Humble Saints or Proud Sinners

I just came from my closet. My Father and I simply had to talk...again! You see, I have this problem; and it has been a 'problem' for me for years. You see, I cringe every time I hear a brother or sister in Christ initially identify himself/herself as, "A sinner saved by the grace of God". That phrase in that context just sends cold chills down my spine. I have even heard individuals announce the same thing publicly in our worship assemblies, thus identifying us to the masses.

Is that who you believe you are? Lee, is that who you believe you are?

Over the years, I have taught several Bible classes under the title: "The Bible Tells Me So". The purpose and study of these classes has been to open the Word and allow God to tell us so. I firmly believe that much of what we say, believe, and practice as Christians comes from sources other than the Word and Will of God. And subtly over the years, decades, and even centuries these things have become confused as or equal to Scripture.

The most common word used in the New Testament to identify those saved by the blood of Jesus Christ is 'saint'. The writers of the New Testament use this word fifty to sixty times. Our popular word 'Christian' is used only three times.

For many years at Harding College/University in Searcy, Arkansas, there was a second cafeteria in the basement of one of the girls' dorms. The dorm was Patti Cobb. For each meal, there were two lines that would form outside the dorm leading into the cafeteria...on the right, the 'saints'...on the left, the 'sinners'.

How does the Apostle Paul address those to whom he is writing in Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae? "...to the sinners or to the saints in..."? Over and over again throughout his letters, Paul addresses the followers of Jesus as 'saints'.

II Peter 1:3&4 says that God through His promises has granted us everything "pertaining to life and godliness" in order that we "might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust". Sounds as though God has done everything in His power to equip the followers of His Son to live as 'saints', and not to continue as 'sinners'; for that was our former life(Romans 6).

I believe it is easier and more comfortable for one to continue to refer to himself/herself as a 'sinner'. To wear the title of 'saint' means taking on responsibility. I now am responsible for my words; I now am responsible for my actions; and I now am responsible for my reactions. Without an individual acknowledgement of the 'divine' nature, one can point to or even accuse the 'former' nature.

Here is a popular teaching that needs to be disspelled. Some compare/illustrate our former life in terms of a dirty, beat-up, old jalopy. And that our new life is that jalopy all cleaned-up and fixed-up. That may sound very religious and spiritual, and it may be what we have always heard; but it is not right! It is not Bible. According to Scripture, we are brand new cars(II Corinthians 5:17).

An observation about our walk as followers of Jesus that I try to remember is this: I am not sinless, but hopefully I do sin less!

So, who am I? Saint

So, who are you?

Thinking kingdom,Lee