Washed, Sanctified, Justified. What do these words mean to you? Paul uses them in 1 Corinthians 6:11 to paint a powerful picture of someone who has been transformed in the name of Jesus by the Spirit of God. We have been washed clean from our sin by the mercy of God. Our lives are no longer stained with sin and all its effects. We have been sanctified, set apart from this world, through the power of the cross for the work of God. (Hebrews 10:10) To be justified is more than simply being declared “not guilty,” but rather “just” or “right” in the presence of God. Justified not because of something we did, made right by God’s grace through the work of the cross. Powerful words to paint a dramatic transformation of a life. Think about how and why God would take someone like the people described in verses 9 and 10 and make them new as seen in verse 11. God did this out of love for his creation and because he had a purpose for his creation. This passage is very much about your purpose in life and who you worship with your life. Do the choices you make lead to self-satisfaction or serving the Lord? If you have been washed, sanctified, and justified, what will your purpose be? Will you take this opportunity to honor God with your life? Will you live the Jesus Way?

Brad

P.S. Have you listened to the podcast Tell Me More? Listen to it on iTunes or Spotify and hear more about 1 Corinthians from our pastor and Katy Hodges. Find all of our podcasts here.