or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. and such were some of you. 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 cor 6:9-11

 

righteous are you, O Lord, and right are your rules. (psalm 119:137)

if we are to be imitators of Christ, we seek righteousness when we personally conform to God’s law and his character. because God is fully righteous and just, he gives an appropriate punishment for sin. he is ultimately the only standard by which we could measure righteousness.

 

for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (romans 6:23)

this concept could seem harsh, but the focus is that for God to be consistent in his nature and who he says he is, there has to be a consequence for sin. if there wasn’t, then he would be condoning it, which goes against who he is.

we cannot practice habitual unrepentant sin and bring glory to his name. those who continue to defile the name of God aren’t sons and daughters of the King thus cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

 

what shall we say then? are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?  by no means! (romans 6:1-2)

no one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. (1 john 3:6)

before Jesus, the shedding of the blood of animals only temporarily made the people right before God the Father, requiring a multitude of sacrifices. but the beauty of the gospel is that Jesus being fully sinless, dying and raising again, covered all of our sins. he is the ultimate sacrifice in which we were bought with a price.

 

he is worthy of our praise.

he is worthy of our obedience.

his character is worthy to be imitated.

 

~ natalie schmidt