“Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

For today’s passage to totally make sense, I think it’s important for us to step back a few verses to take in what Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth. In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul has been systematically addressing issues of unrighteousness that exists among them. He has called out their sexual immorality and the fact that they have been apathetic and even encouraging of the depraved sexual lives of some in their congregation. He has warned them to call out those amongst them (believers) who are sexually immoral, a greedy person, an idolater, verbally abusive, habitually drunk, or a swindler. (Ch 5)

In chapter 6, he goes on to reprimand them on how quickly they move toward taking each other to court instead of showing each other grace. In verse 9, Paul makes a powerful statement that sets up today’s passage. He says, “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 homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”

His point here is that the people of the world, who walk according to the flesh, and who have not been washed in the blood of Christ, will not inherit the Kingdom of God. BUT, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”  

What Paul is pointing out here is that each of them came to Christ with a messy past, with sins and brokenness that rendered them incompatible with the purity of God and His eternal kingdom. BUT Jesus, through His atonement, justification, and regeneration has washed them clean, sanctifying them in His blood. As such, Paul is calling them to act as those who are clean instead of acting like their former selves. He is calling them to a life of righteousness.  

Our whole lives are wrapped up in one giant identity crisis. When we are conceived, we are woven together in our mother’s womb, crafted by the God of the universe to bear His image. We are born into this world with His fingerprints on our entire being. But, unfortunately, we are born with a sin nature too. As we grow, that sin nature develops and we find ourselves wrapped in the brokenness of this world. The identity crisis amplifies. As one who was created in the image of a perfect God, our souls tug, innately understanding that an image bearer of God should not also be a sinful being. But we cannot help ourselves. Our sin nature defines us. We are captive to sin, citizens of the kingdom of darkness.  

Then, Jesus steps in. When we say Yes to Jesus, He transfers our citizenship from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God. He pays our penalty, washes us clean, and gives us a new identity. We are now children of the Most High King, eternally reconciled to Him by our faith in Jesus Christ and the receivers of His gift of salvation. Our names are written in the Lamb’s book of Life and we are His.  

But the identity crisis continues. Now, we have been given the identity of “Child of God” and yet, the old sin nature still lurks. It is still woven into our mortal bodies, tempting and tugging at us. We are still tempted to sin every day. But the difference is, now the sin is not our identity- it is not what we are defined by.  

See, when we were unbelievers, separated from God, any time we did something good or right, we acted in a way that was contrary to our sin nature, our identity, our citizenship. But now, after saying yes to Jesus, the opposite is true. Any time that we act sinful, dishonest, or unrighteous, we are acting in a way that is contrary to our new nature, our new identity, our new citizenship.  

See, saying yes to Jesus, choosing to follow Him as our Lord and Savior, it doesn’t mean that we all of the sudden stop sinning. But what it does mean is that we have a new identity. We are no longer bound to sin as a part of our identity. We are no longer slaves to our sin. Instead, we are now slaves to righteousness and our new identity pulls us deeper and deeper into the righteousness of Christ.  

And even more than that, we have the Spirit of God living inside us, teaching us, cleansing us, showing us what to do and how to walk in our new identity. The pull of sin is diminishes as He changes us from the inside out. The temptation loses its taste the more we surrender to the new life in Christ. It is through the washing and regeneration of Christ that we are made new- day by day, lovingly, patiently, by the Holy Spirit working inside us.  

It is not an overnight transformation (Oh how I wish it were!) But as we surrender to Christ more every day, we, like the Corinthian believers, learn what it looks like to turn from the things we once chased after and begin to chase after Christ. As we understand that Jesus washed us clean and we stand righteous not based on our deeds or our desires, but based on His deeds and His desires alone, that truth sets us free to live as those who are redeemed. That freedom purchases for us the ability to let go of the things of the past and reach for the things of God.  

“Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” Praise God! Praise God!

Jesus,  

Thank You that You have washed me, justified me, sanctified me, and made me new. Thank You for transferring me from the kingdom of darkness into Your perfect and eternal kingdom. God, teach me what it looks like to live as a citizen of heaven, defined by Your righteousness and not my sin nature. Teach me what it looks like to surrender to You daily and allow Your Spirit to do a work inside me. I want to walk as one who is redeemed.  

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen