The Artisan Post

Have you ever given much thought to what identity you live into? And who gives your life identity to help inform how you live?

Many ideologies will feed our minds and souls and give sway to how we live. So it is important to reflect on what voices are dominating our lives and influencing our identity, and note the source of who or what gives us or lays claim to our identity.

Ultimately, all of the human race falls into one of two categories. You are either a sinner or a saint. Or you could say “of the flesh”, or “born again” (John 3:5-8). These are the only two over-arching options for all people. Let me explain.

All people are born sinners. So says the Bible. And all people have a decision to make regarding that state of sin. When presented with the gospel, that, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”, we have the option to believe it or not… to remain in sin and its entanglement, or to be redeemed and relieved from it. We can remain a sinner and identify with that, or repent of sin, and confess and believe in Jesus Christ, becoming a new creation, a saint of God, and identify with that, thus joining a communion of saints, by the power of God’s Holy Spirit working in us.

Sinner or saint. Those are ultimately our two options for identity. And Jesus Christ and the power of His Spirit in us is the only power that can move us from sinner to saint. Or you could say as in Acts 26, “from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God”.

So be careful to assess what you base your identity in. Because this will shape you in all you do.

Hey Christian…

I want to examine this a little further in light of those who call themselves Christians. There seems to be confusion as to identifying as a sinner or saint.

So often we hear this… we refer to ourselves as “sinners”. Maybe along the lines of ones Jesus went to have dinner with when He was accused of eating with tax collectors and “sinners”. Ah yes, we think, that’s us.

And for an even deeper attempt at appearing spiritually pious, we’ll even call ourselves “miserable sinners”. Sort of like adding an extra layer to just being a plain old “sinner”. And then there’s the really confusing oxymoron of using the term “redeemed sinner”.

We need to stop this.

Because it declares God’s work in us of making us as a new creation, a fail. You would never say, I am a sinner in Christ (much less a miserable sinner). Not even a redeemed sinner. You will not find such identity in the Bible. If you are redeemed, you were a sinner and are now a new creation in Christ, a saint, a holy one of God.

A sinner is one who can’t help but sin and whose deeds fall short of ever pleasing God. Sinners often don’t even know they are sinning. They have no concept of it. They live in darkness and ignorance. They may even live in rebellion, and very much know they are sinning but don’t care. They might even love their sin. This all, is the plight of a sinner.

But as a saint, redeemed in Christ, we have come to hate sin. It bothers us and we want to kill it and flee from it. The good deeds we do are the good and righteous deeds prepared in advance for us (Eph. 2:10) made righteous in Christ. Having been moved from death to life, we now have power over sin, and can master it in Jesus Name. Sin is no longer our identity. (see Romans 6)

“But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” — Romans 6:17-18

Yes, you will find Paul saying that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom he is the foremost, or the worst, or chief. He identifies with WHY Jesus came — to save sinners — redemption! That’s good news for all of us born into sin. Paul is essentially saying that if any of you doubt the power of God to save you because you have sinned way to much, I am way out front. My sins stack the highest. I have the foremost of sins. If anyone were not to be saved, it would be me… but thanks be to God, it turns out I am now an example of exactly those who can and will be saved in Jesus Christ!! If I can be saved, anyone can. I was a murderer and a blasphemer, a chief of sinners, but now I am saved. And then he bursts out in praise. (see 1 Timothy 1:12-18)

As for Jesus accused of eating with “sinners”, yes, it was true. He ate with sinners. But he didn’t leave them in their plight of being a sinner. He ate with them and revealed Himself to them, allowing for them to put their faith in Him and become one of His holy redeemed people, also called saints. Notice too, that those accusing Jesus of mingling with sinners had no concept of a sinner’s deepest need — that being the saving power of God through Christ in their life to save them from their sins. They, in their self righteous accusations denied the redeeming power of God in Christ Jesus. And they remained in their sin and died as sinners, eternally condemned. Righteous in themselves, but unrighteous before God. They did not claim the free gift of salvation by faith, and missed out on being clothed with the righteousness of Jesus.

This bears striking similarity to those who go by the name of Christian, but continue to call themselves “sinners”, thus declaring God’s work of making us a new creation in Christ, a fail. This must stop. It is a path of unbelief and leads to destruction.

For many, their ignorance is not on the reality of sin, but on the reality of God.

Rob Bonefaas

Perhaps it’s comfortable to declare oneself a (miserable) sinner on a regular basis. That way there’s no prompting towards change and no call to walk in holy obedience as a saint of God in the power of the Spirit.

Our identity as God’s people is that we are saints, a holy people, a people belonging to God (1 Peter 2:9-10). His possession. And our corporate identity is a “communion of saints” (Apostles Creed).

No, we are not free from sin, but we are free from the power of sin; it no longer has mastery over us and we no longer identify with it. As saints we flee from sin, and pursue righteousness and holiness and identify with Christ. Again, not in our power, but in the power of Christ in us.

“It is not a matter of doing our best for Him, but of Christ being His best in us.”

Major W. Ian Thomas

The New Testament is loaded with reference to the people of God as saints. Here are a few examples from a quick search.

Saints at Jerusalem; saints who lived in Lydda; I (Paul as sinner)…locked up many of the saints; to all those in Rome…called to be saints; the Spirit intercedes for the saints; contribute to the needs of the saints; I am…bringing aid to the saints; acceptable to the saints; in a way worthy of the saints; greet all the saints; to those sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be saints; as in all the churches of the saints; collection for the saints; to the service of the saints; with all the saints in the whole of Achaia; to the saints who are in Ephesus; your love toward all the saints.

You get the point? And there are many more (no less than 65 times in the NT).

And for all the times “sinner” is used in the NT it is never used for those who are redeemed of God.

Do you still doubt that Christ has moved you from sinner to saint? That Christ has given you a new identity? That you are a NEW creation?

Are you willing to live into this new identity in Christ as a saint? Or do you insist on remaining in a former identity as a sinner?

Be careful. This decision has eternal consequences. And your identity will shape everything you do.

Sinner… or saint?

For additional elaboration, see the writings of James P. Shelley… click here.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash