The Good is Expected

7The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men^a 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And 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 Corinthians 6:7-110

Thoughts  This is a tough passage.  It is given in the context of all the sexual immorality going on in a city that worships the goddess of love (Aphrodite).  There is obviously a difference between the goddess of erotica and the God who shows us unconditional love.  In western culture we tend to confuse the two- and twist our belief in God so that if God loves us- any behavior is okay.  The context also is of church members who are threatening to sue each other- Paul said we should rather give up our stuff that divide the church.  Today so many lawsuits have been given by churches against the Episcopalians that they have almost gone bankrupt and have tried to sell their central headquarters.
     Paul continues to contrast behavior in the world (expectedly bad) with behavior in the church (expectedly good).  He points out that any number of immoral people who continually ignore God's call to repent will not enter into His presence.  But we are called to live as sanctified people (saints) and to not live in the flesh but in the spirit (Paul fills this out more in Galatians 5,6- contrasting the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit).  We would do well to look at this list closely.  It is not an exhaustive list, nor is it a litmus test to get into heaven.  But nonetheless, what is says is not to be taken lightly or to be watered down.  These are strong words that we need to hear today. We do not have the right to make up our rules about what God approves and does not.  We need to listen and heed our Lord and scripture. 

Prayer:  Lord, keep me from the sins that drag me down.  Help me to always here what you say.