Monday, October 16, 2006

And such were some of you...

Last evening in a small group one of the young men said in part, "Well, I am just a sinner too." The context was how we as believers should interact with those who are not. I wanted to correct him, but quickly decided to do so would be unwise in that context while having a discussion about personal evangelism.

A common misconception is that those of us who are "born from above" are "just sinners too". We are not sinners but saints. Of course we all sin. As long as we inhabit flesh we will fall short of God's standard for righteousness. This sad fact is precisely why Jesus came.

"And such were some of you." In 1 Corinthians 6:11 Paul set the record straight. In the previous verses Paul discussed sinners such as fornicators, adulterers, thieves, drunkards, covetous, homosexuals, etc. and then said, "And such were some of you".

Paul and others are careful to speak of those ugly lifestyles in the past tense when referring to believers. Interestingly, in the following verses he warns with these words. "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."
These truths are clear. We used to be sinners ("And such were some of you"). We have been changed by Christ (But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.") Even though we have been changed, we can still fall into sin. ("Flee sexual immorality")
We have been given a new identity. We are not "sinners", but are now "saints". Over 50 times in the New Testament, by several different writers, all inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, we who are saved are called "Saints". I was a sinner, by God's grace I am now a Saint.
Grace and Peace,
Royce Ogle

7 comments:

Brian Nicklaus said...

well said, brother.

I often hear attempts at humility that sound more like bragging about one's sinfulness.

We must humbly make the distinction between people who live a lifetyle of sin and disciples who live by the Spirit and yet sin.

thanks
brian

Stoned-Campbell Disciple said...

God does wash us clean doesn't he! It is also comforting to know that I am a "saint" because of his gracious work and not my perfection. It helps me to sleep easy.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

SteveY said...

Thanks again, brother. This topic is something that needs to be discussed in church's more often. Often times Christians insult God's great gift of life while trying to be compassionate to sinners. We do not need to be afraid or shameful of the great gift from our Father.

Royce Ogle said...

Brian, Steve, and Bobby, thanks for stopping by.

I agree with all your comments and appreciate very much that you read my stuff. It is nice to be validated sometimes. Often I feel like I am alone with some of my views.

I just believe with my whole heart that God has done far more for us than we care to admit, or perhaps more likely, realize.

If I ever write a book, the title will likely be "My God is bigger than your God, God's grace explored".

Grace and Peace,
Royce Ogle

preacherman said...

I think here you also see the importance of reptance. Such were some of you. I know that God wants all men to repent. Repentance is a must. Do we preach enough on reptance and call sin what it is? Do we try not to offend? Is there a way to preach repentance without being in your face? I know we are all sinners. I we all struggle. But again God calls each and everyone of us to change. Change isn't a four letter word but a calling.

Royce, excellent post.

Royce Ogle said...

Thanks Preacherman,

Repent! It is not optional! However, I think there is plenty of misunderstanding about what repentance is. Is it possible for a man to turn to Christ in faith and not at the same time turn away from his old life and sin? I don't think so.

1.Hear 2.believe 3. repent 4 confess 5 be baptised. I can find no instance in the Bible where all 5 of these steps were preached at once. In Acts 2 "Repent and be baptised", later in Acts "believe", other times "believe and be baptised", and of course in Romans 10 confess.

I believe I can make the case from the Bible that genuine faith exercised by a men who hears the gospel will satisfy all of the others. Repentance and faith are inseperable, two sides of the same coin. It is nutty logic that could believe a person could have faith in Christ and not want to obey him and tell others about him.

More later. Thanks again for your visit.

Grace and Peace,
Royce Ogle

Matt said...

I can understand his desire to want to connect with a non-Christian and identify with their situation. Like what you said - he is no longer in that situation (of being lost) but at the same time both he and a non-Christian do have just as much need for God's grace as each other. You can see where people get that view from - confusing need for grace with "who" they are/their spiritual identity which is no longer in sin.

Good thoughts, keep them coming.