In today’s devotion from Fusion (p. 18) (http://www.randallhouse.com/shop/fusion/) we are reminded that SIN keeps people from the Kingdom of God. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Paul lists several of these sins that were prevalent in the Corinthian culture.
Corinth was a sex saturated culture (sounds like our society). They had taken God’s gift of sex and had deviated from His plan. The same is true today. People are taking fire (God’s gift of sex) out of the fireplace (marriage). Because of this people are getting burned and getting burned bad. Paul reminds the Corinthians that sexual immorality, adultery and homosexuality keep people from inheriting the Kingdom of God.
Paul also deals with some others sins that were prevalent in the Corinthian culture. He mentions idolatry, thievery, greed and drunkenness among other things. Sin keep us from God’s Kingdom! Paul wants to make this perfectly clear.
But then listen to what Paul says in verse 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.
Did you get that? Paul is writing to a group of people who WERE (past tense) sexually immoral, drunks, crooks and the list goes on. However, they are not that anymore! Something happened! What happened?
- They were washed! Praise God for the precious blood of Jesus Christ that washes away our sins! (1 Peter 1:18-19)
- They were sanctified. Because of their faith in Jesus Christ they had been adopted into the family of God and were “set apart” from the world unto God.
- They were justified! The penalty for their sin was removed because the righteousness of Jesus Christ had been credited to their account. God now looked at them “just as if” they had never sinned! (Romans 5:1)
It is easy for us to point out sin and point at people who are guilty of sin, but may we never forget where we would be today without Jesus Christ. The fact of the matter is we are ALL SINNERS in need of a Savior. We like to categorize our sin as “little” compared to some, however any SIN breaks fellowship God regardless of what category we would like to place it in. It needs to be forgiven and cleansed and this takes place through faith in Christ and Christ alone!
Let us offer this hope of forgiveness to those who are still bound by sin. Let us remember the forgiveness that we needed and hopefully have already experienced through our relationship with Christ.
If you would like more information about this relationship please contact me or read http://flagshipchurch.org/truth-will-set-you-free/
alightinerie 