— But Who Is Paul Talking About?
“The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God…”
— 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (KJV)
Have you ever heard this passage used to tell believers:
• “If you commit certain sins, you’ll lose your salvation.”
• “If you don’t stop sinning, God will take away eternal life.”
Many sincere Christians have been frightened by that interpretation.
But is that what Paul is teaching?
Not when we rightly divide the Word of Truth.
▪️LOOK AT WHAT THE TEXT ACTUALLY SAYS
Paul does not say:
• Saved people lose salvation.
• Justified people become unjustified.
• Eternal life becomes temporary life.
Instead, Paul describes the character and identity of the lost.
Notice what he says next:
“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…”
(1 Corinthians 6:11)
Did you catch that?
Were.
Past tense.
That was their former identity.
But now they are washed.
Now they are sanctified.
Now they are justified.
▪️LAW VS GRACE
Under a Law system, people often focus on performance.
They ask:
• “Have I done enough?”
• “Am I good enough?”
• “Can I keep myself saved?”
But under Grace, our standing before God is based upon what Christ accomplished, not what we accomplish.
Paul teaches:
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God…”
(Romans 5:1)
Our justification rests in Christ’s finished work.
Not our ability to maintain perfection.
▪️ISRAEL VS THE BODY OF CHRIST
Much confusion comes from mixing God’s programs.
When passages addressed to Israel’s prophetic program are blended together with instructions for the Body of Christ, assurance is often lost.
But God gave a distinct apostleship to Paul.
“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles…”
(Romans 11:13)
Paul explains the doctrine, position, and identity of the Church, the Body of Christ.
And what does he teach?
▪️PROPHECY VS MYSTERY
Prophecy spoke of God’s purpose through Israel.
The Mystery reveals God’s purpose in forming the Body of Christ.
In the Mystery, believers are not trying to earn acceptance.
They already have acceptance in Christ.
“Accepted in the beloved.”
(Ephesians 1:6)
The issue is not maintaining salvation through works.
The issue is understanding who you are in Christ.
▪️THE GOSPEL THAT SAVES TODAY
The answer is not found in religious performance.
The answer is found at Calvary.
Paul declares:
“How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
(1 Corinthians 15:3–4)
That is the gospel of the grace of God.
Not works.
Not rituals.
Not self-improvement.
Christ died.
Christ was buried.
Christ rose again.
Believe that message and trust Him alone.
▪️DON’T MISS PAUL’S POINT
1 Corinthians 6:9–10 is not teaching:
• Loss of salvation
• Loss of justification
• Loss of eternal life
It is teaching:
• The condition of the lost
• The identity of unbelievers
• The contrast between what believers once were and what they are now in Christ
Paul’s point is not, “You can become lost again.”
Paul’s point is, “That’s not who you are anymore.”
▪️THE BLESSED CONCLUSION
If you have trusted Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for your salvation:
• You are justified.
• You are sanctified.
• You are accepted in Christ.
• You are complete in Him.
The unrighteous do not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the believer’s confidence is not found in his own righteousness.
It is found in the righteousness of Christ imputed by faith.
Right division protects the believer from confusion.
Grace provides assurance.
And Christ remains the only basis of our salvation.
That is good news.
