Some of us don’t have a good track record. We have no story of the past that we are proud to tell to others, but the good news is “We were” sort of stories won’t have any bearing in our “we are” stories, if and when we are washed, sanctified, and justified by the name of Jesus Christ.

Listen to the Word of God:

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: 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. And THAT IS WHAT SOME OF YOU WERE. 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 Corinthians 6:9-11 – Capitalization is mine)

It doesn’t say, “Some of you are,” instead, it says, “some of YOU WERE.”

Because Jesus has changed our stories from “they were” to “they are,” we are totally free to be slaves to righteousness. (John 8:36; Romans 6:18) ///