Living Based on What You Are, Not on What You Used to Be

Living Based on What Who You You Are, Are, Not on What Who You You Used Used to to Be Be 11Corinthians Corinthians6:1-11 6:1-11 June June24, 24,2018 2018 THE BIG IDEA: Paul challenges believers to always remember what Christ had done to change their lives, from the inside out, and to let that define who they are – not what they used to be. Our most powerful testimony about Jesus will not be our words, but the consistent actions that show we are new creations. 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 (ESV) 6 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 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. ü Sanctified – Set apart for God – His purposes and for His glory. Our behavior starts to change because of the ongoing sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. ü Justified – declared righteous by the work of Christ. No longer striving for approval. We are made right with God because of Jesus being the perfect sacrifice on the Cross for our sin. All this … in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God. 2. Remember Who You Used to Be in Your Sin Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. 9 v Conversion makes a visible, observable difference, and if it does not, there is room to question whether there has ever been a conversion. v Luke 19:1-10 Nobody ever doubted that Zacchaeus was converted – it changed his whole life. His heart & attitude changed so radically that his behavior began to change almost immediately. 3. Take Seriously How We Should Be Living Today ü ü ü ü ü Peacefully As examples to unbelievers Willing to be wronged Righteously Free from our past bondage 1. Know Who You Are in Christ ü Washed – Cleansed and forgiven of our sin “Why the Lord Jesus didn't come to get his rights. He came to get his wrongs, and he got them." - H.A. Ironside