1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, (10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, (21) envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Ephesians 5:3-7 “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; (4) neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. (5) For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (6) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. (7) Therefore do not be partakers with them.”
The forfeiture of one’s eternal inheritance because of a chosen lifestyle is a serious issue. In the above three quoted passages of scripture, the Holy Spirit warns the saints about this issue, for all of these passages are addressed to the saints, and not to unbelievers. In all of them, the Holy Spirit warns the saints, that if they choose to practice the lifestyles mentioned that they will have no inheritance in the kingdom of God. And so, they may still be saved because they have not committed the sin to death, i.e. denying the Lord Jesus, but nevertheless, they will have no inheritance. And as we have already seen earlier, part of our inheritance is a home to live in, in the New Jerusalem. All saints that choose to ignore the Holy Spirit’s warning, and continue to practice a lifestyle of sin, will in effect be homeless in the New Jerusalem, and will thus be reliant on the goodwill of fellow believers to take them into their homes in the age to come. What a sad outcome for those saints. No wonder God will have to dry their tears on their day of judgement when they realise the loss that they will suffer (Revelation 7:17).
Michael E.B. Maher
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