1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, [10] nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
We all have "skeletons" of some sort in our respective cupboards.
The mainstream media love to pepper individuals with accusations about their past behaviours, dragging these skeltons out into open view.
Yet these pointing self righteous fingers ignore their own fallen behaviour.
The religious leaders found this out to their cost when they brought a woman caught in an adulterous affair to Jesus.
They yelled out for Him to condemn her via the letter of the law, daring Him to show no mercy.
Jesus, knowing each one of us so well, stays quiet for a long while writing something in the dust.
Then He challenges them:
John 8:7 NLT
They kept demanding an answer, so He stood up again and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!"
Of course they all had to put down the stones, because they knew their own guilt.
We've just passed the Jewish Yom Kippur - which is a day to fast and ask God to forgive the sins of the past year.
When The Temple was in existence there would be animal sacrifices to atone or pay for those sins.
However, it was only a temporary cleansing of guilt:
Hebrews 10:4 NLT
For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
God knew we needed a permanent solution for our sin problem...
Hebrews 10:12 NLT
But our High Priest (Jesus) offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down in the place of honour at God's right hand.
We have an absolute cleansing - a washing via Jesus' shed blood - such incredible, crazy love.
So we should never forget where we've come from and from what we've been saved - especially when tempted to vilify someone for their past sins.
Remember "such were some of you" and humbly admit that we are at best unworthy before a Holy God.
Galatians 6:1 AMPC
Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.
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