I Corinthians 6:9-11

I Corinthians 6:9-11 “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 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.”

Mark 16:15 “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.’”

The pastor at the singles group I attend told us about a church member explaining about his friend. The church member said his friend was living with his girlfriend, and even though he told the friend that he needed to move out or get married, because living together was wrong, the friend, who isn’t a Christian, didn’t think there was anything wrong with it and just ignored him.

That’s when the pastor stopped the church member and said, “What are you doing talking to your friend about his sex life? Are you trying to populate hell with good people?”

That brought me up short. When we let someone’s behavior become more important to us than their salvation, then we’ve got our priorities all messed up. It is Christ, through the Holy Spirit, who helps people mend their ways. He alone has the power to wash them, sanctify them, and make them into His image—just as He did (or is still doing) with us. His commission to us was to preach the gospel, not help people get their act together.

Are there people in your life who aren’t believers? Are you trying to help them come to know Jesus, or are you trying to help them become better people for the day they end up in hell?

Let’s let our hearts be like that of Christ, who saw past the sin to the person in need of Him. Let’s do what we can to introduce them to the One who makes all things new.

Brenda