The Past
It can be difficult to let go of the past. Books have been written and songs recorded about dwelling in or on the past. The concept has permeated movie scripts and television programming. We all know the folly of it, but the past compels us. It whispers and calls to us.
Many of us are haunted by our past. It affects our current worldview and taints our interactions with others. The scars are deep and, often, we see them not as scars, but as perpetually open wounds.
For others, the past represents our glory days, and we continue to live there in our minds. Constant are the references to what “used to be” and how “we used to do” this and that. I have conversed with thirty and forty-year-old men and women who continue to view life through high-school eyes.
Scars of Sin
A couple of weeks ago I read a question and a response on social media, the impact of which was so profound that it is fresh in my mind today. The question was put to a woman who has been impressively open about her sordid past life, meaning her pre-Christ life. I believe the question was sincere, albeit invasive, and pressed into this concept of being unable to leave our past in the past, even if we want to do so.
In her response, the woman was very transparent about the struggle to leave that past life behind, but the reason had less to do with her desire to move on, and more to do with the unwillingness of others to let her do so.
In more than four decades of walking with Jesus, I have witnessed the heartbreaking struggle many have as they fail to let go of the guilt from sins of the past. They are haunted by what a “horrible person” they used to be. But as noted above, even worse is the way others. who did not live that life, heap truckloads of judgment and guilt upon their targets, as though Jesus can forgive their sin, but could never forgive the sin of the person they are judging.
The Emphatic “But”
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 the covetous, 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, ESV
Feel the thunder of that phrase, “Such were some of you,” but no more. That is not who you are! Two implications can be derived from that.
- It is not who you are, so don’t live that way.
- It is not who you are, so stop viewing yourself with negative eyes.
Paul doesn’t pamper the revolting nature of the sin from our past lives. It is vile, and he characterizes it as vile. The neuter designation of ταῦτα in the verse above carries a contemptuous implication that could be rendered not “such people,” but rather “such stuff,” or “such things” were some of you. It is reminiscent of the statement in Luke 19 wherein the people rejected their king, saying, “We will not have this to reign over us,” which could be rendered, “this thing.”1 But Paul doesn’t leave us there.
There is an emphatic “but” in verse eleven that should resonate in our heads like a gigantic church bell. Paul uses it three times to emphasize the truth of the change within us.
- …but you were washed…
- …but you were sanctified…
- …but you were justified…
That is what you were. This is what you are.
Washed
He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit
– Titus 3:5, ESV
The defilement of our sin was and is washed away. Dwell there no longer. It is cast to the deepest depths of the sea.2 It is removed from us as far as the east is from the west.3 How far is that?
We know where the North Pole and South Pole are. We can find them. But where is the East? Where is the West? Removing our sins from us as far as the East is from the West is, by definition, putting our sins in a place where no one can find them.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
– Romans 8:1, ESV
No condemnation. None! Complete freedom from judgement. John’s gospel says whoever believes in Jesus is not condemned! No condemnation whatsoever … as far as the east is from the west.
Please have it very clear in your mind that God is on your side, and you are washed clean. God has made every provision for you and for me to escape the mess we have made of our lives. The stain of sin is gone.
Sanctified
We were sanctified, meaning set apart for a specific purpose. Whereas we were once all about ourselves and our own purposes, now we are set apart specifically for God’s purposes. Sanctification is the work of God’s Spirit that makes us holy, ἅγιος (hagios), saintly, sanctified. All of those truths are drawn from this same word, hagios. You are holy. You are sanctified. You are a saint. You are set apart.
Sanctification is both a moment in time reality, and it is a journey, a process. The difference between me on January 15, 1983 and me on January 16, 1983 was astonishing. I was unrecognizable to my friends from the day before. I had been set aside for something different, called by God for an entirely new life purpose.
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
– Romans 1:7, ESV
Justified
And finally, Paul says we were justified, δίκαιος (dikaios), righteous. This is a term of legality. Judgement is rendered, and the judgement declared is that we are righteous, we are justified. All accusations against us are erased from the record and the way is clear for us to be in the presence of God once again.
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?
– Romans 8:33-34a, ESV
Our prior wickedness outside of Christ was no barrier to our being reconciled to God. Though our sins were as scarlet, they are now white as snow.4 Our washing in baptism, being cleansed by the blood of Jesus, our justification owing to the merit of Christ and nothing within ourselves, our sanctification through the operation of the Spirit—all of it working together to make us new in Christ.
Therefore, let no one point a finger of accusation at you regarding your life before Christ. That person no longer exists.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
– Colossians 3:3, ESV
The transformation that has occurred in you is profound, and is no accident.
Blessings upon you, my friends.
Victoriously in Christ!
– damon
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1. In Luke 19:14, the term “man” is not in the verse. The people are rejecting their king in the most vile language, saying “We don’t want this thing reigning over us.”
2. Micah 7:19
3. Psalm 103:2
4. Isaiah 1:18
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