Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Monday, August 15, 2011

1 Corinthians 6

What does it mean to "inherit the kingdom of God"? What is required for one to "inherit the kingdom of God".

I previously commented that -

"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device." (New Testament | Acts 17:28 - 29)

For -

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ..." (New Testament | Romans 8:16 - 17)

As children of God, would we not assume that we have potential to be like Him? Paul suggests this as he teaches this potential and authority as one inherits the kingdom of God for -

"Know ye not that we shall judge angels?..." (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 6:3)

And in order to inherit His kingdom -

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 6:9 - 10)

These are those that seem to justify, "if it feels good, do it" or as Paul teaches the philosophy of the Greeks -

"Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them..." (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 6:13)

In other words, the Corinthians or wisdom of man was that just as it is permissable to satisfy hunger with food so also is it okay to satisfy personal desires and passions with immorality. But -

"Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid..." (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 6:15)

Joseph Smith provides a more appropriate translation to verse 12 making more sense -

"(JST 1 Cor. 6:12) All these things are not lawful unto me, and all these things are not expedient. All things are not lawful for me, therefore I will not be brought under the power of any." (New Testament:1 Corinthians 6:12)

It is clear that as we repent and strive to for righteousness is not all that is required to inherit the kingdom of God for -

"...such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 6:11)

For it is through grace and atonement of Jesus Christ that we are both sanctified and justified to inherit the kingdom.