1 Corinthians 6:9-11
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.
In verse 9 Paul gives a list of immoral people who will not inherit the kingdom of God, which includes: "neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality". This list can be depressing to think about, but then he goes on to make a startling statement: "such were some of you" (verse 11). This is not a list of "others" who are separate from us, but is a list of what some of us used to be. This is actually a hopeful statement, that our past identity can be changed. For although you were once known as being "sexually immoral or ...", now "you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (verse 11). We can overcome our past, and in the process gain a new identity and a new kingdom.
God, thinking about my past and current sins is depressing. Thank you for the new life and new start you have given me, which gives me hope for the future.
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.
In verse 9 Paul gives a list of immoral people who will not inherit the kingdom of God, which includes: "neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality". This list can be depressing to think about, but then he goes on to make a startling statement: "such were some of you" (verse 11). This is not a list of "others" who are separate from us, but is a list of what some of us used to be. This is actually a hopeful statement, that our past identity can be changed. For although you were once known as being "sexually immoral or ...", now "you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (verse 11). We can overcome our past, and in the process gain a new identity and a new kingdom.
God, thinking about my past and current sins is depressing. Thank you for the new life and new start you have given me, which gives me hope for the future.