“Saint vs. Sinner.”

Romans 6:12-14

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

As each of us look at the Scripture above, it seems to be our choice to sin or not to sin.  Next, we must come to grips with whom the apostle Paul is writing, and verse six makes clear that it is to all who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.  And verse seven gives more insight; “To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints . . .”  (Romans 1:7) I’m sure we can all agree this letter is being addressed to followers of Christ, and back then they were called disciples, not just 12, but after Pentecost thousands, and under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Paul addressed them as saints.

Dr. Gillham has this footnote on “Saint vs. Sinner.” “The word “sinner” is often used to describe both performance and identity, which becomes confusing.  As Christians, we have received a new identity.  We are no longer sinners, but saints who sin – and hate it.”  Let me inject what I know Bill would state if still with us, you better hate sinning and if you can do it with no problem, you have a heart problem that only Jesus can fix.  “Do you understand that from Acts chapter 2 after Pentecost to Revelation 22:21, we have three scriptures that appear to refer to Christians as sinners: 1 Timothy 1:15; James 4:8; and James 5:20.  On the other hand, there are 56 Scriptural references to Christians as “saints.”  Why not focus on the Prevailing emphasis of God’s Word and agree with Him that you are indeed what He calls you – a saint?  Even though your performance does not always reflect your new identity, the fact remains: When you became a Christian, you entered into Christ’s life and became a new creation with a new identity (2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:4).  Remember your identity is determined by birth, not by what you do.” (Dr. Gillham and I took some freedom on his quote.)

So we cleared up the “to whom” the letter is addressed, but in a culture of no blame, no losers, all winners, no fault, can we really expect people to grasp that all have sinned and all have missed the mark?  Is it not clear that the no fault culture has invaded the Christian Church, the preaching and teaching is often skewed so as not to offend.  And if it is not your fault and you have never heard anything was really your fault, it was always someone else’s, it comes down to I’m ok are you ok?

So to those who have had the misfortune of growing up in a culture of no blame and have entered into Christ, this day you have been put on notice, not by me but by the Holy Spirit who told the apostle Paul to write Romans 6:12-14, it is your choice to sin or not to sin. 

Now you need to be aware that the one Jesus calls the thief in John 10:10, is one smooth dude, he’s real, he knows a lot about you, but he has no clue what you are going to do, he is not God, not even close.  But he has watched many a person like yourself and he knows how to push your buttons.  I call it the deceptive Channel One and the dude’s voice sounds just like your own, and his message is you deserve, and guess what you are almost always in agreement with that message.  But he has a nasty condemning side, after you have got what your wanted he turns the table and tells you you’re a scumbag, a loser and that you have little or no worth and your family and friends would be better off with you out of the picture.  Yes, the thief does not play fair, and the sad news is it is your fault, for if you had studied the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to be your teacher He would have guided you to truth.

And Truth testifies, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7)

I will close with a quote: “God has no plan to make something beautiful of your life (in Adam).  The plan is to kill it and start over again.”  (Dr. Bill Gillham)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice