Are You A Saint Or A Sinner
I loved the story Pine Valley United Methodist Church’s Pastor Tim shared about a minister coming into a room and saying, "Good morning saints!" The room full of people felt funny and would not say good morning because they knew they were full of sin. Next, the minister said, "Good morning, sinners!" This time everyone responded with a good morning. I don't know about you but I do not consider myself a saint. At least not until I heard our sermon and did some studying! I was reminded of how I wasted a lot of time and money during my first year of college, but I had fun! Later, I felt guilty because that was hard-earned money that my parents sacrificed for my education. My dad told me not to worry about it - a lot of life lessons were learned. He was always positive and wanted me to move on. God is the same way. Even though I have messed up and continue to sin, He knows my heart, so He continues to bring good from the bad. Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." When we know we are forgiven, we are to move on. Isaiah 43:18-20, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" From the moment we are saved by Jesus, we are a new creation.
I heard it like this, once you are saved you are no longer a sinner saved by grace but now you are a saint who sometimes sins. The difference is how God looks at us. Colossians 1:1-2, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: "Grace and peace to you from God our Father." Holy is the same word used for "saint". Our identity is no longer a sinner.
When we accepted the gift of salvation, we stopped being identified as a sinner and started being identified as a saint. We are now God's children! John 1:12-13, "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God." When we sang Bethel Musics, “No Longer Slaves”, I believed the lyrics, “I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God”.
Seeing ourselves as a sinner or a saint can make a huge difference in our life. We know God has given His children a new identity. We know we are a new creation. But because we know we are full of sin, it is hard to think of ourselves as saints. Now, we are saints that sin. We still mess up but we know God can give us the strength to recognize this and try to be more like Him. As saints, we want to please Him! Christ lives inside of us. That alone should make us understand that we are saints. It does not mean we will not sin, it means we are God's children. Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
There are several scripture verses that helped me think of myself as a saint. Ephesians 2:19, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household..." Romans 8:16-17, "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." I am a child of God!
Being a saint does not mean I am without sin! Being a saint does not mean you are without sin! Being a saint means we have Jesus! Believing that we are identified as saints, rather than sinners, changes how we approach our relationships, our work, our rest—our entire lives. It changes everything. You are a child of God!