Is it possible to be a Saint AND a Sinner?

[BlessedByTheBest]

neb,

 

i believe you have pinned the tail on the donkey here sister. 

 

what really matters is how God regards us, not our flawed perception of ourselves.

the only one worthy of separating the saint from the sinner is Christ who bore all sins on the cross.

if i sin, confess and repent then i am forgiven.

 

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 

Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 

 

if the Father sees us as seated with Christ in heaven, then we cannot be sinners!

 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

 

that means even we can't separate us from the Father's love in Christ. 

[nebula]

 

Yes, this is something I am learning to embrace in my heart as well - that God defines us by the righteousness of Christ, not by what flesh in me still needs to die.

 

(I've always defined myself by my flesh, the corrupt nature, not by who I am in Christ - and I've suffered chronic depression for a long time.)

 

It is quite remarkable, and even unbelievable, to think that I am a "saint"! But that truly is who I am to The Father! And this is how He sees me.

[Floatingaxe]

Amen neb!

 

If we were never saved by our good behaviour before we received Christ, how can we be rejected by God because of our less than good behaviour after we are saved by grace through faith? God looks on the heart, and the heart that has faith in Jesus is righteous and part of His family, regardless. The perfect Father doesn't abandon or reject His own adopted children.

[NeedYouLord]

Amen...Blessed, Neb and Floatingaxe, above...

 

Before I was saved and so lost...sin separated me from God...How can I be a sinner now-if God will never leave me or forsake me? And now have the withal to "ask" that I have help with the capture of my thoughts!!! And to not act on every thought that comes in my mind and feel like those thoughts are stronger than I am....I'm born again and have been made brand new and I have a renewed mind...a choice now!!! Not saying it was easy being changed because it wasn't...God had a work to do in me...but worth it? Beyond any words-worth it... Wow...I love ya'll...This discussion is so good...It took a long while in my walk before I believed the verses Floatingaxe listed...and it's like you don't even know when that "Jordan" is crossed...it's like one day the thought comes and The Work In Me has been completed...Whew!!! My my...I Love You Lord Jesus!!!

 

I'm reading a pretty deep book right now how The Shed Blood and The Holy Spirit Work Together...and how we can't stop The Working of both just because we aren't thinking about them at that very second...Amazing...I'm still up to my knees in it...Hahaha

 

My my, Lord Jesus Indwell Us Mightily For Your Glory...In The Name of Jesus, I Pray...Loving you In Him, Kathy

[Guest]

Even So

 

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

 

Come Quickly LORD Jesus

 

~

 

What do you believe makes us holy and righteous in God's eyes - our works and deeds, or the blood of Jesus over us?

 

 

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 1 Peter 1:18-20

 

~

 

Our Works

 

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23

 

God's Works

 

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

 

Our Righteousness

 

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6

 

God's Righteousness

 

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

 

So What Is The Hope Of The Called

 

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Titus 1:2

 

And Why Oh Why Would A Holy Holy God

 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

 

Love Such A Knuckle Headed Sheep As I

 

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalms 23:3

 

And Beloved What Can I Do For Him

 

What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?  I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. Psalms 116:12-13

[BlessedByTheBest]

Amen...Blessed, Neb and Floatingaxe, above...

 

Before I was saved and so lost...sin separated me from God...How can I be a sinner now-if God will never leave me or forsake me? And now have the withal to "ask" that I have help with the capture of my thoughts!!! And to not act on every thought that comes in my mind and feel like those thoughts are stronger than I am....I'm born again and have been made brand new and I have a renewed mind...a choice now!!! Not saying it was easy being changed because it wasn't...God had a work to do in me...but worth it? Beyond any words-worth it... Wow...I love ya'll...This discussion is so good...It took a long while in my walk before I believed the verses Floatingaxe listed...and it's like you don't even know when that "Jordan" is crossed...it's like one day the thought comes and The Work In Me has been completed...Whew!!! My my...I Love You Lord Jesus!!!

 

I'm reading a pretty deep book right now how The Shed Blood and The Holy Spirit Work Together...and how we can't stop The Working of both just because we aren't thinking about them at that very second...Amazing...I'm still up to my knees in it...Hahaha

 

My my, Lord Jesus Indwell Us Mightily For Your Glory...In The Name of Jesus, I Pray...Loving you In Him, Kathy

 

Hallelujah!

