sinner & saint
May 22nd, 2008 by Nathanael
This morning, I was praying for some things and was struck once again by my lack of intimate fellowship with my Redeemer. I said, “How do you put up with me, Lord?” He quickly reminded me that He loves me and is well-pleased with me through the merits and life and death and resurrection and intercession of Jesus, His Son and my Savior. But I couldn’t shake the sense that I disappoint Him time and time and time again.
It takes only a cursory look at the gospels to see how the disciples, in the face of everything Jesus was saying and doing, doubted and fell short. And it takes even less time to spot those areas in our own lives where we are sadly faithless in view of the matchless grace and unspeakably wonderful mercy of our Lord and God.
And yet, He says, “You are all fair my love. There is no spot in you.”
Have you ever talked with a brother or sister in Christ, and all they can speak of is their sin? They don’t seem to realize that our Lord does not define them by their sin, but by who they are in Jesus Christ. Have you ever talked with someone, and all they can speak of it who they are in Christ, seemingly oblivious to the depravity of their flesh? They don’t seem to be able to relate to what it means to be engaged in spiritual warfare.
I’ve been guilty of both. We walk a strange balancing act as followers of Christ. We know deep down inside just how evil our flesh is, while we know with full assurance we are accepted in Christ, forgiven and righteous. One is not right and one wrong. I am a sinner. And I am a saint.
I’m a sinner and I’m a saint,
I am not one or the other.
I am free yet bound in restraints,
I’m a rebel. I’m a brother.
I’m fully depraved,
Yet fully saved,
Not part evil and part pure.
I am redeemed,
I am obscene,
Neither part can be ignored.
I’m a sinner and I’m a saint,
I am not one or the other.
I am free yet bound in restraints,
I’m a rebel. I’m a brother.
Completely undone,
An adopted son,
A guilty and forgiven man.
The worst of the worst,
I’m blest and I’m cursed
And washed in the blood of the Lamb.
I’m a sinner and I’m a saint,
I am not one or the other.
I am free yet bound in restraints,
I’m a rebel. I’m a brother.
.
This simple fact changes the way I live my life…or at least it should.
