The Change
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
“Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom. And some of you used to be like this. 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 6:9-11)
Wow! That’s some list of the not-going-to-heaven behaviors.
It makes sense. Scan the list again, and you’ll see that none of those things would be happening in the spiritual dimension with the Almighty, Holy, Pure Ancient of Days on the throne with His Son at His right hand.
As a side note before my main point, isn’t it interesting that things like theft, greed, habitual sloshitude, abusive loudmouths, and swindlers (man, taking things that don’t belong to you gets headlined twice!) are posted alongside the biggies—having sex outside of God’s boundaries, false god worshippers, marriage cheaters, men who submit their bodies for gay sex and men who use them (Yes, that’s exactly how the Greek reads.)?
Let’s take the kneejerk argument down right away. Just because the heavies are lumped in with the so-called “lighter” sins doesn’t mean the heavies are on par with the light ones. It means that even the “light” sins are just as bad as the “nuclear” sins.
So, stop it. Moving on.
I want to point out what makes this section of scripture so wonderful.
Corinth was a cesspool of sin, a septic tank of unholy, world-approved depravity. Sadly, the slime even oozed into the Corinthian congregation. A man was sleeping with his father’s wife (eew!), and the elders weren’t calling him out for it. What did Paul say? Confront him. If the pervert doesn’t repent and change, living Jesus’ way, throw him out of Jesus’ congregation.
Such depravity was nothing new to the Corinthian messianic Jews and Gentile believers. They lived in Corinth. They knew the icky wickedness flowing through the city. Boy, did they know it.
Paul reminds them. “And some of you used to be like this” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Used to be. You were, but you ain’t now. The Corinthian believers had experienced a come-to-Jesus moment, let go of their sinful behaviors, and adopted Jesus’ holy lifestyle.
There’s my focus—The Change.
Because they decided to turn to Jesus and swear allegiance to Him as their one and only God (we call that conversion), the Holy Spirit did His job by Jesus’ authority.
The Change. “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).
Washed, sanctified, justified. Those three words describe The Change, even if we don’t know what they mean. Let me break it down to help you appreciate the Change.
Washed (apolouo): To wash off or away.
Sanctified (hagiazo): Separated from the world, purified, and set apart/dedicated to God. They were now His, and He was not letting go.
Justified (dikaioo): Declare righteous, perfectly aligned with God, the way they ought to be.
Now picture this. A father makes the rule that his son is not to go outside in his best clothes, but the rebellious son does it anyway, because that is what he always does. Behold! The mud puddle that requires every young boy to thrash around in it. No matter how much fun it was, the boy realizes that he disobeyed and returns home with an apology.
What does father do? He picks up his son, washes the mud off outside (apolouo), takes the boy inside and changes his clothes (hagiazo), then pulls the boy close for a hug and a reminder that everything is alright now (dikaioo).
No matter the heavy or light sins, through Jesus’ cleansing and purifying blood, the Holy Spirit does the same. Wash, take in, pull alongside because everything’s now right with the Father.
The world says, “Don’t worry about that putrid, slimy, stinky, unholy behavior. That’s just the way you are. You can’t change. You’ll never change.
Au contraire, Pierre. God Himself disagrees, and proves it.
That’s The Change.
I’ve seen it happen many times, first in my own life and in the lives of many believers I’ve read about and known throughout my life.
The Change is real. The Change is powerful. The Change is wonderful.
The Change actually works.
The outward behaviors and the inward desires may take time to align with the spiritual reality of being washed, purified, brought near, and lined up, but with steady discipline (discipleship), it’s possible and probable.
Do you need The Change? Do you want to experience the I’m-going-to-heaven behaviors growing in your life?
Have your own come-to-Jesus moment.
Jesus is waiting.
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Shining the Light of God’s Truth on the Road Ahead
Pastor Jay Christianson
The Truth Barista, Frothy Thoughts