(The following is the July 14 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read 1 Corinthians 6 and pay close attention to verses 9-11.)

The Bible contains several lists of sins. One is 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.” Paul included another list of the sinful nature’s acts in Galatians 5:19-21. John would later write: “But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars – their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8).

The lists highlight the stench of unrepented, unforgiven sin and its eternal consequences. These and other sins should horrify Christians who want to please God in response to his great salvation. People still mired in sin must understand their plight before a holy God, turn from sin, place their trust in Christ alone, and begin a new life in him.

Change is possible. Paul adds, “And some of you used to be like this” (v. 11). They were no longer slaves to sin and estranged from God. Something radical happened to transform their nature, desires, and behavior. “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” (v. 11).

Reading these lists should convict us if we indulge in them. If we have been freed from them, knowing that we are washed, sanctified, and justified through faith in Christ should cause our hearts to swell with gratitude to the One whose grace made it possible. We can then offer hope to others trapped in sin and show them how to be free.

Next Step:
What sins characterized your daily life before you met Christ? Do any of those or other sins still linger that you need to confess and abandon?