A Cool Thought
I was told last week that, "Christians are no longer 'sinners saved by grace,' but 'Christians are saints and sin is outside of that character. Therefore, Christians are to identify themselves not in their sin but in their Savior."
What do you think about that?
What do you think about that?
posted by Was at
7:54 PM
5 Comments:
True Nicole, but the sin is no longer our identity. We are saved by grace made into a new creation. The question I have is--when are we as a Church going to start living differently?
We are not sinners because we sin but we sin because we are sinners. Nicole was referencing Romans 7:15-25. Oh read this beautiful passage. Paul argues that we are Christs "workmanship" and that we were" "created for good works" (Eph 2:10) yet he confesses saying "I do not do what I want to , but I do the very things I hate" (Rom 7:15) Obviously Paul was a justified, saved believer in Christ so what is this false dichotomy? Yes, we are new creations called to find our identity in Christ (as if we have another or a better option) but here in verse 20 Paul says that because He does the sin yet desires good, it is the sin that dwells in Him that is sinning. This is the said "sin nature" Sin is an unseverable part of Paul's (and our) very being even after justification. Does this mean that he is a "sinner saved by grace?" I sure could make that argument; yet I will not disagree with the latter portion of the quote. However, to say that "Christians are saints and sin is outside of that character" is a delicate claim that has foggy boundries dancing around some thin red lines. Sin is outside of God's character. True believers have become "partakers of the divine nature" (2Pet 1:4). Yet, as we have proven, sin can not be severed from our very nature; at least not on this side of heaven.
Therefore, "If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves" (1John 1:8) and yet "No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him of known Him" (1John 3:6) I think that somehow we must blend the two quotes to capture the truth that scripture teaches (and I have only scratched the surface of what the Word teaches) If I lie, I am a liar. Terefore, because I sin, I am a sinner. And recall that we sin because we were born sinners. So heres what I would say. "I am a filthy wretched sinner who has been predestined, saught out, and saved by God's undeserved grace; become a partaker of His new and divine nature; and called find my identity in Him as I remain in Him, the true vine, and bear good fruit" ... whew .. anyone still with me????
You guys rock--I do want to begin to seek my identity as a saint in Christ and identify sin outside of my character, not because of who I am, but because of what Christ has done and restored.
God Bless
was
i think corey is right on, but i do think we need to think of sin as a posion. we need to view sin as God sees it. we sin because we do not know God as we ought. as piper says, we take our pleasure away from God. having said that, LOVE CHRIST. God calls us saints. so therefore we are. if you view ourself as a saint, then you should put you belief( head knowledge + action on that head knowledge) in God totally, then you should refrain from sinning. however, im not saying that you will be perfect. thanks and God bless.
john doe .... more like Jon Doe and by doe I mean .. well I know who you are and I live you like a baby loves a baby wipe
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home