Somebody Loves You

Raul Ries: So in these verses before us, Paul drops a bombshell on all such thinking that if you continue in sin, you can inherit the kingdom of God. That is wrong thinking. Wrong thinking, very dangerous thinking. He fully asserts that people who continue in sin are not going to get into heaven.

Guest (Male): I am falling in love with you. I am falling in love with you. I am falling in love with you. I am falling in love with you.

Welcome to Somebody Loves You Radio, the Bible teaching ministry of Raul Ries in Diamond Bar, California. Today's message continues our focus on the spiritual realm and the afterlife, and it's good to have you with us. Zeroing in on what the Bible requires for entrance into heaven, Raul will emphasize that good works are not the key.

Sin separates us from God, but when we receive His forgiveness and salvation through Jesus, we can experience freedom from guilt and hold fast to the promise of a heavenly home. Today's lesson is taken from First Corinthians chapter six. Here is Raul Ries with the message, "Who Goes To Heaven?"

Raul Ries: The question always comes up on television or on the newspaper and say, well, these are the people that are going to heaven. But what does the Bible say? Why? Because the Bible is God's authority on the subject. Sometimes people get upset when they come and they ask you, well, what about this person that is a good person and they're doing this and that? Number one, I'm not God. Number two, I have to decide by the teaching of the Word of God what God says in His Word.

He said many are called but few are chosen. And when you talk about the narrow way and the broad way, Jesus, teaching on the Sermon on the Mount, He said that there would be many that would follow in the way of destruction. It was the broad way to go. But the way to heaven, He said, is very straight, very narrow, and very few people find the way. I mean, how much more do we need to hear from Jesus Himself saying it?

But as James and John and Paul began to write their letters, they probably faced the same issues that we face today, especially people that say they're Christian but at the same time you don't see any evidence of that. It's really important that we understand that the Bible is clear concerning that there are two places. There's a place called heaven and there's a place called hell with two Hs.

But at the same time, we understand that God Himself had to send His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to make this effective. He came, He illustrated it with His own life, then He was killed, and then He rose again on the third day. Today, He sits at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us.

And yet we know from the beginning of the fall of man with Adam and Eve, our first parents, that sin entered into the world. And by the way, sin started in heaven with the devil when he was thrown out of heaven. And then our first parents sinned in the Garden of Eden. They were kicked out of the Garden of Eden. So sin has been around for a long time.

And yet we are living in a time when people are compromising their Christian lives. So what Paul does here in First Corinthians, he shows us in his letter to the Corinthians the true condition first of all of the early church where they were at, especially in the city of Corinth, where there were a thousand prostitutes. They were up on a hill and they would come down at night and they would seduce the whole city to have sexual relationships with them.

They were free drinkers, and they were free thieves going around stealing. And there were these guys and people in the church they were having a very hard time because there were those Christians that were partaking in doing what was evil and yet going into the place of worship and calling themselves Christians. So Paul writes this letter to show us exactly what was going on.

Let's read what he says here in First Corinthians, chapter six, our text, beginning with verse nine through eleven. He says, "Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" He says this: "Be not deceived." Who's he talking to? He's talking to Christians. He says, "Be not deceived, neither"—now he's going to give you a list who will not inherit the kingdom of God—"neither fornicators."

Who's that? Fornicators are people, single people that are not married, that are having sexual relationships with their boyfriend or their girlfriend or another woman or another man. Fornication. We get our word pornographic from the Greek. Secondly, he says, "nor idolaters." What's that? Idolaters here means those that worship false gods.

Thirdly, "adulterers." Who's that? Those that are married and commit sexual contact with somebody else, not their wife or their husband, but somebody else. That's adultery. You see? Breaking your marriage vows before God and before your wife and before your husband. Then he says, "effeminate." He uses this word, but in the literal here means homosexuals.

Those that actually have sexual relationships, male with male or female with female, lesbianism. Notice that: will not inherit the kingdom of God. Who else? "Nor abusers of themselves, sodomites." He says abusers of themselves with mankind, then he says, "nor thieves," and that is what? The word thieves and covetousness here is kind of the similar word, and it means those that are greedy. The sin of greed. Wanting what somebody else has. Never satisfied with what you have. The sin of greed.

And then he uses the word "drunkards." Again, the word here is very interesting and it means those that use alcohol, fermented alcohol. Proverbs 20, verse 1 says, "Wine is a mocker, and those that drink it are stupid." That's what it says in the scripture. I didn't make that up. You can read it for yourself. Drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God. Nor "revilers." Revilers, those who destroy with their tongue. They're always tearing down, putting people down. Imagine that: will not inherit the kingdom of God.

