Introduction:
Have you ever been tempted to take the things of this world, the sins that entice the flesh, and justify living in sin, while also trying to live for Christ? Paul is writing to the believers in Corinth and they were in the midst of trying to justify a continual life lived in sin, while also living as a child of God. At one point in time, we were defined by our sin and it was our identity before we knew Christ. The Corinthian church is in a battle much like the church today. They are in the midst of learning their identity is no longer in their sin, but as a child of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. 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.”
Think about it:
Verses 9 and 10 describe every man and every woman that has ever lived (minus Jesus). It labels the unrighteous (or the evildoer) as the one who practices sexual immorality, or the greedy, or the drunkard, or name any other sin. That should be the end of the passage. Man is bound and enslaved to their sinful actions and thus will reap the outcome of their works, eternal separation from God. But then we get this short sentence that changes the whole passage, “And such were some of you.” Paul then goes on to talk about being washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus! Amen! You were at one time identified with your sin, but now your identity is not unrighteousness and wickedness, but forgiven in Jesus Christ your Lord.
Take away:
In Christ Jesus, you are no longer defined by the sin that once enslaved you.
Personal reflection:
Like the church in Corinth, do you still identify yourself by the sins that God washed you from? Or do you look at the sin that was in your life and say “that is who I was; not who I am?”