I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed how the Apostle Paul in many of his New Testament letters would always remind the Church once were you…This statement that Paul would make was a reminder to the believers, not to think highly of themselves, and to remember how the Lord bought them from living in a sinful state to now living for Christ.

This thought is meant to be a humble reminder that none of us have made it. We are not perfect, but we are striving for completion in Christ as the scriptures say. (And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6)

Ephesians 2:1 through 3 in the ESV translations says, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 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—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.” Paul reminds the believers in Ephesus of their previous state of spiritual death, where they lived in sin and followed the influences of the world and Satan. This highlights the universal human condition before encountering God’s grace and becoming alive in Christ.

Once were you…Ephesians 5:8 reminds us, “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”  Paul contrasts the believers’ former identity as living in spiritual darkness with their new identity as light in the Lord. He urges them to live in a manner consistent with their new life in Christ, reflecting goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Like the Colossians, you and I were once alienated from God and engaged in evil, but through Christ’s reconciliation, we have been restored to fellowship with God. This shows the dramatic shift from being enemies of God to being reconciled through Christ’s sacrifice. Colossians 1:21 and 22 says, “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.”

Finally, I love how Paul reminds Titus that all believers, including himself, once lived in foolishness, disobedience, and craving various sinful desires. This scripture emphasizes God’s mercy and grace that transformed them and us from this former state of sin into a new life of righteousness that produces good works. (“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.” Titus 3:3)

Remember you and I have nothing to boast about of ourselves. Any boasting according to the Apostle Paul needs to be made about Jesus and how he has redeemed us and how Jesus has reconciled us back to God.