You see, he's trying to show the fruit of unrighteousness to the fruit of righteousness. When we come to Christ, the Bible says what? All things become brand new. We are new people. We have new mannerisms. We have a new life. We came out of darkness and we came to the light. Then he says this, it's so beautiful. He says, "shall not inherit the kingdom of God, and such were some of you." You see? Who's he talking to? Christians.

This is what you used to be. Notice what he says: "and such were some of you, but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit of our God." Who did the work? The Holy Spirit. This is so beautiful because here the word "to wash" speaks of regeneration. I was regenerated by the Spirit of God when I came by faith to Jesus Christ and then I was sanctified, set apart by the Lord.

Standing—notice again—that speaks of my new birth, my new life, my new behavior. And then he says "justified" in the name of the Lord. That speaks of my new standing before God. My new standing before God. I'm not the same person I used to be. And who did it all? The Spirit of our God.

Guest (Male): This is Somebody Loves You Radio with Raul Ries. We're happy to equip you with Bible-based resources to help you better understand God's saving love. If you'd like Raul's personal response to your questions about the Bible or a prayer need, you can email him at pastorraul@somebodylovesyou.com. Now, back to more of our study today, "Who Goes To Heaven?"

Raul Ries: So in these verses before us, Paul drops a bombshell on all such thinking that if you continue in sin, you can inherit the kingdom of God. That is wrong thinking. Wrong thinking, very dangerous thinking. He fully asserts that people who continue in sin are not going to get into heaven. Are not going to get into heaven. And I think we need to pay attention to the Word of God and discern, and to discern here what is really in our hearts.

Jeremiah 17:9 says, the prophet Jeremiah said it so clearly. In verse nine and ten, he said, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it? I, the Lord, know your hearts." Why? Because I search the heart, and I test the mind, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

See, God knows your heart, and God tests your hearts. And yet, even though they made a commitment to Christ, they were not living their lives according to the Word of God. The Bible very clearly warns about the kingdom of God. For example, Jesus teaching His own disciples in the Gospel of Matthew, in the Sermon on the Mount.

In Matthew chapter seven, Jesus in coming to the conclusion on the Sermon on the Mount, as He's been giving Christian principles, and before He gives His final authority on the building of a house in sand or in the rock, He says this: "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven." This is Jesus. Then He goes on to say this: "But he who does the will of My Father in heaven."

He tells you who's going to inherit the kingdom of God. The obedient, not the disobedient. Those that have been regenerated, not the unregenerated. You see? And then He said this: "Many will say to Me on that day, on the day of judgment, there are going to be people speaking out to the Lord. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? I had the gift of prophecy, Lord. I was in the church, and I used it every day."

And then some will say, "And in Your name did not many wonders in Your name? I went to the mission field and did many wonders in Your name." And then thirdly, they'll say, "And in Your name I've done not only many," it says, "but in Your name I cast out demons in Your name, exorcisms." Exorcisms were done by these people. Miracles and wonders, and then, "I will declare to them"—this is Jesus now talking to them—"I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice sin."

Paul the Apostle in writing again to the Corinthian church in First Corinthians chapter five, verse nine through eleven, said this: "I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people." And check this out: "Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world." Why? Because when you work, you work with non-believers. He says, "I'm not talking about non-believers. You have to work with them. You have to be around them."

But he said this: "Or with covetous," he says, "or with extortioners or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world." You would have to walk around in a big plastic bag not to be contaminated by the world. But he's not saying that. He said, "But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone that is called a brother, a Christian." Whoa! Now he separates it. A Christian.

Who is sexually immoral active, covetous, idolater, a reviler, a drunkard, an extortioner. No, don't even eat with such a person, breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Why? Because you associate with them. You're not to associate with people like that as a Christian. Why? They're bringing confusion to the world, saying they're Christian but look at their lives.

Paul the Apostle writing to the actual Galatians, he writes in chapter 5:19 to 21. He says, "Now these are the works of the flesh, which are evident which are what? Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery," which means what? Drugs abuse, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, rivalries, wild parties, and the like, of which I tell you beforehand, just as also I told you in times past.

Who's he talking to? Christians. That those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. How much clearer do we want it? Ephesians chapter five, verse three to seven: "But fornicators and all uncleanness or covetous, let it not be named among you as is fitting Christians. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting," that's dirty jokes or sexual jokes, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

For this you know, that no fornicator, no unclean person, no covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. If you're living such a lifestyle, you are a son or daughter of disobedience. Therefore, do not be partaker with them.

Colossians chapter three, verse five through seven: "Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them." Notice he makes a difference, say you used to be like this, no longer walking like this. You used to be like that.

