Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate , nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom 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.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
The above verses describe the power of the Lord’s salvation. They describe what life is like before Christ and what takes place after saving grace is applied. The before and after picture is stunning.
To put it simply, before we knew Christ we were unrighteous, selfish, self-centered, and only concerned with fulfilling the desires of our fallen nature. But, we have been washed, sanctified, and justified through Jesus Christ. Our hearts have been totally changed from the inside out.
Christians have been washed. Our sin has been forgiven and cleansed through the sacrifice of Christ. He paid the debt so that we could go free. Our sins have been placed under Christ’s blood and we are made clean and whole. The Old Covenant altar was cleansed by blood of animals. We have been cleansed through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:1-14). To God be the glory, great things He has done.
Believer have been sanctified. We have been set apart to an entirely new way of life. After salvation, Christ-followers live by faith, seek to obey God’s directives, and try to follow the Lord’s will for our lives. Christians are not perfect in this life and still sin. But, the true convert will have a desire to please God and will not be able to live happily in sin any longer. The authentic Believer will experience true guilt and remorse for sin and will seek cleansing from God through confession and prayer (1 John 1:9-10). The gift of salvation that changes lives is wonderful indeed.
Christians have been justified. Our guilt has been removed and we have been given the imputed righteousness of Christ. Jesus removed our guilt by absorbing it upon the cross. He has granted us righteousness through His resurrection from the dead (Romans 4:25).
God deserves our ever-lasting praise for this marvelous gift of justification.
Let us give thanks today for what we have received. We have been washed, sanctified, justified through Christ our Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit. Our guilt has been removed and we have eternal life. It is for these reasons and more that we should “Bless the Lord at all times.” (Psalm 34:1)
Tony French
mrtonyfrench 