Paul plainly teaches that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.
He writes, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived," and then names fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, drunkards, revilers, and others. Les Feldick concludes these people will not enter God's heaven; instead they are in Satan's hands and will be where Satan is for all eternity unless they are saved.
1 Corinthians 6:9 — Paul directly states that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God and adds the warning "Be not deceived."
1 Corinthians 6:11 — Shows that some believers had been among the unrighteous but are now washed, sanctified, and justified.
In 1 Corinthians 6:9, Paul writes, "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." The next verse continues, "Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." Paul's language is absolute: unrighteous people are excluded from the kingdom. The passage then gives the contrast for believers: "And 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" (1 Corinthians 6:11). Scripture therefore treats the unrighteous as those who will not inherit the kingdom, while showing that believers no longer remain in that category.
Les explains that Paul was writing to Corinthian believers who had been saved out of abject paganism, idolatry, mythology, and gross immorality. They had no concept of biblical morality and still had many failures and hang-ups after salvation. Les says Paul's purpose in 1 Corinthians 6:9 is to make clear that God will not let unrighteous people into heaven short of salvation—His love and mercy do not bypass the need for salvation. Les also points out that "such were some of you" is past tense. The Corinthians had been those kinds of sinners, but they were washed, sanctified, and justified. The warning about the unrighteous not inheriting the kingdom is not a warning that struggling carnal believers will be lost; Paul even says that if the Lord came, all the Corinthian believers would go. Les's teaching keeps the unrighteous outside the kingdom while grounding believers in their new standing in Christ.
Les Feldick says Paul was addressing believers just recently converted out of Corinth's pagan, idolatrous, and immoral culture. They could easily think that because God is love and mercy, He will let unrighteous people into heaven short of salvation. Paul warns the opposite: "Be not deceived"—the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Paul says, "And such were some of you"—using the past tense. Les emphasizes that the Corinthian believers had been fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, and the rest, but they are now washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God. Their past sins do not define what they are to remain. Even the carnal believers in Corinth, saved out of gross immorality, are still secure in Christ.
Les teaches that the unrighteous are in the hands of Satan and will be where Satan is for all eternity. He also says that God will judge whoremongers and adulterers, and that the great white throne is waiting for the lost. The unrighteous will not inherit God's kingdom; they are destined for eternal separation unless they come to salvation.
What the Bible Really Says About Judging Other Christians
Somebody in that congregation should be able to use it. Is it so that there's not a wise man among you? No, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren. They're there. If you'll just let them have the opportunity. But he says, you don't do that.
Paul's "unrighteous shall not inherit" warning
Les points directly to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and highlights the word "were" in the past tense, showing that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom but the believers had been washed from that condition.
The pagan background of Corinth
Les describes Corinth as a city steeped in paganism, idolatry, and gross immorality, making Paul's warning especially relevant to believers who had just come out of that lifestyle.
Carnal believers are still secure
Les shows that even though the Corinthians had many moral failures after salvation, Paul taught that if the Lord came they would all go—the danger is not that saved believers lose the inheritance, but that the unrighteous never had it.
No unrighteous entrance into heaven without salvation
Les insists that God's love and mercy do not mean unrighteous people will enter heaven short of salvation; they are in Satan's hands and will be where Satan is for all eternity unless they are saved.
Why the Golden Calf Still Matters — 1 Corinthians 10:5-13 Explained
And the whole idea here is that Paul is addressing these carnal believers at Corinth, and he's using everything at his disposal to teach them and to bring them under an understanding of his gospel, how that Christ died for the sins of the world, that His blood was shed, and that He rose from the dead. And of course, he has to constantly bring in all of their behavioral problems, and they had them.
What Does the Bible Say About Church Discipline and Sin?
All right, now then, verse 17, all unrighteousness is sin, whether it be a little sin or a great one, it's still sin, and there is a sin not unto death. Now what's implied? That some sin is gross enough that it will cause God to take that believer out ahead of time. All right, now then, come back to 1 Corinthians chapter 5, and here's where we have it.
God judges the unrighteous
Les teaches that God will judge whoremongers and adulterers, and that the great white throne awaits the lost—reinforcing the truth that the unrighteous will not go unpunished.
1 Corinthians 6:9: 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,
This is Paul's direct answer to the question—the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:10: Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
This completes the list of those who are excluded from inheriting God's kingdom.
1 Corinthians 6:11: And 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.
This shows that the believers came from that unrighteous background but have been dramatically changed by salvation.
No. Paul is describing the unrighteous who will not inherit the kingdom. He says of the Corinthian believers, "Such were some of you," using the past tense; they were washed, sanctified, and justified. Les Feldick also notes that even carnal believers saved out of immorality would all be taken if the Lord came.
Paul says plainly they will not inherit the kingdom of God. Les Feldick adds that they are in the hands of Satan and will be where Satan is for all eternity, and that God will judge them at the great white throne.
Paul meant that some of the Corinthian believers had previously lived as fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, drunkards, and the rest, but they were no longer in that category. Their past was washed away by their salvation in Christ.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Judging Other Christians