[Openly Curious]

Yes it is possible to be a saint and a sinner "but" not at the exact same time.   What I mean is that if you are doing what is right in your daily lives and in the sight of God then you are living a righteous life.  Which is being a living sacrifice to God which is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1-3).  This also is living by faith as those who are yielding themselves to doing what is right then they are the workers or doers of righteousness.  They have fruit unto holiness the end being everlasting life (Romans 6:11-22).   In saying that I "do not"  mean we can work our way to heaven by the good things we do as "our own" righteousness (what we think is right in our own eyes) is as filthy rages in the sight of God.  However if we follow and do what is right according to what God says is right and wrong then it is living by faith in what God has said and done for us by way of the cross as Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life. 

 

On the flip side even though (2 Corinthians 5:11-21) we have been made a new creature in Christ (a saint, partaker of the divine nature, adopted Jew, sons of God, the beloved, born again, strangers and pilgrims etc.,) that doesn't mean we escape "temptations"  that Satan will bring to a saint or child of God.  We are told and taught this in the Word of God in many many different passages of scripture in how we can and are drawn away into sin by "our own" lusts or desires for the things that are sinful in God's sight (James 1:2-18).   Again what God says is unrighteous (wrong doing, evil, wickedness, sin, iniquity, tresspasses, etc.,) if you give yourselves over to doing the things that are wrong then you become a doer of unrighteousness doing what is wrong.  Which this is "not"  living by faith or another way of putting it is you are not living "out"  your faith according to God's righteousness.

 

If a saint yields themselves to the temptations of sin then at that time they are a sinner.  What I mean by that is they became weak somewhere along their way and fell into commiting the sin.  When this happens the saint then needs to confess their sin to God and put it away and begin again doing what is right in God's sight.  If our conscious condemns us then we don't have confidence towards God to ask what we will before him (1 John 13-15).   The guilt and acknowledgement of our sin will keep us away from approaching God as it will take our confidence away to where we want approach God with our petitions. That is why it is important to repent and confess the sin we fell into because you will be forgiven and your conscious cleansed once again and your confidence in God will be restored to you.  Thus with good conscious towards God you can approach him with your petitions knowing he does hear you.

 

So it is possible to be a saint and sinner but not at the same time.  As one can't do what is right and wrong at the exact same time.  In the times of temptation we will either say "no" to the temptations and resist the devil.   Or we will say "yes" and give in to whatever it is that we are being tempted with that Satan will bring our way thus our faith gets shipwrecked (1 Timothy 1:19).  We will either yield to one or the other but not both at the exact same time.  A saint will not always (24/7) be tempted into doing what is wrong.  Satan will flee he will go away (James 4:5-7) if we do not give in or fall into the sin we are being tempted with.  But be assured Satan will come back again with temptations and we must stay on guard and keep our faith strong and built up in Christ (Jude 20-21). 

 

The saints of God will fail the grace of God we "will"  mess up and have times of weakness and "commit sin" (contrary to certain beliefs).  But the saints will give ourselves over to wrong doing which is unrighteousness (sin).   But God is gracious and will give us more grace and mercy if we repent and begin doing what is right again in his sight.  God will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (the wrong that we fell into) if we are faithful and just to confess our sins before him (1 John 1:5-10).  God will give us more grace and mercy if we will humble ourselves before him and confess our sin to him.  But if we remain proud and want ask for forgiveness (James 4:5-7) then the saint want receive cleansing and thus remains in their sin.  Which in turn they will have to give an account to God one day (2 Corinthians 5:10).

 

But for the good news to the saints is that one day we will put off corruption and be raised in incorruption (1 Corinthians 15:42-50) as we will have a new body in which sin and temptation will have no hold on for all eternity.  But while we are living in this flesh our earthly home or body the saints will continue to be suceptible to corruption (sin) and temptations.  The saints should know that our corruptible earthly body is only our temperal home (2 Corinthians 5:1-10).  But we will be changed in the moment in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:51-58) or be resurrected from the dead and be given an incorruptible body  When this mortal shall put on immorality the saints will live forever in a glorified body that will not be suceptible to sin and temptationa in the presence of God.  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven (2 Corinthians 4:17--5:1-10).

 

So my answer is yes and my hope is in Christ.  Temptations from Satan will be done away with one day and the saints will never again fail the grace of God.

[NeedYouLord]

I have been checked!!! Hahaha...In no wise do I consider myself-a totally finished work...Just wanted to clarify that...O God, You, have full reign to do with me as You will...Whew...And I want More of You!!! No...I want You to have more of me!!! Hallallujah!!!

[Openly Curious]

 

[FreeinChrist]

Sinners

Accepting

Immanuel

New

Testament

Sacrifice

 

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

Philippians 1:1