But now, you yourselves are to put off all these things: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. You're supposed to represent Christ, not the devil. Revelation 21:8: "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers"—there's that word again, *pharmakeia*, drug users—"idolaters, all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." He makes a difference. Notice that.

Paul shares with us here that these sins used to be in our old life, and now we have a new nature. And he says in First Corinthians 6:11 again, "such were some of you, but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus by the Spirit of our God." And then he says in Second Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if any man be in Christ Jesus, he or she is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold, all things have become brand new."

Ephesians 4:23: "and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which is created according to God in true righteousness and in true holiness." Notice the difference, you see? Between those that do not live according to what Christ said and those that do live according to Christ. What should we do? Well, first of all, we need to look at our past life before we came to Christ. Number one, we were what? Foolish people. Foolish people before we came to Christ.

First Corinthians 2:14 says, "But the natural man does not receive the things of Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned." So the natural man doesn't understand anything. He's lost. We used to be like that. Secondly, we were dead to sin.

Ephesians 2:1 and 3 says, "and you who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, Satan, the spirit that now works where? In the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath just as others." We used to be like that, you see? No longer.

Thirdly, we were Satan's children. Believe it or not, he was our father. According to John 8:44, Jesus said, "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him, and when he speaks, he's always lying, and he speaks from his own resources for he is a liar and the father of all lies." Satan, the liar.

And also, we were living according to the flesh, not according to the spirit. We saw that in Galatians chapter five, 16 to 20. And at the same time as we walked in the flesh, according to Paul says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit, that the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit." What a difference there is.

Secondly, how we received a new life. How did it happen? Well, number one, it happened by being born again of the Holy Spirit. Remember Jesus speaking to Nicodemus. Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." And Nicodemus said in his natural way, he said, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time in his mother's womb and be born?"

And Jesus answered and said, "Most assuredly I say to you, unless a man is born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh"—he separates it, the natural birth—he says, "and that which is born of the spirit is spirit, the supernatural. Do not marvel, I say to you, you must be born again." Plainly he says it.

And then thirdly, it is because of God's grace. God's grace. Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, it is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." And fourthly, it is God's love for you, for me. Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet still sinners, Christ died for us." He paid such a penalty of death to give us this life that we now have.

Third point is this: how this new life was produced to us. Three factors. Number one, it was by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5 says, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit convicted us.

Secondly, it was the Word of God that produced new life. First Peter 1:23: "having been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever. Forever." And thirdly, it was through faith. Through faith in Jesus Christ. First John 5:1: "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten by Him."

Guest (Male): If you've been attending church and going through the motions of religion but have never actually repented of sin, we encourage you to make things right with the Lord today. You're listening to Somebody Loves You Radio with Raul Ries. Today's study was titled "Who Goes To Heaven?" If you'd like to get an unedited version, we'll be happy to send a copy to you for a donation of five dollars or more. Simply call us at 800-634-9165.

We'd also like to offer you Raul's four-part series titled *Heaven or Hell*. It features three additional lessons as well as today's, and it's available on either CD or thumb drive. Further exploring the universal need for a Savior and God's gracious provision of His Son Jesus, this study will help you better understand the unconditional love that made it possible for you to enjoy the hope of heaven.

Visit somebodylovesyou.com or call 800-634-9165 to order Raul's four-lesson *Heaven or Hell* series. We'll send you the CD set for 18 dollars or the flash drive for 10 dollars. That's 800-634-9165. You can also order this resource by writing to us at Somebody Loves You Radio, Post Office Box 4440, Diamond Bar, California, 91765.

This ministry with Raul Ries is completely listener-supported. We are so grateful for every tax-deductible gift and the partnerships that enable us to keep sharing the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, thanks again for making us a part of your day today, and join us again next time as we ask the Lord to speak to our hearts with wisdom and encouragement from His Word. Now, here's Raul Ries once again with a final comment.

Raul Ries: Now in conclusion, the result of this new life was what? Freedom. Free from what? From sin. Free from condemnation. In Ephesians 5:18, "Do not be drunk with wine, but be you filled continually with the Holy Spirit." Freedom from what? To overcome the world. First John 5:4: "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith." In who? In Jesus Christ.

And then check this out, He gave us the freedom to resist the devil. In First John 5:18, we know that whoever is born of God does not make a practice of sin anymore, but he who has been born of God keeps himself and the wicked one does not touch him. And check this out finally: freedom of a consecrated life before God.

Romans 12:1 and 2: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service to God, and be not conformed to this world, but be you transformed by the renewing of your minds." There's a difference between a non-believer and a true believer. Which are you today?