Such Were Some Of You.

     Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
     Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
                          1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NASB

     We are told in the word of God that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Thayer's definition of unrighteous is as follows:
     1. Descriptive of one who violates or has violated justice.
          a. unjust
          b. unrighteous, sinful
          c. one who deals fraudulently
              with others, deceitful

     An unrighteous individual is one who cares little about fairness and justice. By this definition an unrighteous person is one who does whatever pleases him with little or no concern for the rights and well being of others. In the eyes of God, this is wicked behavior; sin. Such an individual stands opposed to God. The truth is, they are stubbornly resisting the rule of God in their lives (Romans 8:6-8).
     Notice that Paul tells these people that "Such were some of you." These individuals had been unrighteous individuals. They had partaken of the various sins listed in this passage of scripture. They had been fornicators and idolaters. Their lives had once been filled with sexual immorality, deception, dishonesty, drunkenness, and anger. He speaks of this however of being in the past. They were once living in these things, they were once sinners, but they no longer were. What made the difference? What happened to change their behavior and lives?
     Paul tells them they were washed, sanctified, and justified, in the name of Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of God. These individuals had been washed, that is born again spiritually. They had experienced the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, poured out through Jesus Christ (Titus 3:5-6). This is the new creation spoken of in  2 Corinthians 5:17.
     They had been sanctified, that is they were set apart, dedicated to God. An unrighteous person is dedicated to self. Everything that flows out of their lives is aimed self, with little or no regard for God or their fellow man. A life dedicated to God is a life that bears the fruit of righteousness. A sanctified person loves the Lord God with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loves his neighbor as himself. His actions are different, because his heart is different. He has an inner purity of heart now, that he never had before.
     They had also been justified. That is, they were now right with God. He had pardoned their past, and they now enjoyed right standing with Him. They were treated by God as if they had never sinned. This is what it is to be justified.
     Understand that they were changed. Once again, Paul tells them that they were once sinful, but they had been washed, sanctified, and justified. The new birth had transformed their lives. They were saved, not in sin, but from it. The gospel's power is a transforming power that will not leave you the same. Jesus calls us to come to him. It is true that we are to come as we are, but we come as we are to lay down and surrender; give up our stubborn rebellion against God, and submit to His life changing power, through the new birth.