{{ Dear friends, I hope you will enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. This blog is basically a rundown of my favorite verses and their truths. I know that God will use His Word powerfully in your life just as He has in mine. I just hope and pray that my words are a help and never a hindrance! Enjoy this time to meditate on what God has done for us! As always, feel free to email me any questions or concerns! :: rredmond@liberty.edu :: please don't give my email to scammers :) -Rachel}}
'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'
-Colossians 1:22 NIV
In our actions we are sinners. However, in our identity we are SAINTS!
'I'm just a sinner, saved by grace'; it's a new catchphrase of the church. I hear it all the time. Honestly, it bugs me! I think that it mostly bugs me because it seems to be used like an excuse. Like 'Yea, I'm making a poor choice... but I'm just a sinner, saved by grace'. Sure, that seems like a true statement. But, is it?
I, personally, don't believe it's true. I believe that statement represents a flawed view of our standing with God. {Now, to be clear, my real concern is the view- not the saying. The saying bugs me because people don't seem to realize that it presents a warped view.} Here's the problem: it says 'I'm saved, but still a sinner'. 'Hold up', you might be thinking, 'I am saved, and I am a sinner!'. Well, sort of. Being saved doesn't mean that you no longer sin. {We won't be perfected till we're in heaven!} However, you are no longer called a sinner. Look at the above verse. Does it say 'He presents you a sinner who knows better'? No! It says He presents you 'holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.
Now, this might be confusing. We're holy, but we're not perfect. We sin, but we're not sinners. Here's how I look at it- I'm a saint, but I don't always act like it. We know that sinners do some good things. {they are incapable of pleasing God, but that's a different blog yet to come! See: Romans 8:5-8} Well, saints occasionally do sinful things. HOWEVER, they're still saints. Our salvation is complete, and in God's sight we are holy. Now, if the Creator of the universe, God of the Ages, Ultimate Judge, and Knower of ALL things says we are 'holy, without blemish, and free from accusation' who are WE to argue??
In our actions we are sinners. However, in our identity we are SAINTS!
If you think I'm writing this to make you feel all 'holier than thou' or to give you a warm fuzzy feeling- think AGAIN! I'm writing this because it's {i.m.h.o.) a foundational truth that shows another beauty of Christ and the gospel. He didn't only enable us to go to heaven. {Obviously that in itself is amazing! Perfect, eternal fellowship with God! WOW!} He didn't just free us from sin. {Again, amazing!} But, in order to do these things, He changed our entire identity!! So, I used to be a sinner, but by God's grace I'm now a saint. This change of phrasing changes the whole thing. Now, it cannot be used as an excuse. Instead, it's a thing to be grateful for- and a challenge. If I used to be a sinner, but I'm now a saint.... Well, I better act like who I've been made into- not who I was.
Now, take a minute to realize the beauty of the Gospel again. God chose us, saved us, changed us, and made us able to please Him. We get the honor of bringing pleasure and joy to God!!!! THAT is a reason to follow His commandments. THAT is loving obedience. Following God's commandments should not be a burden- it should every day overjoy us that we GET to please Him! {Again, Romans 8:5-8. Before salvation we cannot please Him} It's all because of what He did for us! Let's just praise Him for His mercy of salvation!
'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old is gone, the new has come"
-2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
'Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns?
-Romans 8:33
