What Happens to the Unrighteous?
Paul tells us that "the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9).
In Galatians 5 the apostle lists for us the works of the flesh and adds, "I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (verse 21).
He says that those who do these things are unrighteous; they are not right. And if you do these things, you're not going to inherit the kingdom of heaven.
In the book of Revelation we are told that God will not allow anything to enter heaven that would defile it. In Ephesians 5:5, Paul tells us that "no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and God."
And in Hebrews we are exhorted to "pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord" (12:14).
In all these verses the Holy Spirit is speaking to us about a holy life, about a righteous life, about denying the flesh life.
Jesus said to His disciples, "Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20).
What a shocker that must have been to the disciples! The
scribes and Pharisees were known for their righteousness; they were the fellows who were always straining at gnats and swallowing camels.
They were always so careful to demonstrate their righteousness before the people, to keep every little jot and tittle of their own interpretation of the law.
But inwardly they were breaking the law all the time.
So Jesus told His men that "unless your righteousness exceeds theirs, you're not going to enter the kingdom of heaven."
