“Each believer is horribly flawed, and yet forgiven and living with the promise and hope of heaven (Titus 3:7).” Paul’s point is that, although his readers, who were Christians, had been thieves, homosexuals, idolaters, etc., in the past, their sins have been forgiven and washed away. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (emphasis added).

The first problem with saying this is a contradiction is that Paul continues in the very next verse (1 Corinthians 6:11): “And such were some of you. Understanding what Paul and Jesus were teaching Some may think this is a contradiction, but when we actually study the passages in context we can understand what is going on. So Paul says thieves do not go to heaven, whereas Jesus said at least one did. Yet Luke 23:39-43 says that one of the thieves that were crucified with Jesus was going to be with Jesus in paradise that very day. In this passage, Paul says twice that any of these sinners will not go to heaven.

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.” “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Can a thief or any other kind of sinner go to heaven? Take a look at 1 Corinthians 6:9-10:

The Thief by Tim Chaffey