Over time it is quite easy, and even common, to forget what things used to be like. For instance, when you change the way you do a certain task. At first, you still remember the old way and potentially the issues it caused. However, you soon forgot what it was like when you used to do that task the old way. The same can be said in regards to our faith. Over time it is easy to forget what life was like before you were saved. Even to forget what you used to do. Which in turn has an effect on how you see things and even others. Especially those who are still lost in sin. So I hope to offer you this simple reminder. You too once lived in sin just like the rest of the world.
It would be easy to believe that you would never forget that you too were once lost in sin. But the truth is many people do. They lose sight of the past they once lived. Begin to judge those who are living out the very sins they once did. They wonder why the lost do what they do when the simple fact is that they don’t know God. It’s the very same reason each of us used to live in sin. We simply did not know any better but now we do.
1 Peter 1:14–15 (ESV)
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
Even if we currently remember our past clearly. See that we are truly no different than those in sin, except that we came to know God. That does not mean we are not still in need of a reminder. Constant reminders of even things we know well will help ensure that we never forget. A lesson taught within the Bible itself.
2 Peter 1:12–15 (ESV)
12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
God wanted to be sure that we never forgot our sinful past. Throughout the New Testament, we are given reminder after reminder that we used to be lost in sin. That there was a time when we did not know God. All people have sinned and no Christian can say that they came to God without sin.
1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (ESV)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. 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.
Ephesians 2:1–3 (ESV)
2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 4:22 (ESV)
22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
Ephesians 5:8 (ESV)
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Colossians 3:5–7 (ESV)
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.
Titus 3:3 (ESV)
3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
Those exist to show us that we are no better than anyone else. The only difference is that we somehow heard of a merciful God and turned to Him. That is the only reason we are not still living in sin today. No Christian can ever judge any lost sinner because we were once just as guilty as they are. No sin is worse than any other when it comes to the judgment of God.
James 2:10 (ESV)
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
This reminder that we were once just like every other sinner we encounter should affect us in two ways. First, it should cause us to see our old self every time we see a lost person. Not looking at them with judgment but with compassion, because we have been where they are. Knowing someone is completely blind in sin should not upset us or cause us to become angry. It should only inspire sadness because we know that they truly do not understand what they are doing. Just as at one time we did not realize the gravity of our actions or that they were even sinful.
It should also give us a renewed interest in evangelism. People living in sin are not evil or wicked they are lost and in need of a savior. Just as each of us was and truly still are. They need the same mercy and forgiveness we received from God. So we should share our first-hand experience of salvation with them and offer them what we have received.
Ephesians 2:4–9 (ESV)
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Titus 3:4–7 (ESV)
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
I hope this article has acted as a reminder to you. I hope it has sparked your memory of how things used to be. Each of us once lived in sin just as we others still doing today. We know that only God can truly change an individual. That until you truly encounter God you don’t know what you are missing. I pray the church never forget where we came from. That we will do all we can to lead others to the same cross. The same one that saved us from a life in sin.
Visit Justin’s personal website Here. Or see articles from other writers we feature Here. Also, be sure to stop by our prayer wall.