Paul doesn't just condemn this sinful behaviour: he says his readers have forsaken those lifestyles. Nor does he say whether they were still struggling with the sins or not. He does say, however, they are wonderfully redeemed by using very strong words of redemption through the Cross of Christ - "...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). That would have been extraordinary for the Corinthians to hear, especially in terms of the ridiculed homosexuals. He is affirming them as redeemed people and later as functioning parts of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Oh that we could give the same example in our churches today!
