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Who inherits the Kingdom of God?

Not thieves, nor swindlers, slanderers nor the sexually immoral, not sinners of any kind.  These shall not -indeed, cannot- enter the Kingdom of God. This is a problem, because in one way or another, according to the Bible I’m guilty, and so are you.

One of the reasons these things (in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) are deal-breakers that block our entrance into the Kingdom is that when Scripture speaks of them, it’s not so much highlighting behaviors as much as an essence of being. These outward actions are indicators of an inward nature that is so much in opposition to the holy character of God that it may not even be in proximity to Him.  It isn’t about any specific deeds or sins, it’s a core identity that will keep you out of the Kingdom.  It’s not what you do, it’s who you are, and without Jesus, neither I nor you are in any way a “good person” by God’s standards.

How amazing, then, that those who are “in Christ” are completely new creations, able to leave our old identities behind and embrace a new one as children of God, citizens of the Kingdom!  We are transformed from the core of our being into new people with a new identity and a ticket to a greater destiny.

The incredible thing, too, is that this isn’t a ticket we work for or earn.  Quite the opposite: Jesus paid our way.

(SEE ALSO: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17)