You are not who you were.
Hebrews 11:31 (NASB95) By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.
The best I can tell, Rahab was referred to as “the harlot” five different times in the Old and New Testaments. They are not saying this as an accusation, but as a statement of joy and wonder at the providence and goodness of God. He plucked Rahab out of idolatry and placed her firmly in the lineage of the Messiah to come.
I think this is true of Mary Magdalene also.
Mark 16:9 (NASB95) Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.
As Lauren said last week in her great Mother’s day sermon, I’ll bet the pre-Christ Mary was a handful that left a wake of destruction in her path. Lies, betrayals, theft, you name it; the seven devils made her life and the lives around her miserable. But Jesus set her free. It’s like singing Amazing Grace, “I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see. She was a trophy of grace and the saving and delivering power of the one who came to destroy the works of the devil.
Even Paul the Apostle when he says:
1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV 1900) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
He is not saying, look at me I am still a great sinner. He is saying look what Christ has done with the worst sinner ever. He is not saying “I am the worst sinner”, He is saying, “I was the worst sinner”. His identity is not in his past, his identity is in Christ and his purpose at work in him.
1 Timothy 1:16 (ESV) But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
We are no longer defined or find our identity in our past. We are in Christ and our identity is in Christ. We are His. He claims us as His own. He loves and accepts us.
The words that define us are grace, mercy, freedom, priesthood, saints, family, friends, delivered, saved and chosen.
Grace and peace be with you all,
Pastor Randy