Builders

Who You Were and Who You Are

“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 Corinthians 6:11

In chapter six, Paul challenges the Christians in Corinth who are taking each other to court. Instead of going before “the Lord’s people” (6:1) to sort out disputes, they are going before secular authorities. “One brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!” (v. 6). “You yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters” (v. 8).

These lawsuits further reveal the heart of the Corinthian church. The Corinthian believers still struggle with who they once were and who they are now.

In verses 9-10, Paul gives a list of some of the sins that would disqualify many who hope to inherit the kingdom of God. The sexually immoral, those who were idolaters, thieves, the greedy, slanderers and swindlers and drunkards. He concludes the list by saying, “and that is what some of you were” (v. 11). But in Christ, that is not who they are anymore!

Who are they now? They belong to Christ; they are washed, sanctified, and justified. To be washed here doesn’t mean baptism but represents an inward cleansing accomplished by the blood of the Lamb. To be sanctified means to be made holy and set apart from the ways of the world and the sins of the flesh. God’s call for holiness (Lev. 11:44; 1 Pet. 1:16) is a high standard that is only possible through the grace gift of the crucified Christ. To be justified is the day-to-day declaration from God, through Christ, that sins’ penalty has been paid.

Paul’s strong words for the Corinthian believers bring clarity to what must have been muddled for them. Paul asks them to cease their old ways and to live “who [they] really are” (5:7). Their old identity has been washed away. They have been “bought at a price” (v. 19) and they belong to Christ, by the Spirit, and to the fellowship.

Consider:

Whether you are a seasoned Christian or came to Jesus yesterday, who were you before Christ? Where did you find meaning? What ways of the world tempted you to sin?

In Colossians 1:13-14, Paul tells the Colossian church that “[God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves. In Him, we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin.” Thank God for His rescue and His redemption in Christ by the Spirit.

Who are you now? Who are we, the church, now? What scripture or words do you use to describe your identity in Christ?

Scripture tells us that we are children of God, loved by Him and bought by the blood of Christ. The darkest, innermost parts of our hearts have been cleansed; we are being made more like Christ each day through the Holy Spirit. We are declared righteous by God the Father because of His Son.

Give thanks. By the Spirit of Jesus, ask for His help to live into your true identity in Christ. Together, we worship the Lamb and rejoice!