“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 covetous, nor drunkards, nor extortionist, shall inherit the kingdom of god.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
This passage makes no reference to salvation. It speaks of a 2nd step – the Kingdom of God. There is quite a big difference between salvation and the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom is the place where Christ is King and it starts inside you. The Church is a place where Jesus is lord, but many people have not yet made Him their personal Lord. It is a different quality of life and living.
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17
Salvation is a process involving first being saved by the blood, and then being changed by the spirit and the Name.
Years ago the children took some pots into the backyard to play. In the winter I found them out there. They were encrusted with dirt, sand, mud and leaves so I brought them into the house and put them in the sink for a good scrubbing. No one can expect to use the pans in that condition.
Holiness is personal and life-changing
It’s the same with God’s vessels. He finds us in the sin and the dirt of the world, some a lot worse than others, and he brings us into the house of God where we can clean up. Just saving us from sins does not get us cleaned up. This process is called sanctification. You often hear new Christians balk and complain about feeling condemned. They blame the church. But all it is only those past flaws coming out to annoy the new believer.
Being saved is only step One
We are making a mistake if we think that Jesus is ever going to use us when we are filthy with the stains of the world, flesh and devil. Those who refuse to be cleaned up will not be available to be properly used up by God. Their ministry, potential or real, is always hampered by that piece of disobedience. They may think they are being used. They may be used in small ways. But un-sanctified Christians are nagged by doubts, fears and concerns about their status with God. This is unnecessary.
When numbers of believers occupy a church they then are able to handle newcomers who are out of sync with God because the body of Christ is like our own physical body. We have germs in us at all times, also we ingest pesticides so when the body gets trouble inside it sends white corpuscles to the site of the infection and we can slough off the problem most of the time. In the body of Christ it is the same.
Poisonous Christians can enter but we should have enough power to correct them or cause them to leave. Today we don’t see correction in the Church of Jesus Christ and many believers have left. Churches are not doing their God-given job.
When the above passage says we are changed by the “Name of Jesus” that does not refer to simply knowing the name of Jesus intellectually in your mind, or even your heart. The Name of Jesus means his Authority. You may be baptized in mater, and good for you, but submitting to a rite of passage while valuable and a part of the path, it is still not the same as being cleansed by the authority of Jesus.
You must submit to Him everything in your life which is not in keeping with His word. It may happen all at once, but most likely not. It happens ordinarily in incremental steps. But fast or slow the results are always the same, a life where the old sins do not hang around to annoy you and keep you regretting the past. In fact anything that drags you back to the past must be dealt with because it brings depression and unhappiness. Anyone who is focused on himself can hardly be effective in reaching others.
Finally, to start on the path of holiness, you do one thing, as the scripture says, and one thing only – clean up your sexual life. When that is behind you, you can go on to something else. And God will make a way. But to show Him you are sincere, all ungodly sexual activity must stop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you enjoy these articles please subscribe and then honor us with comments. We provide Think Pieces for a public on the brink of mammoth changes and we need all hands-on deck.
©CorneliaScottCree.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission, from this blog’s author and/or owner, is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to CorneliaScottCree.com. Thank you for cooperating in the effort to give glory to God.
©CorneliaScottCree.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission, from this blog’s author and/or owner, is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to CorneliaScottCree.com. Thank you for cooperating in the effort to give glory to God.