Don’t be deceived.  It means that deception was very possible.  That problem with deception is that it typically always contains a bit of truth.

Truth + a slight twist = deception.

The times were such that somehow, sin had become something acceptable.  It was culturally permissible based on justification.  Truth + slight twist = deception and Paul said beware.  What did they need to be cautious about with deception?

“Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

it seems these fall into general categories:

• Sex – immoral, idolaters, adulterers, homosexual offenders
• Money – thieves, greedy, swindlers – drunkards
• Sins of the Mouth – What goes in (addictions such as alcohol/drunkards), and what comes out – slander

The Scriptures says that this is what some of you used to be, but now are not.  If you have become a new person, do not go back to the old person.

As a world, we have come back to this very thing.

Sex – There are very few parameters separating the church sex life with the world – living together is accepted, fornication, immorality, and more.

Money – Greed is hardly considered a sin.  Theft is righteously justified.  Typically not theft of objects but even theft online.

Sins of the mouth – food, alcohol, smoking, drugs, etc… are just normal and accepted, and what comes out, things like slander, gossip and such, sins rarely addressed.

Those who do these things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

It isn’t talking about those who are in process and on the journey of repentance.  This is more people who have been “deceived” into believing that they are not sins, and somehow justified.  God loves them and there is not a need for repentance.  It doesn’t matter what they do, they will be with him in heaven.

The warning has been thrown down.

Don’t be deceived.

Those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.

These are not the ways of heaven.  Culture may justify them in many different ways.  But it is not the way of God.