Are Adulterers Excluded from Christ’s Kingdom?
Q:
Regarding the advice you gave concerning the brother who was living with his girlfriend [see Jan/Feb 2014 issue], what kind of thinking process results in your inexcusable advice to explain to the brother that there are no threats of hell for him anymore as he is now saved. For a person who continues to practice sexual immorality, there is every reason to counsel the opposite: that according to Scripture, no adulterers will enter heaven. The indication is that he
has not yet repented. Stated so strongly in both Galatians and Revelation that adulterers will not enter heaven, how can you oppose such Scriptures? –DP, Email
A:
I sympathize with your objection, but can’t agree with it. Although I admire that you’re trying to appeal to Scripture, I’m afraid you are actually misquoting and misunderstanding the passages you are referring to.
First, repentance is not a condition for eternal salvation. John tells us many times that if we believe in Jesus, we have eternal life (e.g., John 3:16; 5:24; 6:35; 11:26). But we never find a single occurrence of the word repentance in the whole Gospel of John. And in the two books that tell us how to be justified before God, Galatians never mentions repentance at all, and there is only one use of repentance in Romans (Rom 2:5), and even then, it is not stated as a condition for justification. John and Paul both make faith the one and only condition for having eternal life. Repentance is important for growing in the Christian life, and for temporal salvation, but not for eternal salvation.
Second, I should point out that we believe in the doctrine of eternal security (John 3:16; 10:28-30). So, once someone believes in Jesus for everlasting life, it is a present possession, and he can never perish eternally. Even someone living in adultery cannot lose everlasting life. Once he has it, he has it forever.
Third, you seem to have a different understanding of the nature of salvation than we do. You wrote: “according to Scripture, no adulterers will enter heaven.” That’s not true. What Paul actually says is,
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9-10, emphasis added).
Notice that while you talk about entering heaven (and thereby imply this is an eternal life/eternal death issue), Paul actually writes about inheriting the kingdom. Heaven is not in view here. This is the Millennial kingdom that Christ will set up on earth, with the capital being Jerusalem. So that’s the first thing to recognize.
Also, you should note that Paul isn’t talking about the conditions for entering the kingdom. He is speaking about the conditions for inheriting the kingdom. If you aren’t a Dispensationalist, then you probably won’t know the difference between “entering” and “inheriting” the kingdom. And you may not know about the more basic difference between “eternal life” and “eternal rewards.” If not, I would encourage you to do word studies on both. Simply put, everyone who believes in Jesus for eternal life will enter the kingdom, but only those Christians who are faithful will inherit it. Some Christians are more faithful than others and will be rewarded with greater responsibility in the kingdom (Luke 19:17 versus Luke 19:19). Some will rule over ten cities (Luke 19:17), some over five (Luke 19:19), and some over none at all (Luke 19:2026). Just read the Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-27).
So, coming back to the original question about the believer living in adultery: believers cannot lose everlasting life. All believers will enter the Millennial kingdom. But believers who live in rebellion against God will not receive an inheritance in the kingdom. —Shawn
