Saint or Sinner?
Saint or Sinner
When I was attending a church in Korea, I was at a Wednesday night service where an attending pastor was asking those present, "How many of you believe you are a sinner? Raise your hands." Most of the people raised their hands. Then he proceeded to ask, "How many of you believe you are a saint in Christ? Raise your hand." There was a slight hesitation from the group and about the same number of people raised their hands. Then he asked, "How many of you believe you're both? Raise your hands." By this time the group was somewhat bewildered and not sure how to respond. There were few hands raised and even with that, some were wavering.
The pastor went on to explain that in his seminary class, his professor asked the same questions to the students and the same sort of results were procured. What is the identity of the church and how do we view ourselves? Are we sinners who are trying to be good or saints who sin?
What is a Sinner?
Well to first tackle these questions, we need to ask ourselves, what is our definition of a saint and sinner? I think it's safe to say that we know what sin is (anything we think, say or do that goes against God's law or standard.) So a sinner is one whose life is stained by breaking God's law and/or one who has set their life on a path/lifestyle of sin. In the Bible, it states, "All have sinned..." ~ Romans 3:23, but if we are sinners but have been redeemed in Christ, do we still call ourselves "sinners?"
What is a Saint?
And what is a saint? Is a saint a "super holy Christian?" Is a saint someone who looks like Mother Theresa or a "Heidi Baker?" Is a saint only what someone else can call you, but not yourself?
In the Bible, you can see that in the Old Testament, the saints are referred to God's people, those whom God has favored, chosen, covered and blessed but you can also see the nation of Israel falling into very deep pits of sin, stubbornness and down-right rebellion against God. The saints were labelled those who were faithful unto God.
In the New Testament, you see the apostles addressing the body of Christ as saints in their letters to the churches even though, in later parts of the letters, it was clear that the apostles were exhorting, edifying, correcting the church and rebuking sin that was perpetuating in the church body.
What happened between the Old Testament (where the label of saint seemed unsecured and uninsured) to the New Testament where saints were proclaimed to a church body even though sin was prevalent?
Identity
Of course, the answer is Jesus. I think many times Christians (myself included) forget the power of Christ's blood and the resurrection. When ALL of God's laws (from the O.T.) were fulfilled by Christ's sacrifice on the cross, Jesus didn't only forgive our sins (once), but made a way for an everlasting connection and relationship with God, all the time! Not only did we get cleared of our sins, we came into our RIGHTFUL place in Christ, by God's plan (and not our own merit,) AND also became co-inheritors of God's kingdom. SO, when you or I became a Christian, how God views you or me is no longer BY our merits or sins, but through the lens of Christ's sacrifice and victory over the cross and the grave! Thank you Jesus!
Our identity is SAINT. We were sinners who had NO hope of turning from our lifestyles away and against God, but then Jesus came on the scene. Anyone under Jesus' lordship and name HAS His protection and covering... actually His very name and bloodline since we've been adopted into the family of God.
How the apostles approached the church
In the New Testament, as you read the introduction of the apostles' letters to the churches, the apostles never addressed the church as "sinners." They address them as saints even though the apostles were about to address the issues of sin in the church. The apostles knew that the church needed to know their identity in Christ in order to address the sin in their lives.
They remind the body who they once were but no longer are! As I would paraphrase it: 'Don't look at who you used to be! Know who you are in Christ and live like it! '
Here are some
You were once...but...
Once you were...but...
statements:
Ephesians 2:13-20
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
There is the question, 'Well, if we are saints, why is there still sin in the world?' That goes into a whole other world of teaching, but to summarize, we used to have the uncontrollable condition to sin. Now we do not. We can struggle against our "flesh" (our desires) and against demonic forces, but what Jesus has given us is His very own name, nature and power (which is why were are a new creation.) Adam and Eve were created without a sinful nature, but they sinned in the garden of Eden. Why? Because God gave them choice...a will. God DID NOT give them a sinful nature. God did give them authority, but Adam and Eve then chose what they did with that authority. They chose to disobey and hand their authority over to Satan, because in that moment, they chose a new master (who to obey).
Jesus demolished sin and death. We are forever His! We still have choice every day (living in obedience or living against God's ways.) It is important to be aware what we embrace, because sin will choke your life and life's purpose out, but when we come to Jesus and turn away from our sin daily (or even minute by minute), we can always be made new and continue to live how our lives were meant to be! There is no reason to claim the identity of a sinner. When we claim an identity, whose are we claiming? The sins of our forefathers, or Jesus? The fruit of a sinner is... sin. The fruit of a saint is...God's work. Be careful what you claim over your life. KNOW who you are in Christ.
That really takes a different perspective when reading the scriptures. "Being good" is NOT originated from "doing good." "Being good" is birthed from God's identity given to you. You are a saint (your new nature,) therefore do accordingly to your nature. If you sin, come before God and honestly repent. The hope placed in you is not that God wishes you'll be good. It is the knowledge that you will fulfill what He's already placed in you, Himself.
