Paul asks a question of the Corinthians as a platform to provoke them to right thinking. “Know ye not 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, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (I Corinthians 6:9-10).
One amplification is needed to make these verses more useful to our hearts and minds. The “unrighteous” of whom Paul speaks are those individuals who have never repented of their sins and trusted Christ as their Savior. As a result, the unrighteous have never been born again and, therefore, do not have the Holy Spirit residing in them to enable them to live above the snare of these evil practices. In essence, walking in sin is a way of life for this individual.
The Apostle John speaks similarly in his epistle. “Whosoever abideth in him (Christ) sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning” (I John 3:6-8). Those that know Christ do not follow after sin, but walk in righteousness through obedience to his word. On the other hand, those that do not know Christ follow the path of their father, the devil. They really have no choice.
Both Paul and John appeal to their readers to not be deceived. Nothing could be more plain. John tells us that Christ was “manifested to take away our sins” (I John 3:5). Those who have been delivered from their sins demonstrate the truth of that transaction by walking in righteousness. Those who have never been forgiven of their sins continue in them; their lives are marked by sinful practices.
Paul captures the reality of this change in one’s life when he declares to the Corinthians immediately after the list cited above “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” (I Corinthians 6:10). This is true for every believer. The sins that characterized our past have been forgiven. We have new life in Christ and have been delivered from those sins.
This change in our walk is behind Paul’s command to the Philippians when he says “let your conversation (walk or manner of life) be as it becometh the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:27). The gospel delivers from sin – its guilt and power. Paul was telling them to live lives that show forth that deliverance. Is your life marked by the deliverance of the gospel of Christ? Are you walking in righteousness?
From the Chaplain 