Thank God for Bible ‘buts’

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. – 1 Corinthians 6.11

Paul had just finished stressing to the Christians at Corinth the importance of behaving before the world. As part of that instruction he told them they should not be going to court against each other before unbelievers. In verses 9-10 he tells them why  - ‘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, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.’

Then, lest they get a big head he reminds them – and such were some of you.

And, indeed, and such were some of us.

But, ah yes, there is that wonderful word ‘but.’

But you were washed

But you were sanctified

But you were justified

Where would we be without those ‘buts?’

We were doomed like the rest of the world. But now in Christ we are washed from our sin. But now we are sanctified and set apart. But now we are justified by the blood of Christ.

Praise God for Bible 'buts.'