And Such Were Some Of You

Introduction

We have song, Lord, come quickly. Which makes me think this is not just another Lord’s day. We have taken several steps in the past week toward eternity. And we are closer than we’ve ever been. And it is imperative that we be alive to God and dead to ourselves. And I hope and plan that this lesson will contribute to that. We’re going to be looking at a context this morning in 1 Corinthians chapter 6. We’re not going to look at this entire section. We’ll actually be looking at just three verses, but there’s something that ties the first part of this section to the three verses that we’re going to be looking at. This comes on the heels of a situation in Corinth where some discipline needed to be taken regarding an immoral man.

And they are told to remove the wicked man from among themselves. And he also goes on in the context of chapter 6 to talk about some other areas where they need to exercise judgment and to assist brothers and sisters who have conflicts with one another. And the same question is asked three times in this context, or at least begins with the same words.

Now, I don’t have all the answers to that question and all that is implied in it. But I do know the point of the question is that if we’re going to do such an exalted thing ultimately, whatever that will involve on the day of judgment, we ought to be able to judge matters of this life. As he says in the next verse, do you not know that we shall judge angels? That sounds pretty cool, but I don’t know again what all that might involve. But that’s what the righteous will do, and we need to be people doing that ultimately. Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more matters of this life? But I want to focus on this phrase that is repeated twice because it’s found again in verse 9.

Do you not know? And I want to read these verses, or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Now that’s a serious question. 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, shall inherit the kingdom of God. You know, it’s pretty hard to miss that, isn’t it? That’s pretty clear. And verse 11. He speaks to those who are in Christ in Corinth, Christians, saints by calling. He says, and such were some of you.

But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. And so I want to begin by focusing on that question. Do you not know? And in particular, in that last question, he is appealing to things that people should intellectually already know. And we use this phrase a lot. Don’t you get it? Don’t you know there are things that we know intellectually that for whatever reason just isn’t registering by our conduct we’re suggesting that we don’t know, or as my parents used to say, not of my sisters. Could you get that through your thick skull? Right? Never said to be, of course. But we understand that idiom, don’t we? We may intellectually know something to be true, and yet we’re just not grabbing the full import of what is being said.

1. God Has Expectations About Our Behavior

And Paul wants his audience in Corinth to get it. We can be deceived about these things. And so he adds the phrase do not be deceived. The purpose of this lesson is simply to discourage that deception. There is one thing, and this is very apparent. We ought to get it, don’t you know? We ought to get this. It’s a very apparent observation. This is point one of the lesson. God has expectations about our behavior. Did you read that in verses 9 and 10 of 1 Corinthians chapter 6? Those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. And the reason why I’m making this observation, the whole reason why I’m preaching this lesson is because sometimes people don’t get it in regard to putting on Christ, being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins, becoming a Christian, they don’t get it, and I want to make sure we all get it, that now means a change in conduct, a change in behavior.

All of that, being baptized and having your sins washed away, is to be preceded by repentance, Acts 2.38 clearly says, among other passages. It starts with repentance. I have been doing this, but I will now go in this direction because Jesus is Lord and King of my life. And so now a change is happening, and even baptism itself represents that change, as we’ll see in a moment. It is more, conversion to the Lord is more than just fixing our sin problem. It’s more than just a fix for the problem of our spiritual condition. It’s now fixed because I’ve been baptized, and I can continue to live however I want. That is not what the Bible teaches. And that’s why he’s saying these things to Christians. Those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Paul makes that abundantly clear in a similar passage. I have to have this as a cross-reference, Galatians chapter 5, verses 19 through 21, because he talks about the deeds of the flesh. He talks about similar principles that are found in 1 Corinthians 6, like idolatry, like immorality and impurity. He uses more general terms than adultery and fornication, but he says, immorality, impurity, sensuality. But he also adds attitudes of the heart toward others. Also, he mentioned sorcery. That’s something else that’s different. But he talks about enmity, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, and drunkenness again, and carousing. And he says, and things like these. This is not an exhaustive list, he’s saying here in Galatians chapter 5, that speaks to the deeds of the flesh.

But again, then again he says what? I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Listen, baptism is not a get out of jail free card. Yes, the sins of our past are cleansed, but now we can’t, okay, I’ve got the card, and so since I’ve got the card, I can now behave however I want without concern. Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, as we shall go on to see in this lesson and perhaps a future lesson, he is going to go on to say, your behavior matters.

2. Such Were Some Of You

I want to look at verse 11 in particular in sort of an unusual fashion. I saw this graphic, and I thought, this might help us to see all that’s going on in this tremendous verse. Such were some of you, he says, but you were washed. And again, that implies repentance, immersion in the name of Jesus Christ is not accomplished without repentance. And further explanation on this, Paul provides the Romans in Romans chapter 6, verses 3 through 6, that those who are baptized in the name of Jesus are baptized into his death. Now, what is the meaning of that? And we are raised as Jesus was raised, so that we too might walk in newness of life. We put to death a body of sin, he says in verse 6, so that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

Now remember, I talk about this a lot because I’m afraid we don’t define this very well. And this is so important. We talk about the necessity of baptism. The necessity of baptism in God’s plan of salvation is made very clear just by the phrase in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the basis of all that he is, because of all that he is, coming into submission unto him, as we talked about last Sunday night. And in likeness of his death and resurrection. On the basis of all that he is, we are washed as we repent of our sins and are baptized into Him. But I want to focus on that word, such word some of you. And one thing that’s being implied in these verses is the very damaging nature of sin.

