Scripture:
I Corinthians 6:7-11 NKJV
[7] Now, therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? [8] No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! [9] Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, [10] nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you. 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.
Observation:
The Corinthian church had problems. They had really no idea how to live the Christian life. There were lawsuits sexual immorality, and all kinds of issues that Paul was dealing with in this letter. They seemed to be fighting over things that didn’t matter. Going to court when they should just let it go and one was not better than another. They were all in the same boat. It seemed like they wanted grace for themselves, but when it came time to show grace to someone else… they thought… no way they had to pay for what they did, and all this was happening inside the church. I mean, you would expect this from an unbeliever but not from a church member. However, here in Corinth, Paul was determined to remind them that anyone who had accepted Jesus as their LORD and SAVIOR was a new creation. The old was gone, and a new person had emerged from the ashes. That is also made evident not only in the second letter he wrote to them but it’s told to them right here. Verse 9 makes a statement that I believe we all should pay attention to. ” Do you not know the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of GOD?” I love the way he writes because immediately after that statement, he makes it absolutely clear what he is saying by running down a list of sins. Telling us not to be deceived about it. I would repeat the list. But you can also go back and read it as well. Because I know there is something on there that hit you… there is me every time I read it. Verse 11 is such a key to all this, and I think it gets glanced over. Paul tells the Corinthians in chapter 6 verse 11 the same thing he tells them in chapter 5 verse 17 of the second letter. He just uses different words to do so…saying…”And such WERE some of you. But you have been washed, but you have been sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the LORD Jesus and by the Spirit of our LORD GOD.
Application:
The change may not happen right away, but I believe it will happen. I remember the beginning of this process for me. It felt good knowing that Jesus died for me and I wanted to do everything in my power to not let HIM down. I was hungry for the word. I wanted to know HIM more. My life had been transformed. There were so many things that just went away, and to be honest, I never wanted them back and still don’t. But I found myself in the same spot as the Corinthian church at one point and had to be reminded of who I am in Christ. Addiction and sexual sin had reclaimed my life, and someone had to remind me that I don’t have to live that way. Yes, it was kind of a hard blow, but it needed to be done. Being sanctified is a churchy kind of word, but I want to open up its meaning so that we can all understand what has happened and is happening to us. It means “to be set apart,” and you see justification happen immediately, but for some of us, sanctification is a process. We have to be discipled. That’s where other believers come in. We have to be shown how to walk. Because we are saved, our desires will change. The Bible is the instructions for him to live as a believer and follower of Christ. The question is, do you want to change? I don’t know about you, but if my life of sin was still fun, I would still be doing it. But like my wife says, sin hurts. It hurts you, and it hurts those who are affected by your sin. A life of walking with Jesus will transform you. But you have to want it. Grace is in place for just in case… learning how to walk is rough. We stumble and sometimes fall. But we get back up again. We are justified by the blood of Jesus and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, who will bring to mind the things spoken to us through GOD’S word. I don’t want to be the same old man who was found in a jail cell or in a tent. I am redeemed and bought by the blood of the lamb. Restored to the Father through HIS son Jesus, and I want that to reflect on how I walk today.
Prayer:
Father, save us from ourselves. Show us how to do this thing. We want to not just say your name but live as though our lives have been changed by the power that is within it. We do not want to be the same people. Sanctify us, set us apart for your work. Conform us to the image of your son. Don’t leave us where you found us take us into the promised land. Remove the sin that so easily sidetracks us. Help us to live like the new creation that you have made us to be. Change our lives in the mighty name of Jesus. That’s what we want. We want that old man dead. Our desire is to live a life that brings you honor and glory. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.