Are you a sinner or saint?
How would you answer that question? Personally, I lean much more towards sinner. But as we look at Scripture and better understand our identity in Christ, does that change the answer? When we grapple with what Christ did through his life, death, and resurrection, does that impact how we see ourselves? Is this just a theological debate or does it truly affect how we live the Christian life?
I am reading The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith. His chapter entitled, "God Transforms" addresses the title of this post. Smith argues that our narratives of being a sinner are false. Before you get upset, he believes we still sin, but wonders if focusing on being a sinner fits with what Christ did on the cross and the rest of the New Testament . He reminds us that we are not under the power of sin any longer. He says, "God is no longer dealing with you on the basis of your sin." I look forward to discussing more of the details of this chapter during the Sunday School Class I am teaching on this topic in a few months.
But I want to leave you with a quote from the chapter. It was so powerful that I wanted to share it with you. The quote comes from John of Kronstadt, a nineteenth-century Russian Orthodox priest, who went to the streets to help and minister to people. As he would help those on the streets dealing with a hangover he would say, "This is beneath your dignity. You were meant to house the fullness of God."
How would things change in our lives if we saw ourselves in this way?
I am reading The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith. His chapter entitled, "God Transforms" addresses the title of this post. Smith argues that our narratives of being a sinner are false. Before you get upset, he believes we still sin, but wonders if focusing on being a sinner fits with what Christ did on the cross and the rest of the New Testament . He reminds us that we are not under the power of sin any longer. He says, "God is no longer dealing with you on the basis of your sin." I look forward to discussing more of the details of this chapter during the Sunday School Class I am teaching on this topic in a few months.
But I want to leave you with a quote from the chapter. It was so powerful that I wanted to share it with you. The quote comes from John of Kronstadt, a nineteenth-century Russian Orthodox priest, who went to the streets to help and minister to people. As he would help those on the streets dealing with a hangover he would say, "This is beneath your dignity. You were meant to house the fullness of God."
How would things change in our lives if we saw ourselves in this way?
Comments
Post a Comment