It’s not just that there is this spiritual side of us that is tainted by sin and has to be fixed by the blood of Christ. That’s true. But the reason why it taints us is it goes against all that is holy and all that God is, and all that is good for us. And if there’s one thing we need to get drilled into our minds, it’s not just that sin is wrong because God says so. Sin is wrong because it is damaging to us in every way. And He’s the one who made us, and He knows.

His wisdom is infinite. Our understanding is way shallow by comparison. And sometimes we think these things are good for us. What this passage is saying they are not in our best interest in any way whatsoever. And those who engage, continue to engage in these behaviors, shall come short of the grace of God. And that’s language found in Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 1. He urges them not to come short of the grace of God. And what specific things did he say that they used to be? Some of this doesn’t need much explanation. Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Fornicators, those who don’t control their passions, those who engage in idolatry or aren’t true to their marriage vows, adulterers, effeminateness, all these other things come up that we very well understand.

Passions for the wrong thing, like covetousness, things that are not ours, revilers, those who have problems with authority and respect for authority, who revile swindlers, those who take advantage of others. Let me just say a word about effeminate. Because in this list, that is the word that certainly applies to this transgender madness that is happening in our culture. It’s the idea of being sought by men not being men, basically. The effeminate. And he said, Some such were some of you. We should not conclude that the day of judgment is going to be any different than what Paul has said here. Do not be deceived. Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? And this is consistent with what he would say in Galatians chapter 6.

If you sow to the flesh, you shall of the flesh reap corruption, he says, God is not mocked. And so these behaviors, these behaviors matter, and we need to avoid them. And he says, that’s not who you are any longer. There’s been a change. Repentance has taken place. And he uses three, and this is what I want to spend the rest of our time talking about this morning, three very rich words to describe what has happened to us if we are in Christ. And we need to appreciate what these words are saying. We are washed, we are sanctified, and we are justified. Because of, as we have said recently in lessons, because of the astounding work of God in salvation. Because of the magnificence and splendor of our Lord.

3. But You Were Washed

The magnitude and profundity of his promises. We have come to the Lord and his reign over our lives, and that transition is described by these three rich and wonderful words. Let me think about the word wash. I think we just skip over it in the text sometime. And don’t really grasp its full import. Because of all the rains and flooding. Did anybody have a muddy vehicle? Charles, you have a muddy vehicle out of your house. Yeah. Yeah. It was muddy. It was a mess. And I bet you’ve been to a car wash. If not, your car looks terrible. It is filthy, dirty. It looks terrible. It’s filth. And filth has to be removed. We get the concept. A couple of weeks ago, I’ve mentioned this before.

We. In fact, I was going to preach this right after we went, but it didn’t work out. I had other things I needed to say. Sherry and I did a destination wedding at Disney World with Rachel Wallace and Dustin Martin. We’ve known them since they were kids. From our days in East Side and Baytown, and some of you know them really well. Dustin’s mom, Renee, and Sherry are really good friends. So we had to go to the wedding. I had to force myself to go. And let me just say this. This illustration is not going where you think it is. So the night of the rehearsal dinner on Friday night, we ate in the California Grill up at the top of the contemporary hotel, and this was our view.

I know you’re envious. This was our view as we ate and at sunset. This was an actual picture that was taken by Scott Murph. And then after dessert, everybody started flooding out onto these two catwalks that connect to the restaurant on top of the contemporary, and we saw the fireworks display that is set to music and timed absolutely wonderfully. And have I said lately that when I did this, all my dreams came true. It was magical. I will never be the same. Those who are regulars here know I make fun of going to Disney World. Okay. So we enjoyed this once in a lifetime experience, and again, I’ll never be the same. And we walked down to go to our car. It was late in the evening, of course.

And we were walking to the car, and there were people coming this direction from the Magic Kingdom coming back to their hotel room in the contemporary hotel. And I noticed this right away. First thing I noticed was the kids were dead. I mean, the ones in slow strollers were asleep. You know, they had been there all day, they were exhausted. But I noticed as people kept coming, something was whacking our direction, and it was it was a smell. Those people had, they were used to it. They’d been at the park all day, but I had not been at the park all day, and as they were coming this way, the stench of body odor. See, I told you didn’t know where this was going.

Was just horrible. It’s like, I think they need to give out body spray at the door of Disney World. I thought it was the flowers at first. No, it’s not the flowers. No, it’s not that good. And so I thought about, as I was thinking about this lesson, I thought about in a serious way. That’s what our sins are like. The stench of our sins. I mean, nobody likes body odor. Okay, that’s bad. But spiritually, that’s what engaging in these behaviors that we’ve described, that’s the spiritual effect. If we could only see the practice of sin in that light, when we are tempted to engage in these behaviors and follow our passions, that these things cause this stench. You know, the Bible talks about odor in a positive way as we are the aroma of Christ.

