And such were some of you. 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 (1 Cor. 6:11 ESV)

The apostle Paul uses three words to describe the position of holiness and righteousness the believer occupies in Christ. He says “ but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified”. All of those actions are in the past tense implying the Apostle was referring to things that had already taken place. He was making a sharp contrast between the old life of the Corinthians and their new blessed state in Christ. He says “and such were some of you”. Well, what kind of life was he referring to? He says : 

Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10 ESV)

They were sinners to the core like any other unsaved person. However, something happened to them at salvation. When they received Christ, the Spirit of God thoroughly washed, sanctified and justified them. Their past life was now an issue of the past because if anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation; the old life has passed, and a new life has begun. Christ’s blood gives us the opportunity to start all over again. God has made us holy by His Spirit so that our bodies can be His Temple.  You have been washed inside so that you can now live a clean life outside. You have been sanctified so that you can live a holy life daily. You can have been justified so that a practical life of righteousness may be possible for you. You are the blessed in Christ, washed, sanctified and justified!

MEDITATE

When did the washing and sanctification take place in our lives?

APPLY THE WORD

Let this consciousness of your holiness and righteousness in Christ be ingrained in your heart. God has sanctified and cleansed your spirit. Allow the Word to sanctify and clean your soul as you feed on it daily and walk by the Spirit!

PRAY

Thank the Lord for the blessing of sanctification by His Spirit in Christ. 

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