Through The Bible in a Year - May 5, 2026
“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 6:11
Paul takes the imagery of physical slavery that God’s people – like Daniel and his countrymen – had repeatedly experienced and uses that pain to explain the blessings of gospel. He says to those in the church at Corinth (and to us), “You were once slaves to sin. But now you have been set free.”
To drive home the point, Paul lists those who will not experience the blessings of Christ’s kingdom because they are still enslaved to different types of sin: those who are sexually immoral, idolaters, thieves, greedy, addicted, critics.
Then, Paul makes this stunning statement to those in the church who are reading his letter about all these terrible sinners: “And such were some of you.”
Not “such are some of those people out there.” Such were some of YOU. Those of you in the church. Those of you reading this letter.
But Paul isn’t done. He adds, “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.”
Why does the apostle give first an awful and then, a beautiful reminder of our past and present status before God? So that those of us who are forgiven, cleansed, and set free, would not think of ourselves as too good to care for those who are still struggling with or enslaved by evil. We represent Christ’s heart for sinners in the way we speak, act, and live. It is our calling.
I once went with my mother to visit my brother in prison. Even at 88-years-old, she had to lean against a chain-link fence in the Mississippi sun and be frisked. Once she was allowed into the prison, she made her way to my brother’s quarters, but along the way she used her nursing skills to take the pulse of a prisoner feeling faint. She used her “moma” skills to speak encouragement to others, asking about their children and grandchildren.
My mother went to visit her troubled son, but one of other prisoners said to her, “We’re all your sons, aren’t we?” And, I had to recognize, if they’re all her sons, then they are all my brothers.” My mind may recoil, “No, they’re criminals.” My Bible replies, “Such were some of you. Only by the grace of God, have we been saved.”
Respond: Who are you dismissing as beyond God’s reach? Who have you written off as too far gone to warrant your care or witness? When the Bible speaks of great sinners and says to Christians, “Such were some of you”? How does that change how you see others? How you treat them? How you pray for them?
Prayer: Lord, you died for the sexually immoral, greedy, idolators, thieves, drunkards and worse. Such was I before a holy God claimed me. But I was washed, sanctified, justified. Not because I deserved it, but because of Your grace in Christ. Help me see others the way You saw me—not as they are, but as they could be by Your transforming power. Make me an ambassador for Christ by helping me remember who I was and who I am because of your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.