No Inheritance In The Kingdom Of Christ

          Many, by their own choice, live sinful lives. The result of sinful living is that a person has no "inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." Paul wrote, "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." (Ephesians 5:5) The kingdom is sometimes called the kingdom of Christ and sometimes the kingdom of God; for where Christ reigns, God reigns. Those who miss heaven are the worst losers of all because their loss is an eternal loss. The Bible specifically names some who have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ. In Ephesians 5:5 Paul goes back to explain what He had just said in Ephesians 5:3. "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints." The reason that fornication, uncleanness and covetousness must not be named among Christians is the horrible thing that results from these sins. Those who practice such things have no "inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." Please observe:

          The whoremonger does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. "Whoremonger" comes from the idea of "to sell."  "Fornicator" is another word used to translate this same Greek word. A whoremonger is a man who prostitutes his body to another's lust. He does this for hire. A whoremonger is likewise a man who indulges in unlawful sexual intercourse. He is a fornicator. The moral life of a person is one thing that determines where that person will spend eternity. The whoremonger does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)

          The unclean person does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. An unclean person is one who is unclean in thought and life. The result of thinking unclean thoughts is an unclean life. All manner of uncleanness is in opposition to the very nature of God. An unclean heart has no place for God or for Christ. However, this unclean heart is open for all kinds of sins. Only those who are pure in heart will see God. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)

          The covetous man does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. A covetous man is one who is eager to have more; especially he is eager to have what belongs to others. Covetousness is a strong desire for and a seeking after material things that become objects of our worship. As we hold that kind of desire for these things they become more important to us than God. Someone else's house or car can be an idol if we covet them. This attitude is identified with idolatry because it replaces God with self-interest and visible things. A covetous man is motivated by greed for gain. He is a worshipper of mam­mon or money. Thus he becomes an idolater, a worshipper of a false god. A covetous man makes a god of his money. "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24) The covetous man stands condemned as an idolater. In Colossians 3:5 we read, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5)

     The kingdom of God and of Christ of Ephesians 5:5 is God's by ownership and Christ's because He is Mediator. Are you in that kingdom? Those who obey the truth become citizens in the kingdom of Christ and God. To obey the gospel you must believe in Jesus with all your heart (John 8:24), Repent of your sins (Luke 13:3), Confess the name of Jesus (Acts 8:37) and be baptized to wash away your sins. (Acts 22:16) Those who miss that kingdom will be "cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:30) If today was "Judgment Day" would it be a day of rejoicing or a day of doom?