4. You Were Sanctified

In 2 Corinthians chapter 2, we are his fragrance to the world as we imitate the Lord. We need to be thinking about that beautiful fragrance that we are to be emanating versus the stench and foul odor of our sin. Look, washed is a great word. Such were some of you, but you were washed, Paul said. And you were sanctified. And this is a tremendous term. That the likes of us, as filthy as we were, can be set aside to such special and holy purposes.

5. You Were Justified

About our attitudes toward worship. We have been set apart to God’s high and holy purposes, though we were that. We have been sanctified, and that’s all that term means. It’s a synonym of the word saint that I used earlier. It’s the idea of being consecrated or set apart under the special and high and holy purposes of God. And that needs to mean something in regard to the way we think and the way we live. And that’s what the whole New Testament is about. And he says that you were justified. And maybe this is the most difficult word of all. Tim talked about this last Sunday at the Lord’s Supper table. Jesse has preached on this passage recently in Romans chapter 3. Leon St. Not Leon Stott.

John Stott. No, it’s Leon Morris. Who said up? It’s in my notes, but I didn’t look down. Leon Morris, I’m getting it right, says that Romans 3, verses 24 through 26, the most important paragraph that’s ever been written. Well, I think there might be another paragraph similar to that one in the Bible in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, where it talks about in Romans 3, God being both just and the justifier.

In other words, he did not provide the fix that was necessary, but he being who he was had to satisfy his own justice. Thus the death of Jesus upon the cross, so that he could be both just and the justifier. And that’s why we talk about the astounding work of God and salvation, is because he says, you were justified, and you were so justified because of the work that Jesus did and the sacrifices God made on your behalf. And the reason why I would say Morris only got it half right about Romans 3 is because 2 Corinthians 5 is saying exactly the same thing in exactly the same kind of rich way. When it says, He who knew no sin became sin on your behalf. That you might become the righteousness of God in him.

You were made just or justified. And I like what some person did to help me to understand what that term means. If that seems like a big word that you’re just not getting, just if I’d never sinned. That’s what happens in our conversion. Just if I’d never sinned. The slate of sin in our past is removed. And he says, These three things have happened. You have been washed, you have been sanctified, you have been justified, and the result of that is, and you’ll see more of this slide perhaps later when lesson number two comes along, as he goes on in context at the end of 1 Corinthians chapter 6. Now you have a responsibility and a mission, and that is to glorify God in your body.

6. Glorify God In Your Body

Fitting reciprocity, as we talked about Wednesday night. Fitting reciprocity for the kindness that God has shown us. We ought to be motivated to give this to God for the favor that He has shown us. For the grace that He has extended toward us. This is what I owe to God. I’m going to glorify God in my body. Is that going to require some work? Yeah. Is that going to require some refusal of temptation that my mind is saying, yeah, I really want to do that? Yes. It does. Glorify God in your body. And that’s why in just a second we’re going to sing sweet will of God. Because here’s the rub. To come to Christ to be washed, sanctified, and justified. You have to yield your will to him.

That’s the repentance that we talked about. That’s how we can say, and such were some of you. Because it’s no longer I who live, as Paul would say in Galatians 2 and verse 20, but Christ lives in me. My stubborn will at last hath yielded. And my eyes are dry. The song that we’ve sung that Dean selected perfectly. I had nothing to do with that. I did select this one. That’s all my eyes are dry. This is the problem. This is the rub right here.

And we’re just going to have to battle that stubborn will. And to be in Christ, we talk in family vernacular these days about the strong-willed child. And some of us have raised one or two of those. And you know how difficult that is, because the discipline and the restraints and the instruction that you give doesn’t work well for them. They’re the strong-willed child. And you’ve got to learn to deal with this very strong will. Other children are more compliant by nature. But if you would think about the fact that all of us have been strong-willed children when it comes to the instruction and training and discipline of our God. And so many times in our lives, I know what God’s word says, but I’m going to do this because I want it.

Conclusion

And that’s why Paul has to say. Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? What did I say? The most important point in this lesson is God has expectations about our behavior. The last two verses, I do like the paraphrase translation here because it says it’s so very simply. We’ll look at the New American Standard of the next lesson. You do not belong to yourself. For God bought you with a price, so you must honor God with your body. And that is the call of the sweet will of God. And if only we could perceive that to be so, because it is. It is the sweet will of God, and we need it. We need to be trained by it.

We need to succumb to it and submit to it for our betterment, for our salvation, for the elevation of our lives. This is the call of the gospel. You don’t belong to yourself. God paid a price to you for you. Honor God in your body. And that begins by saying, I’m not going to live the life of sin any longer. I’m going to submit to the will and purposes of the King, Jesus Christ. I believe in him, and I’ll confess that. And I’ll be immersed with him that I too might rise to walk in newness of life. And we seem to encourage that response. Let’s stand and say.