Abluti | Washed

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God – 1 Corinthians 6:11

 

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The church in Corinth was the most challenging church for the apostle Paul.  In fact, this church was the most problematic church of all the churches that Paul founded. This church had severe problems, but the apostle Paul did not give up on the believers in Corinth. We have two insightful letters to learn from as a result of this church.

In this seaport city of Corinth, idolatry, immorality and paganism were part of life. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul lists examples of sins which must have been common in Corinth (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). The apostle Paul says that those who practice these sins will not inherit God's kingdom (verse 10). The vital point here is that those sins are not unforgivable sins. No, not all. The New Testament, particularly the book of Hebrews, (Hebrews 10:10), emphasizes that our Saviour Jesus' sacrifice was a one-time, perfect offering that completely atones for all sin. But here in the letter to the Corinthians, Paul teaches that those who persist in doing those sins, show that they are not submissive to the will of God, they don’t want to listen to God. They reject God. Hence, they are then unbelievers and will not inherit God’s kingdom. In verse 11, Paul points out that many in the Corinthian church had been living a sinful lifestyle in the past. But now they are freed from those behaviours and sins. Paul is urging them to live up to their new identity. Being born again means receiving a new identity.

As for Christians and those believers at Corinth, something lifechanging happened when we came to God through faith in Christ. We were born again. As we read in John 3:3 where our Lord Jesus was talking to Nicodemus, we need to be born again to be part of the kingdom of God: “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  In 1 Corinthians 6:11, the apostle Paul describes how we receive a new identity.  First, we were washed. We are no longer stained by those sins; they are gone. Second, we were sanctified. Finally, we were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  

We can live with the confidence and joy that all our sins were washed away by the blood of Jesus. Our Saviour Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice, once and for all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:14). Let's place our trust in Christ alone.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 by Hanne

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