Know Ye Not

The church in Corinth had many problems it was facing: division, lawsuits, fornication, struggle over meats, spiritual gifts and even the resurrection. Since Corinth was known for its immorality it seems that some members of the church in that city were in danger of reverting back to their old way of life and thus needed to be reminded of the consequences if they did so. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Paul issues this warning. “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, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 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.”

Paul does several things in these verses that one would do well to consider in evaluating these passages. One, he brings to their attention that the things being discussed are things they should be well familiar with “know you not”, second, he points out that the things discussed fall within the category of unrighteousness (the unrighteous), He then proceeds to point out that those who practice such are classified as unrighteous, fourthly, he points out that such actions will deprive one of his eternal home, fifthly, he specifies the acts of unrighteousness under consideration, and sixthly, reminds them of what they had done in becoming Christians. They had been, washed, sanctified and justified in the name of (authority of) the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. Finally, he points out that for them to think they can re-engage in such actions without consequences is to be deceived.

Christians today need to heed Paul’s warning to these Corinthians. It seems that far too many Christians today think that they can live as they please and things will be fine. To think such is self-deception and eternally hazardous. Christians need to be reminded of what they should already know, but because of carelessness lose sight of. To the Romans Paul pointed out that when one becomes a Christian, one does not keep on sinning Romans 6:1-3. He gives the reason in verses 3- 4. Notice how he begins “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Sometime our minds need to be stirred up by way of remembrance (2 Peter 3:1).

Christians today also need to be reminded of the danger of unrighteousness and what constitutes unrighteous. Paul admonished in Titus 2:11-12, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” As Christians we are not to yield our members as instruments of unrighteousness Romans 6:13. Righteousness is to have no fellowship with unrighteousness 2 Corinthians 6:14. All unrighteousness is sin 1 John 5:17. The wages of sin is death Romans 6:23. A Christian is one who dies to sin and no longer continues in it. The problem is, that far too many Christians have forgotten this important point and rather than being transformed they have conformed and thus need to be reminded of Romans 12:2, “… And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

The acts of unrighteousness are clearly stipulated in the text. Worshippers of something other than God, sexual immorality, sexual activity of a married person with someone other than their mate, homosexuality, one who rails on others, those who steal, one who extorts from others. For other acts of unrighteousness see Galatians 5:19-21, also consider Romans 1:18ff. These are not exhaustive lists, what about profanity, dancing, social drinking, pornography, and the like Galatians 5:21. A Christian does not see how close he can get to sin without being stained, but he tries to avoid the appearance of evil 1 Thessalonians 5:22.

Let us not be deceived in thinking that we can flirt with sin and not be affected, or that if we engage in such that there will be no consequences. For the wrath of God will be revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, (Romans 1:18). To become a friend of the world makes one a spiritual adulterer and an enemy of God, (James 4:4). Sure something to think about!

Bill Cantrell