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Does the Commission of Certain Sins Invalidate the Grace of God?

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Introduction

The Apostle Paul is writing to believers at Corinth

Paul had “planted” the Corinthian church during his second missionary journey ca. 52 AD

The church at Corinth was not progressing, but was struggling with various problems

The text of the epistle of 1 Corinthians is a list of problems that had come to Paul’s attention and his answers to those problems

1 Corinthians 6

Litigation, vv. 1-6

Believer wronging believer, vv. 7-8

The unrighteous will not inherit the K of G, v. 9

Why? List of sins, vv. 9-10

What does inherit the kingdom mean?

Historical Setting

Corinth’s two part history: Greek and Roman

City built on a narrow isthmus, a port city

Melting pot of cultures and cauldron of immorality

Roman military veterans, freedman, Greek, slaves

A city of vices and worldly activity

Paul knows his audience … a “rough bunch”

What does Paul mean by the word unrighteous in v. 9?

ἄδικος (ádikos)

unrighteous

not + justice = unjust, unrighteous; BDAG, “pertaining to acting in a way that is contrary to what is right; unjust, dishonest, untrustworthy

ἄδικος is an adjective, it is specific in quality, but general in category or identity; even used as a substantive, it lacks the specificity of a noun

Paul uses ἄδικος three times

1.Rom 3:5, God … “is not unrighteous”

2. 1 Cor 6:1, “go to law before the unrighteous”

3. 1 Cor 6:9, “the unrighteous will not inherit”

Paul uses ἄδικος three times

1.Rom 3:5, God … “is not unrighteous”

2. 1 Cor 6:1, “go to law before the unrighteous”

3. 1 Cor 6:9, “the unrighteous will not inherit”

Notice, in Rom 3:5 adikos refers to quality, now we need to make that same determination in the other two verses.

I Corinthians 1:9

Does this refer to an unbeliever or believer?

Unrighteous unbeliever – unsaved

Unrighteous believer – carnal believer

Context must provide the answer

Believers at Corinth

1.Quarreling in 1:11; 3:3

2. Boasting in 1:29; 3:18; 4:7

3. Arrogance in 3:6; 4:18

4. Incest in 5:1

5. Immoral believers in 5:11

Believers at Corinth

6. Law suits in 6:1

7. Defrauding in 6:7

8. Immorality in 6:18; 7:2

9. Idolatry in 10:14

10. Drunkenness at the Lord’s Table in 11:17

Are the “unrighteous” of v. 9 these same unrighteous believers Paul as been addressing throughout the entire book or those found in v. 1?

Is it possible that these “unrighteous” are the same ones that are continuing to do wrong in vv. 7-8?

ἀδικέω (adikéō)

wronged

to do wrong, injure, do harm; to act unjustly

Textual Evidence

1.Verb and noun relationship in vv. 7-9

2. Use of the article in v. 1, but not in v. 9

3. Consistent use of the 2nd person plural, “you all”

Talking to believers, but is he talking about believers?

How to understand, “Do not be deceived?”

Are unbelievers going to inherit the kingdom?

Might carnal believers be jeopardizing their inheritance?

Paul is talking to believers and about believers.

Questions

Does Paul have a specific word for unbeliever?

Yes! And he uses this word in v. 6

ἄπιστος (ápistos) meaning not faithful or believing

He uses this word eleven times in 1 Corinthians

The topic of inheritance in v. 9 leads us to our next subject … the relationship between “unrighteous” and being an heir.

Inheritance

What does it mean to be an heir?

1. Heir, one who is designated as an heir, one who receives something as a possession; a beneficiary

2. One who receives his allotted possession by right of son-ship

3. Of those who as sons of God inherit the privileges of the Messianic Kingdom

Passages regarding Heirs

1.Titus 3:7

2. Rom 8:16-17

3. Gal 4:7

We are heirs because of our relationship with God.

Inheritance

What does inheritance mean?

1. A possession, property, something received as a possession, specifically, salvation or a share in the Kingdom

2. Property to be received by inheritance, what is given as a possession

Inheritance

What does inheritance mean?

1. A possession, property, something received as a possession, specifically, salvation or a share in the Kingdom

2. Property to be received by inheritance, what is given as a possession

3. In general a possession, specifically, of the Messianic Kingdom and its blessings

Inheritance

Paul uses inheritance in five passage?

1.Three refer to salvation, Gal 3:18; Eph 1:14; 18

based on the actions or character of God

2. Two refer to rewards, Eph 5:5; Col 3:24-25

based on the actions of the individual

Inheriting the Kingdom

What does it mean to inherit?

1.To inherit as an heir (inheritor), to acquire, obtain, come into possession

2. To receive the portion assigned, receive an allotted portion, to become partaker of

3. To receive by lot, to possess, to receive one’s own, to obtain

Inheriting the Kingdom

Paul uses this phrase four times in the NT.

1.Gal 5:16-21

2. 1 Cor 15:50 (35)

3. 1 Cor 6:9-11 (twice)

Various Views

1.Unbelievers losing an opportunity for salvation

2. Believers losing their salvation

3. Believers losing rewards in eternity

4. Passage written to bels, but about unbels

Inheriting Means To Enter

1.The word does not mean “to enter.”

2. Enter must be equated with Salvation and salvation would then be conditioned on works.

3. No believer could commit these sins.

4. Doc of Eternal Security placed at risk.

5. Doc of Unlimited Atonement challenged.

6. Develops a Lordship salvation mentality.

1 Corinthians 6:11

“And such were some of you ….”

“And such (these things) were some of you (plural)”

Two groups of people:

1. “Some” a smaller number

2. “You all” a larger number

You all

The “some” of 1 Cor 6:11

You all

Some

The “some” of 1 Cor 6:11

1.The “some” is a smaller group of believers in a larger group of unbelievers.

2. The “some” as a smaller group of believers in a larger group of believers.

Two Ways to Interpret This Phrase

(Unbelievers)

The “some” of 1 Cor 6:11

Some

(Believers)

You all

(Believers)

The “some” of 1 Cor 6:11

Some

(Believers)

You all

In Summary

1.adikos in v. 9 does not refer to unbeliever

2. adikos in v. 9 is linked with “wrongdoing” in v. 8

3. The context is addressing believers

4. Only believers are heirs of God

5. In v. 9-10, inheritance is based on human action

6. These believers are in danger of losing rewards.

In Conclusion

1.The historical situation in Corinth is critical.

2. Christians can commit all categories of sins.

3. Chapter 6 is consistent with the rest of the book.

4. The Corinthians were bels living in carnality.

5. The Corinthians could not lose their salvation.

6. The Corinthians could lose rewards in eternity.