Saints Sometime Sin

 March 16, 2024

Saturday

I can never forget that I am a saint that sometimes sins. A lot of people want to emphasize that Christians are saints. I would like to balance that thought a bit.

Knowing that you have sinned keeps you from being puffed up. It doesn't take too long for us to think that we are more than we are. People who think they are sinless look down on the rest of the world. They may witness to the lost but also treat them like they are not as loved by God as the self-proclaimed sinless person. It is necessary to know that we were in the same place as they are. It is here that we know the grace of God and we have the grace of God to share with them.

People who think they are sinless see no reason to confess their sins. After all, they don't have any. Too many people will admit that they are sinners because they know that's the correct answer but cannot think of one sin. They lack confession because they have become calloused toward sin. They are no longer sensitive to its affect. Sure, they can still see the sins of others but theirs seem to be hidden. Daily confession brings sin to mind. Coupled with repentance God cleanses us from all unrighteousness when we confess. But confession must have a realization what must be confessed. Thus, the saint finds himself often in confession.

Realizing that you are a saint that sins reveals the word of God in you. There is an amazing contrast between what God's word says and what we actually practice. When His word is in us, we recognize our own failures. We call the Lord truth when this happens. At the time, that may not seem positive. But please consider the person who fails to see his sin. He has called the Lord a liar and God's word is not in him. Which one would you rather be?

Knowing that you have sinned but that the Lord offers cleansing simply by our confession which includes repentance (the true meaning of the word "confess") makes you realize the love of God and His abundant grace. Jesus paid for all of your sins but we separate ourselves when we walk in unrighteousness. We don't lose our salvation but we do lose that intimate relationship that we had. When we realize what we have done and confess we realize that we don't deserve to be forgiven again. We should have known better. Yet, God cleanses us once again and invites us to fellowship with Him.

I am not glad that I am a sinner. I am glad that I recognize it. This is the only way I can continue to walk with my Lord.

1 John 1:10 (NASB 2020) ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.