring us a sense of peace, no matter what shape the world is in.  When we have a desire to feel superior to any other Christian, remember our standard is Christ not our own goodness compared to anyone else. Verse twelve states, All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.  Paul said that through the salvation of Christ that all things were lawful to him.  I don't believe that Paul was speaking of sinful things, but of things the church might be arguing about, which were mostly about ways to worship and position in the church.  Though Paul knew that many of these things were lawful under God's leadership, they were not expedient, or did not serve the best purpose, so he was not going to let anything have power over him and affect his witnessing for Christ.  Verse thirteen adds, Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.  Some of the arguments in the church focused on eating meat sacrificed to idols, who were often associated with sexual acts.  Paul said meat was simply to fill the belly, but both would one day be destroyed by God.  Paul then said that the body was not for fornication, but for service to God.  We can never allow anything, such as a simple appetite, even for those things deemed acceptable in the view of the world, to come between us and God.  Verse fourteen continues, And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.  We have God's promise that if we follow Christ that just as God raised Christ up, He will also raise us up. That is why we must never allow anything, lawful or otherwise in the world view, to come between us and obedience to God.  If anything harms our witness for Christ we must avoid it, even if we personally may feel that it is acceptable to do.