Scripture:
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV
[9] 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, [10] nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] 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.
Observation:
Paul seems to be the number one advocate for grace throughout the New Testament. Writing the letter to the Romans explaining the principles of salvation and how grace is the key to the faith that saves us… faith in who Jesus Christ is and what HE had done on the cross for us. In some places, when you read his writing, you might get the impression that you can sin all you want, and grace will just abound. I just want to take a deeper look at this issue, and honestly, I feel like we just stumbled into a short series, but let’s just see how it works out. As we already know, the letters to the Corinthians were written to correct the things that were going on in the church lawsuits disagreements sexual immorality, and things like that… and yes, these things were going on in the church. You could imagine Paul’s surprise when he got the report of it. In fact, I’m sure he had to pray before he responded with his letter. Especially after writing to the Romans about how good grace is. But even in that explanation of grace expressed in that letter, he said something to the effect of… “shall I sin all the more so that grace shall abound… by no means.” This tells me that at some point, there has to be evidence that our lives have changed. Verse 9 in First Corinthians chapter 6 is kind of an eye-opener and can be confirmed in Galatians chapter 5:21 when Paul explains the evidence of the Holy Spirit. Now, before any confusion gets started, what I am not saying is that we are saved by our works. What I am saying is that our works are evidence that we are, in fact, saved. In verse 9, Paul tells us not to be deceived about this, and in the second part of the verse, starts a list of sins that continues through verse 10. This list, I’m sure, is not complete, but I’m sure it gives us a great idea of the kinds of things that are evidence that there may be a problem with our connection with the father. I could repeat the list. However, I’m sure it’s not necessary. If you want to read it again, just look back in this SOAP or crack open your bible it’s all there in black and white. I will, however, say it’s a part of a list that we should make ourselves familiar with. Because of the severity of the consequences that come along with those who partake or indulge in it. I believe the real key to all this is in verse 11. Paul makes a very important statement…” and such WERE some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, and you were justified in the name of the LORD Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our GOD. I believe the key is the word WERE showing that’s how you were before or before and implying that it’s not how you are now.
Application:
My wife and I were having a conversation last night on the way home from a wonderful evening with a group of friends. Seeing a bunch of men whose lives had been damaged at one point completely restored in the name of Jesus. A quick shout out to Hope Center Ministries for being the vessel of Jesus Christ and allowing HIM the opportunity to encounter these men and women all around the United States of America and change their lives. But back to my point. I don’t believe that GOD saves us to leave us where HE found us. Now, by saying that what I want you to know is that I am not saying I am perfect or that perfection is possible. However, I do believe that once we establish a relationship with Jesus Christ, our lives will start to change things that used to be common practice. Will no longer sit well with us, and we will do something to change it. I do not believe that a life of sin and death is a life that we should be pursuing as believers and followers of Christ. The Bible says if we love HIM, we will follow HIS commandments. I know you have heard me say this before, and I want to keep it in your ear because I believe it’s very important. There is a difference between religion and relationships… religion is a set of rules that have to be followed to get to heaven… and a relationship with Jesus will change your desire so that you will want to follow them. I think I can best explain this in these terms. I just got married, and I absolutely love my wife. She is an amazing woman who has a love for GOD. So it is easy for me to want to do things that put a smile on her face. I don’t necessarily have to… but my heart really wants to. My relationship with Christ is just like that. I want to do the things that will please HIM. To bring this all to my point. Think it’s important to understand the purpose of GOD’S grace. HE does not want to leave you in your sin. HE has called you to a life of more than that. The sanctification process began at the moment of salvation. A true salvation experience will absolutely change your life. You will not want to be that same old person. You will not want that old life, and GOD will start changing you from the inside. You will feel a steady pull from the Holy Spirit telling you that the old you is not who you are it’s time to do something about it. I’m telling you my life has changed so much in the past 14 years that I don’t even recognize me. HE did not save me to leave me where I was. He is calling us all out of our sins. This is a process. Tune your ear to the Holy Spirit and eliminate the next thing HE tells you to therefore being conformed to the image of Christ.
Prayer:
Father, thank you. Your grace is truly amazing. We know that you have a plan for us, and we are sure that it is not to continue to travel a wide road that leads to destruction but a narrow road that leads to construction. Your desire for us to be conformed to the image of your SON. We know that this is sometimes a process. It only took a few days to get the Israelites out of Egypt, but it took 40 years to get Egypt out of them. Help us to seek your face and continue to grant us the grace necessary to find it. We love you, and we know that our lives are not our own. Show us the next thing we need to element to be conformed to the image of HIM who saved us from who we WERE. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.