{"id":1125,"date":"2024-12-17T15:31:37","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T22:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandilangston.com\/?p=1125"},"modified":"2024-12-17T21:54:08","modified_gmt":"2024-12-18T04:54:08","slug":"dear-christian-you-are-a-saint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandilangston.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/17\/dear-christian-you-are-a-saint\/","title":{"rendered":"Dear Christian, You are a Saint"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Mom, that guy is a baddie because he drove through a red light. He doesn\u2019t love Jesus.\u201d<\/strong> Sometimes I envy the black-and white thinking of my almost-four-year-old. If only our status as sinner or saint was as simple to figure out.<\/span><\/p>\n

In my son\u2019s thinking, I am a goodie \u2013 I\u2019m his mom, after all. But what happens when I<\/em> run a red light, as I unwittingly did last week? Does that make me a baddie? At my son’s age, he needs mutually exclusive categories. In his world, I can\u2019t be both a goodie and a baddie! As he matures, he will begin to appreciate more complexity and come to understand that a goodie can do bad things, and vice versa.<\/span><\/p>\n

We make the same mistake when it comes to defining ourselves as sinners or saints.<\/strong> Clearly we are not perfect saints, so in our immature understanding we reason the only remaining option is that we are sinners. We accept the label of sinner and live condemning ourselves<\/a> over the guilt of not reaching an impossible standard of perfection.<\/span><\/p>\n

But as those who follow Jesus, we are not either<\/em> saints or<\/em> sinners: we are both!<\/strong> This is one of the many paradoxes in Christianity. Without understanding it is a paradox, we become conflicted and confused inside, mistake our identity, and live according to only half of the truth.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Paradox<\/span><\/h2>\n

In a paradox, two truths seem to contradict. We would think that the reality is simple: if one statement is true, it should mean the other is false. But this is not so with a paradox. In a paradox both statements are true<\/strong>, and to begin to understand it we must try to grasp both truths. Instead of a clear, black-and-white understanding, we will find that a world of color opens before us.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Bible is full of paradoxes. We marvel that Jesus is both lion and lamb. He is son of God and son of man. Those who are first will be last, and vice versa, and the least servant of all is the greatest of all. That we Christians are both sinners and saints is another of these biblical paradoxes.<\/span><\/p>\n

We are Sinners<\/span><\/h2>\n

I don\u2019t need to remind us that we are sinners. That truth is all too familiar. We know our shortcomings, try to hide our sins, and feel ashamed of our temptations and idols. We try all sorts of things to alleviate guilt over sin.<\/span><\/p>\n

To be human is to be a sinner,<\/strong> whether we are Christian or not (though there is one exception: Jesus!) For true Christians, being a sinner is not our primary identity. It is only one half of the paradox.<\/span><\/p>\n

Note: \u201csinner\u201d is not the same as \u201cwicked\u201d or \u201cevil\u201d or \u201cfoolish.\u201d We can love Jesus and be a sinner (we all are), but punishment is reserved for the wicked \u2013 the baddies, those who have not put their faith in Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhoever believes in him [the Son of God \u2013 Jesus] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the God\u2019s one and only Son,\u201d <\/em>John 3:18.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a Saint?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Contrary to popular belief, saints are not<\/em> perfect people.<\/strong> All who regard Jesus as their Lord are saints.<\/strong> Paul addressed some of his letters to \u201cthe saints, the faithful who are in Christ Jesus\u201d (see Ephesians 1:1).<\/span><\/p>\n

The moment we decide to make Jesus our Savior and our Lord, we become saints. God forgives us and makes us new. Our sin-stained selves are cleansed and clothed in robes of Christ\u2019s righteousness. We become part of the Church, the body of Christ. We would not be able to be \u201cin Christ\u201d if we were still blemished by sin. Sainthood is attained by our position in Christ, not our actions.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

There is some confusion around the idea of being a \u201csaint\u201d for two reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n