Who Has An Inheritance In The Kingdom Of God?

As we read Ephesians 5, we see over and over a very sober responsibility on the part of believers to be obedient to what is commanded. Is there not a healthy fear in these verses?  Please read this chapter and  see my notes and scriptures at the bottom. I discovered something in this passage that is very sobering. A casual reading of these warnings doe not reveal just how serious they are! Paul's letter to the Corinthians makes that very clear. 

Ephesians 5  ISV

1So be imitators of God, as his dear children. 

• 2Live lovingly, just as the Messiah also loved us and gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to God. 
• 3Do not let sexual sin, 
• impurity of any kind, 
• or greed even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints. 
• 4Obscene, flippant, or vulgar talk is totally inappropriate. 
• Instead, let there be thanksgiving. 

• 5For you know very well that no immoral or impure person, or anyone who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God. 
• 6Do not let anyone deceive you with meaningless words, 
• for it is because of these things that God becomes angry with those who disobey. 
• 7So do not be partners with them. 

• 8For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, 9for the fruit that the light produces consists of every form of goodness, righteousness, and truth. 
• 10Determine what pleases the Lord, 11and have nothing to do with the unfruitful actions that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are. 
• 12For it is shameful even to mention what is done by these disobedient people in secret. 13But everything that is exposed to the light becomes visible, 14for the light is making everything visible. That is why it says,

             “Wake up, sleeper!

Arise from the dead,

and the Messiah will shine on you.’’

15So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, 16making the best use of your time because the times are evil. 17Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.18Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit. 

9Then you will recite to one another psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; you will sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts; 20you will consistently give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah; 21and you will submit to one another out of reverence for the Messiah.

A casual reading of this chapter could leave us with thinking all or some of the sins listed are simply covered by the blood of Christ, but the same Paul who wrote the above to the Ephesians, tells the Corinthians in chapter 6:

Corinthians 6: "Stop deceiving yourselves! Sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, 10thieves, greedy people, drunks, slanderers, and robbers will not inherit the kingdom of God. 11That is what some of you were!"  ISV 

Corinthians 6 and Verses 5-7 in Ephesians above are critical warnings to those who continue to practice sin. These warnings are very clear. If we do not repent and turn from those sins, we will have no inheritance in the kingdom of God. God becomes angry with those who disobey. Does grace protect us from the consequences of these warnings? Does grace cover willful sinning? It appears not.

Farther Along

Josh Garrels