Do Not Be Deceived

Today’s Bible Reading:  Joshua 9-11; 1 Corinthians 6

Topic: Cleansing, Sanctification, Justification

SCRIPTURE:  1 Corinthians 6:9-11

⁹ 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 ¹⁰ nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ 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.  (1 Cor 6:69-11 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

This passage points out that in the name of Christ Jesus any and all sins may be forgiven, and by the power of God’s Holy Spirit any and all sins may be overcome and put behind us. Various sins are listed and the consequences to the “wicked”—those whose lives endorse those sinful practices—is pronounced in no uncertain terms, they “will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

APPLICATION:

In today’s world this is a controversial passage primarily because the sins listed and condemned includes specific sexual sins by name. In our topsy-turvy permissive society certain behaviors once considered sinful are adamantly defended and championed. This is the deception we are warned against. The glory of the passage for us, and the truth we should take from it, is that through Jesus Christ and by God’s Spirit we may be washed, sanctified and justified. That means we may be freed from the bondage of sin and empowered to live rightly before our Creator. The deception is that if we are persuaded that what God calls sin is not sin, but rather is behavior to be endorsed, practiced and even celebrated, we will oppose any notion of the need for repentance and forgiveness. The hubris to declare ourselves righteous and in no need of the Savior is astonishing! “Do not be deceived,” such egocentric reasoning leads not to freedom, but to destruction of individual souls and to societies.    

PRAYER:

Thank You God for the love You offer us even as sinful and unworthy as we are. Thank You for the means You have provided for each of us individually to be washed (cleansed of our sins), sanctified (set apart to fulfill our purpose and thus be fulfilled in our being), and justified (made to be in right standing according to Your standard). Help us to not be deceived into justifying ourselves, but to be enabled to acknowledge our sins and short comings whatever they may be, and our need of relationship with You.

Through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, and by the power of Your Holy Spirit given to enable us to live accordingly, we pray. Amen.  -AP