Who Will Not Inherit The Kingdom Of God?

[Neighbor]

Who will not inherit the Kingdom of God?

[AdHoc]

15 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Who will not inherit the Kingdom of God?

A Kingdom is an area or sphere where a certain king lives has his will obeyed. In Matthew 6, our Lord Jesus prayed for God's Kingdom to COME. That is, God, though He be owner of, and have all power over, has not yet implemented His will on earth. Daniel Chapter 2 predicts that after four world powers have reigned, starting from Babylon, He will introduce His Kingdom by smashing to powder Gentile rule (vs.34-35). When our Lord Jesus came, His main theme of teaching was this Kingdom. He told Israel that if they repented, He would give them the Kingdom. But Israel rejected both the King and the Kingdom.

God, being Almighty, started a New Work to raise up future kings for this earth. He called is "The New Man" (Eph.2:15) and it is made up of Gentiles and Jews. It is a totally new creature (2nd Cor,5:17), with a new beginning, and which has no past. In it are NO Jews and NO Gentiles (Gal.3:28, Col.3:11). Like any future king this New Man, and its members, had to be born into a royal family, had to be eligible for the inheritance and had to undergo a rigorous training. God's name was attached to this Kingdom, so its kings had to uphold the highest standard of RIGHTEOUSNESS.

All Christians are Christians because of the new birth, and this birth, if it is accompanied by Baptism, makes him a royal and eligible for ENTRY into this coming Kingdom. By virtue of of being Christ's, and having proceeded out of Christ (Jn.12:24), we become seed of Abraham because Jesus is THE Seed of Abraham. And if seed of Abraham, then HEIRS to the promise of the WORLD (Gal.3:29, Rom.4:13). But then the fallen man must be transformed into the image of Christ (Rom.8:29, 2nd Cor.3:18). This is done by a combination of the Work of the Holy Spirit, a correct diet of God's Word, chastisement and self discipline by the saint. Then, because the flesh is useless for the Kingdom (1st Cor.15:50) we need to be resurrected with a new body or changed at the last trumpet.

The difficult part is the part the Believer must play in the whole process - namely crucifying the flesh and  denying the soul (Matt.16:24, etc.). He must learn to be utterly obedient to God's Words, and he must be prepared to deny the claims of the flesh and the soul. He must be "exercised" by God's chastening. The goal is to have a once fallen man 100% RIGHTEOUS. Only those Christians who have undergone this rigorous training successfully will be REWARDED by being co-kings with Christ in this Kingdom. In every case, the threat of being cast out of the coming Kingdom, is because of UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (1st Cor.6:9-10, Gal.3:21, Eph.5:5). 

But it is not finally a matter of just keeping rules. It is a matter of one man loving another so much that he will lay down his life for his friend. In Matthew 7:21-23 the Christians there did good works. But because they were not intimate with Jesus, they did them without orders. The works themselves were no evil. But doing them without order from God made these men rebels. In Matthew 25 ten Virgins set out to meet the bridegroom. The are exactly alike in seven points. They differ in only one. The did not know that a PRICE had to be paid for extra oil. They thought that it was for free. Why? Because they had not been intimate with the Groom - Jesus. The final and most important attribute for a man to enter the Kingdom of God is an INTIMATE WALK with Jesus.

[Mr. M]

1 hour ago, Neighbor said:

Who will not inherit the Kingdom of God?

Revelation 21:7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

[George]

Well, from a Biblical standpoint ...

1Co 6:9  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, 

1Co 6:10  nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 

1Co 6:11  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. 

[Michael37]

9 hours ago, Neighbor said:

Who will not inherit the Kingdom of God?

Jer 17:5-6  Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD.  (6)  For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.

Tit 1:15-16  To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.  (16)  They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

Jud 1:4  For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
 

 

[Neighbor]

Hi all, 

Encouraging to see   within the early responses the sharing of the hope that is certain for each of us. Within the list given  within Paul's letter to the church body, as samples of those that will not inherit the Kingdom of God is the phrase  "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."

Is that not an awesome hope?

As I look at what I think of as  a debauchery crazed world, especially at the USA  of today, I find extreme encouragement that Paul was given  inspiration by God  to write that message to the place of such extreme worship of debauchery occurring during his own lifespan's time. God has seen it all hasn't He? And yet He holds out  personal sacrifice willingly completed by Yeshua to cover the sin of all of us that will hear and heed His call to do so. He enables us to do so  too.

At the simplest; got a problem  meeting God's standard which is perfection? God can fix it! Ask Him, He hears when  asked. As the simple tune encourages," Have a little talk with Jesus".

