1 Corinthians 6:9
“Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals,”
What does 1 Corinthians 6:9 mean?
Paul is reminding the Corinthian church that certain patterns of behavior keep people from experiencing God's kingdom, both now and in eternity. He's not singling anyone out as uniquely guilty, but rather listing behaviors that contradict following Jesus, including sexual immorality in various forms, idolatry, and adultery. The broader point matters here: Paul is writing to a community where some people seem to think that following Jesus is only about internal belief and doesn't affect how they live. He's pushing back against that disconnect. What's important to hold onto is that immediately after this list, Paul reminds the same church that some of them previously struggled with exactly these things, then adds: "but you were washed, but you were sanctified" (verse 11). In other words, his purpose isn't to shame but to call people toward transformation and healing. If you're carrying guilt about your past or wrestling with these struggles, that's precisely the grace Paul points toward.