Sermon Notes: Living in the Kingdom based on 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Introduction: Today’s message is titled Living in the Kingdom. How would you explain the kingdom? Recently, we have heard a lot about Chiefs Kingdom. What does it mean to be part of Chiefs Kingdom? It seems to mean you have an allegiance to and you are a part of something with others. Another image for the kingdom comes from my favorite Children’s Bible “Jesus Storybook Bible” which explains the Kingdom like this, “One day Jesus was telling people about God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom is wherever God is King, Jesus told them. It’s wherever God is in charge. It’s where he fills your heart up with his Forever Happiness and you stop running away from him and you love him.”
What is the kingdom? The kingdom of God is the reign, rule and supremacy of Jesus Christ. The heart of God is to impart the reality of the Kingdom of God in the human heart so that it would be seen on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus often used parables to help people understand the kingdom (yeast, treasure, pearl, mustard seed, net, sower, & weeds)
Negative (vs. 9-10)
·
Vs. 9-10- The
unrighteous or wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God
o Is the focus on a person or an act?
o “Inheriting the kingdom” of God only used two other
places (1 Corin. 15:50; Gal. 5:21)
o Before
we read the list, listen to me carefully.
This list should not cause you to doubt your salvation. There is a
difference between entering the kingdom and inheriting the kingdom.
§ Entering the kingdom-Isaiah 6:1-7
§ Think
with me about a family as it relates to an inheritance. A child is a part of the family, however, the
inheritance has not yet been given. So,
we can be a part of God’s kingdom and not be currently receiving the
inheritance.
o The list
§ Sexually Immoral
§ Idolaters-worshiper of idols-worship manmade items
instead of God-not just an issue in Paul’s day, but ours as well. What are some idols we have today? (people
(actors, musicians, politicians), money, success, sports, social media)
§ Adulterers
§ Men who practice Homosexuality
§ Thieves-takes property belonging to someone else
§ Greedy-claims more than his due
§ Drunkards-habitually drinks alcohol to excess
§ Revilers-attacks the reputation of another, slander,
insult
§ Swindlers-robber
o Observations regarding the list
§ Connection to the 10 Commandments-No other gods, no
idols, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie, do not covet
§ incompatible
with the kingdom[1],
Paul mentions vices he saw that city was addicted[2],
it is not exhaustive[3]
§ Why
not inheriting? Living as slaves not as sons and daughters. We are choosing bondage to the list rather
than submission and surrender to Jesus.
o What
have you most often heard this verse quoted for? A defense against
homosexuality. Please hear me
clearly. Homosexuality is a sin. But so
are all the rest listed in these verses. If these verses lead you to judgment
or to point out the sin of others, you are missing the point.
o homosexuality
receives no greater emphasis than the other eight.[4]
o
You and I have been guilty at one time or
another of at least one of the things in this list.
Positive (vs. 11)
·
Vs. 11-And such
were some of you.
o
Grace/Mercy
§ All have sinned (Romans 3:23), I am the chief of
sinners (1 Timothy 1:15)
o
But…
§ “to
stress the transformation that has been effected by God. [5]
§ You were washed (wash off or wash away)
·
To be or become
forgiven, having one’s sins washed away
·
Allusion to
baptism-dead in sin, alive in Christ; the old has gone, the new has come
·
though your
sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18)
·
Purge me with hyssop, and I
shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)
·
a wiping clean
of the slate once-for-all[6]
§ You were sanctified
·
Set apart,
dedicate, consecrate, make holy
·
Becoming more
and more like Jesus
·
You have heard
me say what I am about to say many times before. In the church, we never question that
justification (salvation) and glorification (heaven) are the work of God. It’s all God.
But we have misunderstood sanctification to be part me and part
God. I am not saying that we do
nothing. But our part is believing,
abiding, faith
o
Believing-John 6:28-29- 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of
God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has
sent.”
o
Abiding-John 15:3-5- 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to
you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by
itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in
him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
o Faith-1 Timothy 6:12-Fight the good fight of the faith.
·
God’s act in setting them apart to be his[7]
§ You were justified
·
It is a legal term, declare righteous’.
Paul uses it for the act of God, on the basis of Christ’s atoning death, he
declares believers to be just, and accepts them as his own.[8]
·
Just as if I
never sinned and just as if I always obeyed-Elyse Fitzpatrick
·
Romans 3:26-It was to show
his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the
justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
·
Romans 5:1- Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
§ In the name of Jesus by the Spirit of our God
·
Worship and
Praise for the Trinity
o
This is why some
of my favorite songs right now include this praise of Father, Son and Spirit
(Doxology, King of Kings, There is a Redeemer, All Glory, We Give Thanks)
Response: I was….. But because of Jesus, I am……..
·
I
was… leads to confession and repentance. It fights against comparison, competition,
pride.
·
I
am… leads to living from our identity as sons and
daughters of the King
[1]
Morris, L. (1985). 1 Corinthians: an
introduction and commentary (Vol. 7, p. 96). Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press.
[2]
Calvin, J., & Pringle, J. (2010). Commentaries on the
Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians (Vol. 1, p.
209). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[3]
Lenski, R. C. H. (1963). The interpretation
of St. Paul’s First and Second epistle to the Corinthians (p.
248). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House.
[4]
Thiselton, A. C. (2000). The First Epistle
to the Corinthians: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 451).
Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.
[5]
Ciampa, R. E., & Rosner, B. S. (2010). The First Letter to
the Corinthians (p. 244). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.:
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
[6]
Thiselton, A. C. (2000). The First Epistle
to the Corinthians: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 454).
Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.
[7]
Morris, L. (1985). 1 Corinthians: an
introduction and commentary (Vol. 7, p. 97). Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press.
[8]
Morris, L. (1985). 1 Corinthians: an
introduction and commentary (Vol. 7, p. 97). Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press.
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