When I was attending a church in Korea, I was at a Wednesday night service where an attending pastor was asking those present, "How many of you believe you are a sinner? Raise your hands." Most of the people raised their hands. Then he proceeded to ask, "How many of you believe you are a saint in Christ? Raise your hand." There was a slight hesitation from the group and about the same number of people raised their hands. Then he asked, "How many of you believe you're both? Raise your hands." By this time the group was somewhat bewildered and not sure how to respond. There were few hands raised and even with that, some were wavering.
The pastor went on to explain that in his seminary class, his professor asked the same questions to the students and the same sort of results were procured. What is the identity of the church and how do we view ourselves? Are we sinners who are trying to be good or saints who sin?
What is a Sinner?
Well to first tackle these questions, we need to ask ourselves, what is our definition of a saint and sinner? I think it's safe to say that we know what sin is (anything we think, say or do that goes against God's law or standard.) So a sinner is one whose life is stained by breaking God's law and/or one who has set their life on a path/lifestyle of sin. In the Bible, it states, "All have sinned..." ~ Romans 3:23, but if we are sinners but have been redeemed in Christ, do we still call ourselves "sinners?"
What is a Saint?
And what is a saint? Is a saint a "super holy Christian?" Is a saint someone who looks like Mother Theresa or a "Heidi Baker?" Is a saint only what someone else can call you, but not yourself?
In the Bible, you can see that in the Old Testament, the saints are referred to God's people, those whom God has favored, chosen, covered and blessed but you can also see the nation of Israel falling into very deep pits of sin, stubbornness and down-right rebellion against God. The saints were labelled those who were faithful unto God.
In the New Testament, you see the apostles addressing the body of Christ as saints in their letters to the churches even though, in later parts of the letters, it was clear that the apostles were exhorting, edifying, correcting the church and rebuking sin that was perpetuating in the church body.
What happened between the Old Testament (where the label of saint seemed unsecured and uninsured) to the New Testament where saints were proclaimed to a church body even though sin was prevalent?
Identity
Of course, the answer is Jesus. I think many times Christians (myself included) forget the power of Christ's blood and the resurrection. When ALL of God's laws (from the O.T.) were fulfilled by Christ's sacrifice on the cross, Jesus didn't only forgive our sins (once), but made a way for an everlasting connection and relationship with God, all the time! Not only did we get cleared of our sins, we came into our RIGHTFUL place in Christ, by God's plan (and not our own merit,) AND also became co-inheritors of God's kingdom. SO, when you or I became a Christian, how God views you or me is no longer BY our merits or sins, but through the lens of Christ's sacrifice and victory over the cross and the grave! Thank you Jesus!
Our identity is SAINT. We were sinners who had NO hope of turning from our lifestyles away and against God, but then Jesus came on the scene. Anyone under Jesus' lordship and name HAS His protection and covering... actually His very name and bloodline since we've been adopted into the family of God.
How the apostles approached the church
In the New Testament, as you read the introduction of the apostles' letters to the churches, the apostles never addressed the church as "sinners." They address them as saints even though the apostles were about to address the issues of sin in the church. The apostles knew that the church needed to know their identity in Christ in order to address the sin in their lives.
They remind the body who they once were but no longer are! As I would paraphrase it: 'Don't look at who you used to be! Know who you are in Christ and live like it! '
Here are some
You were once...but...
Once you were...but...
statements:
Ephesians 2:13-20
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
Ephesians 5:8
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
Colossians 1:21-22
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[a] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation —
1 Peter 2:9-11
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.There is the question, 'Well, if we are saints, why is there still sin in the world?' That goes into a whole other world of teaching, but to summarize, we used to have the uncontrollable condition to sin. Now we do not. We can struggle against our "flesh" (our desires) and against demonic forces, but what Jesus has given us is His very own name, nature and power (which is why were are a new creation.) Adam and Eve were created without a sinful nature, but they sinned in the garden of Eden. Why? Because God gave them choice...a will. God DID NOT give them a sinful nature. God did give them authority, but Adam and Eve then chose what they did with that authority. They chose to disobey and hand their authority over to Satan, because in that moment, they chose a new master (who to obey).
Jesus demolished sin and death. We are forever His! We still have choice every day (living in obedience or living against God's ways.) It is important to be aware what we embrace, because sin will choke your life and life's purpose out, but when we come to Jesus and turn away from our sin daily (or even minute by minute), we can always be made new and continue to live how our lives were meant to be! There is no reason to claim the identity of a sinner. When we claim an identity, whose are we claiming? The sins of our forefathers, or Jesus? The fruit of a sinner is... sin. The fruit of a saint is...God's work. Be careful what you claim over your life. KNOW who you are in Christ.
That really takes a different perspective when reading the scriptures. "Being good" is NOT originated from "doing good." "Being good" is birthed from God's identity given to you. You are a saint (your new nature,) therefore do accordingly to your nature. If you sin, come before God and honestly repent. The hope placed in you is not that God wishes you'll be good. It is the knowledge that you will fulfill what He's already placed in you, Himself.
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