The Misunderstood Passage

Many Christians struggle with these verses, thinking any sin listed means instant disqualification from salvation:

“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 practice homosexuality, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor revilers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10, NIV)

What Paul Really Was Saying

Paul isn’t commanding lasting perfection or threatening saved believers in current sin. Rather, he is contrasting two identities:

1. "Wrongdoers" – those living unrepentantly in sin.
2. "But such were some of you" – pointing to the Corinthians’ past lives.

This emphasis is confirmed in verse 11:

“And that is what some of you were. 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 Corinthians 6:11, NIV)

Breaking Down Verse 11: Identity in Christ

• Washed – cleansed from past sin; a spiritual purification (see Acts 22:16) :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
• Sanctified – set apart for God; a positional and ongoing maturing :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
• Justified – declared righteous by God’s grace through faith :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

These are simultaneous truths—past, present, and ongoing—in God’s work in believers.

So, Who Does "Not Inherit" Apply To?

The group that “will not inherit the kingdom” refers to people who continue in unrepentant sin—those aligned with the “old self.” In contrast:

• Believers have been transferred into the family of God.
• They now bear the identity of Christ—not defined by sin, but defined by redemption.
• God’s transformative work secures them, even as they continue in sanctification.

As one Bible study puts it: "When someone becomes a Christian, they receive a new identity. They are 'washed, sanctified, justified.'" :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Why This Matters

If we misunderstand this passage, we can distort two crucial truths:

• The certainty of salvation: Our forgiveness and justification do not depend on sinless perfection.
• The call to holiness: While identity in Christ is secure, believers are invited into ongoing transformation.

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians isn’t about ultimate salvation—it addresses how new believers integrate into Christ’s family and pursue a life aligned with their new nature.

Conclusion: Living from New Identity

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 is not a condemnation of believers who stumble. Instead, it is a gospel-affirming reminder:

• Yes, the unrighteous—those who don't know Christ—cannot enter the Kingdom.
• But Corinthian believers used to be among them.
• They have now been washed, sanctified, and justified through Christ.

Your past sins defined your old identity—but in Christ, you have been reborn. This passage is not about losing salvation—it is about celebrating the freedom and identity you now have.