Twin City church of Christ Blog
“Apr 2, 2024 - Such Were Some of You”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsSuch Were Some of You
Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Rather than absorbing the wrongs others do to them, the Corinthians “wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!”(1 Cor 6:8). This behavior is more than just being bad at relationships. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?”(1 Cor 6:9). By doing wrong to their brothers, the Corinthians are becoming “unrighteous” (the word means “wrongdoers,” as in v. 8). When we are consistently unrighteous, we will not be saved. “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”(1 Cor 6:9-10). Persistent sexual sin—whether fornication, adultery, or homosexuality—makes us unrighteous. Persistent theft of what is not ours—whether we are “thieves” or “swindlers” or simply being “greedy”—makes us unrighteous. Paul warns that if the Corinthians continue to do wrong, they become wrong—and that has consequences.
But there is good news. “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”(1 Cor 6:11). Paul’s list is not a diatribe against the world, but a reminder that we all have firsthand experience with sin. In fact, we have lived in sin to the point that it began to define us. We did not just steal; we became thieves. But God changed us. He “washed” and “sanctified” and “justified” us, removing our sins from us and dedicating us to his service. We wear the name of God’s Son and have God’s Spirit within us (see 1 Cor 6:19). We have hope of inheriting the kingdom of God (see 1 Cor 6:9). We can’t live the way we used to anymore.
Paul’s words simultaneously remind us of our past sins and challenge us to live above them. We have been cleansed, sanctified, and justified, so now we must live like it. Wronging our brothers—or any other pursuit of sin—reopens a part of our lives Jesus closed. We become wrongdoers again. Praise God for washing us clean, but remember: we can’t live the way we used to anymore!
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One Thing to Think About: Why is it so important to remember what’s been done for us?
One Thing to Pray For: Gratitude for God washing, sanctifying, and justifying me
