Part 1 of Finding Our Identity in Christ, Not Our Struggles
"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 6:11
In recovery circles, there's a familiar refrain: "Hi, my name is Ben, and I am an alcoholic." This introduction, rooted in the disease model of addiction, has helped millions acknowledge their struggles. Yet as believers, we must ask ourselves a crucial question: Is this declaration of identity—defining ourselves by our sin—consistent with what Scripture teaches about who we are in Christ?
The apostle Paul addresses this very issue in his letter to the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, he lists various sins—including drunkenness—and declares that those who practice such things "will not inherit the kingdom of God." But then comes verse 11, a powerful pivot that changes everything: "And that is what some of you were."
Notice Paul's careful use of past tense. He doesn't say, "That is what you are." He doesn't encourage believers to maintain their identity as sinners. Instead, he declares definitively: that is what you were.
The Transformative Power of the Past Tense
This past tense isn't merely grammatical—it's theological dynamite. Paul is declaring that our former identity has been replaced entirely. The drunk, the idolater, the sexually immoral person—these are not ongoing identities for the believer. They represent a former state of being that has been fundamentally altered through Christ's work.
The disease model of addiction, while well-intentioned, often locks people into a perpetual identity rooted in their struggle. "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic" becomes more than a recovery strategy—it becomes a declaration of permanent identity. But Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 6:11 offer a radically different perspective.
Three Divine Actions That Transform Identity
Paul doesn't leave us wondering how this transformation occurs. He outlines three divine actions that completely alter our identity:
You Were Washed: This cleansing goes beyond external cleaning. The Greek word here suggests a complete purification, a washing away of the guilt and stain of sin. Your addiction, your struggles, your failures—they have been washed away completely. You are not defined by what you've been cleansed from.
You Were Sanctified: This means you have been set apart, made holy, declared sacred to God. Your identity is no longer "sinner" but "saint"—literally, "holy one." This isn't about perfection in practice; it's about position in Christ. God sees you not as an addict but as His sanctified child.
You Were Justified: This legal term means you have been declared righteous before God. All charges have been dropped. The record of your failures has been expunged. You stand before God not as "guilty with an excuse" but as completely innocent through Christ's righteousness.
The Danger of Identity Theft
When we continue to define ourselves primarily by our struggles, we commit a form of spiritual identity theft. We rob ourselves of the new identity Christ has given us. More seriously, we undermine the very gospel we claim to believe.
If Christ's work on the cross was truly sufficient, then our identity must be rooted in that completed work, not in our ongoing struggles. This doesn't mean we ignore our areas of weakness or avoid accountability. Rather, it means we approach these challenges from our position as beloved children of God, not as people fundamentally defined by our sin.
Consider the difference in how someone approaches temptation when they think "I am an alcoholic trying not to drink" versus "I am a child of God who has been set free from alcohol's power." The first identity assumes inevitable struggle and frequent failure. The second identity assumes victory through Christ's power and views temptation as an opportunity to live out our true identity.
Practical Implications for Recovery
This shift in identity thinking has profound practical implications. Instead of attending meetings and declaring "I am an alcoholic," believers might say, "I am a child of God who formerly struggled with alcoholism but have been washed, sanctified, and justified by Christ."
This isn't mere positive thinking or denial of struggle. It's a theological declaration based on the finished work of Christ. It acknowledges the past without being enslaved to it. It recognizes areas of vulnerability without making them central to identity.
For those supporting others in recovery, this perspective offers hope rather than resignation. Instead of managing a disease, we're helping people live out their new identity in Christ. Instead of expecting lifelong struggle, we can pray and work for complete freedom rooted in spiritual reality.
Living from Your New Identity
The power of 1 Corinthians 6:11 lies not just in what it says about our past, but in what it declares about our present and future. You are not defined by what you struggle with. You are defined by what Christ has done for you.
This transformation isn't gradual—it's complete and instantaneous the moment we believe. Our growth in sanctification is the process of learning to live out the reality of who we already are in Christ.
As we begin this series on finding our identity in Christ, let this truth sink deep: You are not your struggle. You are washed, sanctified, and justified. That is your true identity, and it's from this position of strength and security that lasting freedom flows.
Next week, we'll explore how 2 Corinthians 5:17 reveals the radical newness of our identity in Christ, showing us that we are not reformed addicts but entirely new creations.
