1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Becoming A Christian Means Changing Relationships

Those in the church at Corinth needed to remember that those wronging others would not see heaven. Sin will be punished (Galatians 6:7-8). Paul then went on to list some of the sins he had in mind. A fornicator is one who indulges in illicit sex and is involved in one of the sins that Paul said would keep one out of heaven. Idolators worship false gods. An adulterer is one who has unlawful intercourse with the spouse of another. Perhaps adultery is specified because it breaks up families and hurts a third party. The word translated "homosexuals" literally means "soft to touch." Vine says, "metaphorically, in a bad sense,....persons in general, who are guilty of addiction to sins of the flesh." The sin of sodomy is best described in Romans 1:26-27.

A thief takes what belongs to someone else, while those who are covetous desire "to have more...,i.e., to have what belongs to others; hence, greedy of gain," according to Vine. Those who become intoxicated are drunkards. Revilers are abusive and profane. Those who are excessively grasping or covetous could be described as extortioners.

Paul next said the Christians at Corinth had previously been involved in some of those very sins he had listed (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Lipscomb says, "The threefold 'but' in the clause which follows emphasizes strongly the contrast between their present state and their past, and the consequent demand which their changed position makes upon them." The apostle said they had been washed, or baptized (Acts 22:16; Titus 3:5). They had also been sanctified, or set apart to do God's will. Further, Paul said they had been justified, or considered righteous because their sins had been remitted.