March 11, 2022
Because of Who God Is, Who You Are is Not Who You Were
1 Corinthians 6
Robin Clark
Central Truth
Because of who God is, who you are is not who you were.
Key Verse | 1 Corinthians 6:11
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.
1 Corinthians 6
Lawsuits Against Believers
1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! 1 6:8 Or brothers and sisters
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous 2 6:9 Or wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 3 6:9 The two Greek terms translated by this phrase refer to the passive and active partners in consensual homosexual acts 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 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.
Flee Sexual Immorality
12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined 4 6:16 Or who holds fast (compare Genesis 2:24 and Deuteronomy 10:20); also verse 17 to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin 5 6:18 Or Every sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Listen to the Podcast
Listen NowDive Deeper | 1 Corinthians 6
When I learned my Journey devotional landed on my daughter's birthday, I couldn't wrap my head around writing it as anything but a love letter to her. Please indulge me. I'm praying over every word—that God would use them to encourage you as I hope they would my baby girl. Today, you're all my kids.
Dear little one,
Sin hurts. From every perspective, sin causes destruction and pain. It's disappointing; it draws regret; its consequences are unpredictable. The weight of sin will crush and suffocate. And as you face the inevitable truth throughout your life that you are and always will be a sinner, I want to encourage you and remind you that as daunting as that inevitability can feel, you've been gifted an unwavering, uncompromising hope that is without limit or expiration.
For as many times as you're met with the conviction and reality that your sinful nature has overshadowed what I pray is your heart's desire to love and honor God, this is not your identity. Know that as a child of God—having accepted that Jesus took every one of your sins upon Himself in death then returned to life, defeating once and for all the grave, sin, and darkness—however your sin would define you is not who you are.
It will never stop being true that ". . . you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified . . ." (1 Corinthians 6:11). So when you fall short—and sweet thing, I promise these instances will be too many to count—return to your Constant: your heavenly Father who will meet you with His forgiveness, His redemption, and His provision no matter how many times you attempt to test His limits. You can't out-sin His love. You can't out-disobey His faithfulness. You can't disappoint away His grace. I promise, baby girl—I've tried.
"[A]s far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12) In Christ, you are free from the shackles of your sin. Leave behind who you were, and step confidently into the truth of who you are in Christ.
Love,
Mommy
Discussion Questions
1. How have your sins hurt others? How have others' sins hurt you?
2. Have you accepted that no sin can compete with God's grace and forgiveness?
3. Name the sins you think are too great for God to forgive or sins too great for you to forgive others. Discuss those with your community group, your trusted biblical circle, or Watermark staff. (And if anyone advises, "Yep, too big to forgive," find a new circle! They're misinformed.)
4. Know that your sins are forgiven. What is your plan of confession and repentance so that you no longer have to carry the burden of past sin?
5. How do you plan to celebrate that you were washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ? It's a BIG deal and worthy of a good time!