Additional thoughts on the last post
If you haven't read the previous post, Scars, take a moment and go back through it.
I found this verse tonight and it seemed to fit perfectly with my line of thoughts.
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. 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."
What if this statement ended after the list of who doesn’t get into the kingdom of God? Gosh I would be on a one way trip to the pits of hell. Really we all would. I'm not sure I know of one person who hasn't been greedy at one time, or slandered another person, or other stuff there on that list. We all fall into one of those categories and therefore none of us would inherit the kingdom of God. That verse is so depressing if you left it right there.
The next two verses are the best.
“Some of you were” – ahhh past tense. That means we aren’t that anymore. Then what are we?
BUT – what a great word right here, I love this word because it gives me hope. But we were (again past tense – already done, finished, completed) WASHED, SANCTIFIED, JUSTIFIED. In what? The name of Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of OUR God.
What the world sees as damaged, what the law condemns, what we may not be able to forgive in ourselves, God has already washed away, He has sanctified (fancy word for changing to be more like Him), He has justified (made us right before Him).
In the words of a wise Oregonian, GOD IS GOOD.
posted by Katie @ 10:20 PM
5 Comments:
Tommy talked about this not two long ago, and I remember him pointing out the past tense - the "some of you WERE." Just as they were forgiven, just as Paul was forgiven for the life he had lived as Saul, so are we too forgiven.
gosh. i feel like i just sat in a bible study. ;) thanks for the reminder of God's word on this subject, KT. God IS good!
nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you WERE. 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."
I had this on my desk for a long time. For years i thought that God would never take me back because of my direct disobedience to his word...
Good stuff!!
And by the way... I just checked my "side-bar verse"... its freaky Kt... really freaky
Don't you love when God's word contradicts our fears and offers hope and assurance.
I sure do.
It is freaky, but freaky in a "wow that is so cool" type way.
Amen! Thanks for sharing!
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