[FreeGrace]

13 hours ago, Neighbor said:

Who will not inherit the Kingdom of God?

Great question!  There are 3 parallel passages in the NT regarding who won't 'inherit the kingdom', so let's take a peek at all of them.

1 Cor 6:9 Or 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  10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Gal 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;  20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Eph 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

In 1 Cor 6 and Gal 5, we find the same terminology:  "not inherit the kingdom", but in Eph 5 we have "not have any inheritance in the kingdom", which is slightly different.  However, in all 3 passages the key is about lifestyle.  So, all 3 phrases are equivalent.  And in Eph 5:5, it is clear that it isn't about not GETTING INTO the kingdom, which is a very common view regarding 1 Cor 6 and Gal 5, but not having any inheritance though IN the kingdom, which is what Eph 5:5 is saying.

So, what Paul is teaching in these 3 parallel passages is that believers who live in sin, live for themselves, etc wil have NO inheritance IN the kingdom.  Paul is not saying that lifestyle will keep any believer out of the kingdom.  That would contradict the many verses that very clearly teach eternal security.  

Eph 5 is very helpful to understand what Paul was teaching in all 3 passsages.

Here is the context for 5:5.  

 

1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 

2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 

4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

v.1 admonishes believers to to obedient to the Lord.

v.2 describes what obedience includes.

v.3 describes what believers are NOT TO DO, and why:  "these are improper for God's HOLY people.

v.4 continues with what believers are NOT TO DO.

Then we have v.5.  Notice from v.3 3 words:  immorality, impurity, and greed.

Notice again v.5:  For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

The SAME 3 words.  So Paul IS telling believers what will keep them from having inheritance in the kingdom.

All 3 passages are warnings to believers about what will keep them from having an inheritance in the kingdom.

Paul is talking about eternal rewards here, not salvation.  Immoral, impure or greedy lifestyles will definitely result in LOSS of inheritance, even though believers will be IN the kingdom.

[Neighbor]

2 hours ago, FreeGrace said:

Great question!  There are 3 parallel passages in the NT regarding who won't 'inherit the kingdom', so let's take a peek at all of them.

1 Cor 6:9 Or 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  10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Gal 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;  20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Eph 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

In 1 Cor 6 and Gal 5, we find the same terminology:  "not inherit the kingdom", but in Eph 5 we have "not have any inheritance in the kingdom", which is slightly different.  However, in all 3 passages the key is about lifestyle.  So, all 3 phrases are equivalent.  And in Eph 5:5, it is clear that it isn't about not GETTING INTO the kingdom, which is a very common view regarding 1 Cor 6 and Gal 5, but not having any inheritance though IN the kingdom, which is what Eph 5:5 is saying.

So, what Paul is teaching in these 3 parallel passages is that believers who live in sin, live for themselves, etc wil have NO inheritance IN the kingdom.  Paul is not saying that lifestyle will keep any believer out of the kingdom.  That would contradict the many verses that very clearly teach eternal security.  

Eph 5 is very helpful to understand what Paul was teaching in all 3 passsages.

Here is the context for 5:5.  

 

1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 

2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 

4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

v.1 admonishes believers to to obedient to the Lord.

v.2 describes what obedience includes.

v.3 describes what believers are NOT TO DO, and why:  "these are improper for God's HOLY people.

v.4 continues with what believers are NOT TO DO.

Then we have v.5.  Notice from v.3 3 words:  immorality, impurity, and greed.

Notice again v.5:  For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

The SAME 3 words.  So Paul IS telling believers what will keep them from having inheritance in the kingdom.

All 3 passages are warnings to believers about what will keep them from having an inheritance in the kingdom.

Paul is talking about eternal rewards here, not salvation.  Immoral, impure or greedy lifestyles will definitely result in LOSS of inheritance, even though believers will be IN the kingdom.

Hi, Thanks for your detailed presentation  Though we have no commonality in our own conclusions you have made an interesting presentation.

[NConly]

Also

jude 1:7-8

7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Rev 21:8

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Rev 22:15

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

[FreeGrace]

46 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Hi, Thanks for your detailed presentation  Though we have no commonality in our own conclusions you have made an interesting presentation.

And thank you.  I see commonality between all 3 passages.  Addressing believers only.  Seems many think Paul is warning unbelievers or simply teaching believers why unbelievers won't be IN the kingdom, but it is clear from Eph 5:5 that what won't be IN the kingdom is reward for believers who are living a lifestyle inappropriate to the Christian life.