Sinner or Saint

Most people don’t think of themselves as either sinner or saint.  But the reality of the situation is they are one or the other.  There is no middle ground.  There is no spiritual Switzerland.  Bringing that point home can cause great pangs in the hearts of the lost and eternal joy in the souls of the redeemed.

We all were lost in our sins, apart from Christ. Our life was one of rebellion against a holy God. Even the very best we could give to God, if we were to try, would be filthy rags.  But the Bible says there are none who seek God.  No one.  Every person on earth seeks his or her own way.  And that’s why we stand condemned in our sin … bound for an eternal hell without hope.

Psalms 14:2-3 (NASB)
² The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there are any who understand,
Who seek after God.
³ They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.

As a sinner, we placed ourselves in the hands of an angry God who is just and requires justice.  Either we earned salvation by our own works (impossible to do because of His holy standards) or we face His righteous and just judgment.

Romans 6:23 (NASB)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God called to us with His love and extended to us grace and faith for salvation.  He loved us first.   He loved us when we completely unlovable.  He loved us while we still lived in open defiance to Him.  In spite of the ugliness of our sin, He chose us.  He selected us to be one of His children.  Through the sacrificial blood of the spotless Lamb, Jesus Christ, the Father extended to us mercy and redemption.  His atonement, if you accept His love offering, completely redeems you from the bondage to sin.

Romans 5:8 (NASB)
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 1:5 (NASB)
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

In Christ you are a new creation.  Your heart has been softened by the Holy Spirit and made alive again in Him.  For those who’ve been bought back you’ll see yourself referred to as His adopted, His beloved, His redeemed, and His saints.  Yes, saint.  Not of your own merit, but by His.

If you’ve surrendered your life to Him and asked Jesus to be your Lord, you’re His.  Forever.  If not, you’re not.  It’s cut and dried.  No Switzerland.  Sinner or Saint. Which one are you?

— Pastor Rick