Christianity Is a Total Change of Life!

4th Sunday after Pentecost, 6/16/13
1 Corinthians 6:9-11


Christianity Is a Total Change of Life!
I. What we were
II. What we are


Judging from the number of different programs, they’re still as popular as ever. I’m speaking about television shows whose theme is a make-over. The Biggest Loser continues to hold its spot in primetime programming. In case you’re unfamiliar with it, it features a group of people who are trying to shed pounds. Some newer programs around the old make-over theme are “Going Yard,” and “Love It or List It.” Those two feature home remodeling, one outside and one inside. And a contractor named Mike Holmes has made an international name for himself by helping homeowners who are often the victims of unqualified builders and remodelers. He goes in and makes things right.

What is it that holds the interest of viewers of programs such as these? Isn’t it that we like to see what something can become? We almost cheer these people on as they make their physical lives, their homes and yards, better. In some cases they completely change themselves and their homes. And it leads us to think about making improvements to our bodies or our homes.

And then there are those people and their homes that desperately need improvement, but
they can’t see it; they don’t agree. I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t continue watching the program called “Hoarders.” It was too difficult for me. I recall feelings of frustration and sadness. These people needed help. There were loved ones present who wanted to help. But the victim refused. Or they made a beginning, but then couldn’t carry through with it and returned to hoarding their unneeded possessions. In many cases there was a mental illness involved. They lived in denial.

Part I.

I’ve heard jokes about living in the state of denial. I’m sure you have, too. Some of them are harmless, but in reality, there’s nothing funny about living in denial. I’d guess every one of us here today has had to deal with a loved one who suffered from it. When you don’t recognize that there’s a problem or when you refuse to believe that there is a problem in your life that needs to be addressed, there’s not much that anyone can do. In fact, attempts to help often only enable such a person to continue in their self-destructive way of living.

Another way of addressing such a problem is to encourage the person not to be deceived. In fact, that’s exactly what the Apostle Paul told the Christians in the city of Corinth almost 2,000 years ago. Most of these people had not been Christians for very long. Many of them had become Christians in their adult years after living as pagans since birth. What’s more, the city of Corinth was well-known for its immoral lifestyle. The ancient Corinthians would fit in rather nicely in some of the most sordid areas of our country. And that made the temptation to dabble in those sins and to tolerate those sins all the more great.

Paul writes, “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived.” The world is full of people who claim to be good. They try to keep the Golden Rule. They wouldn’t claim to be perfect, but they’re good. And all dogs go to heaven, don’t they? Paul admonishes, “Don’t be deceived.” Instead, pay attention to what God says and he says, “Be holy, because I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev. 19:2). Only those who are holy or righteous enter heaven as Jesus said (Mt. 25:46). Paul says wrongdoers or unrighteous people won’t inherit heaven.

And then he presents us with a brutal list of sins to prove his point. “Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” Paul lists 10 sins. In doing so, he’s not making a complete list of sins that keep us out of heaven. Instead, his list of ten is representative and they easily divide into 4 groups.

One is idolatry. In mentioning idolatry, Paul was referring to the fact that these Corinthians had formerly worshipped idols. The temptation was always present to return to it. But idolatry isn’t limited to bowing down to an idol. It includes making anyone or anything more important to us than our God. That includes money, power, pleasure, beauty, fame.

A second division is sexual sins. Paul specifically lists sexual immorality which includes any type of sexual sin. He includes adultery and homosexual activity. Recall, this list is representative. Jesus once declared, “Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt. 5:28). God’s holy law cuts right to the heart of everyone of us.

A third division is the misuse and abuse of property or possessions. In that section Paul includes, “Thieves, the greedy, drunkards, and swindlers.” A thief takes something that doesn’t belong to him and it might be something very small and insignificant. The owner may never even know it. A thief sings, “Finders, keepers. Losers, weepers,” and makes little or no effort to find an object’s rightful owner. Being greedy and drunk are so common in our world that many view them as normal and desirable.

Last of all, Paul speaks about all sins of the tongue when he lists “slanderers.” I’m going to assume that you don’t like to hear other people speak badly of someone else. But just recall how often that someone is me or you. God’s word calls that slander—speaking evil about someone else.

Remember that Paul is speaking about getting into heaven by thinking we’re good enough. We hear heaven’s door slam shut when Paul closes this section with these words, “And that is what some of you were.” And let’s not try to slide under the tag by defending ourselves, “He said ‘some of you’; not all of you.” Agreed. There are some people who hate and avoid these gross sins. But don’t forget that in so many verses of the Bible, God states the truth about everyone of us when he declares, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

Let’s stop living in denial about what we are. We may attempt to think that we aren’t as great a sinner as someone else. But that means nothing before God. The truth is, this is what we are.

Part II.

That means I need a complete make-over. I need a change from the inside out. But, unlike the television make-over shows, I can’t do it myself, not one bit of it. Nor can some other person do it for me.

This is something only our God can do. Paul reminds the Corinthians that God had accomplished it in them. He told them, “That is was some of you were.”

What happened to them? It all started with what happened to Jesus. The death of Jesus on the cross is not simply the story of a tragic end to the life of someone who held so much hope and promise. The death of Jesus was necessary because of sin—our sins, the sins of all people. The death of Jesus on the cross was the price needed to pay for all sins of all people of all time. His resurrection from the dead assures us that’s exactly what happened. His resurrection proves he is true God as well as true man and, therefore, his death paid for the sins of the world.
That’s how God completed a make-over in the Corinthians and in you and me. Paul writes, “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.” Gone is that sordid list of sins. Paul reminds us we have been washed. It’s his classic way of referring to our baptisms. In another place Paul writes that by our baptisms God drowned our sinful nature and brought us the forgiveness of sins. By the power of his resurrection, Jesus gives baptism that great power. The sins that condemn us are washed away. What a change!

Paul also tells you, “You were sanctified.” When the Holy Spirit brought us to faith in Jesus, he brought us the forgiveness of all sins. He sanctified us or made us holy in God’s eyes. Then he also set us apart from the unbelieving, immoral world, to live a life that glorifies our holy Savior, Jesus. Everything the Christian does that is in keeping with God’s law is a revelation of the fact that God has completely made us over. He has sanctified us. What a change!

There’s one more facet of this change. “You were justified.” There’s no more glorious truth in all of the Bible. God has justified you. As sinful as each one of us is, God has declared you to be not guilty. That sounds unjust, but recall what Jesus did. He died for the sins of the whole world. By faith in Jesus that payment for sin belongs to you. In Jesus you are not guilty.

So, when guilt arises in your heart, when you wonder if God has something against you, when you’re not certain that God cares about you, when you’re feeling powerless to fight temptation—recall that you have been changed completely. You are a child of God by faith in Jesus. Eternal life in heaven is yours. And in Jesus you have the power to live as a child of God. With your life and your words glorify the Savior who has completely changed your life. Christianity is a total change of life. Amen.