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This study is meant to help us all become more fully who we already are. Sound confusing? Aren’t I what I appear to be? Not always. I usually try to be as genuine as I can, but there are times when I catch myself role-playing, trying to be someone I’m not in an attempt to fit in and meet others’ expectations. That’s not only confusing to me and contradictory to those who know me well, but unrealistic and unfair to those just meeting me.

So who are we – really? In trying to understand who I really am or should be, I look to God’s word – only to be confused some more; for the Bible declares me to be a sinner and a saint! How can I be both?

In referring to Mary’s unborn son, the angel announcing his birth specifically told Joseph that Jesus would, “…save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 Paul succinctly defining who sinners are in Romans 3:10 & 23, “There is no one righteous, not even one; …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” John pointing out that, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”; insisting that the place to start in any attempt at redemption is the confession of our own inadequacies and sinfulness. For, “If we claim we have not sinned, we make (God) out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” But, “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8,9, 10 (See also James 2:10)

A founding principle of Old Testament law was that the penalty of sin or rebellion against God’s will was death, “…the law require(ing) that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22 (See Leviticus 17:11) But that’s an Old Testament requirement, don’t we live under the New Covenant of love? Absolutely. But Paul reminds us that regardless of the covenant we live under, “The wages of sin is death,…” Romans 6:23a

So how do we escape the consequences of a less-than-perfect life? Scripture assuring us that, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 Because God’s justice demanded that the guilty pay for their sin, God’s love devised a way for us to appear just in his presence; the solution being substitution. As such, we are “…freely justified by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:24 (See also Acts 13:39 & Romans 5:1 & 9) For, “You see, at just the right time… Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly die. But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8 The key being our willingness to confess before God our guilt in sinfulness, a desire to repent of that sin (Matthew 4:17; Luke 13:3; Acts 3:36-38 & 17:30), turning from those sinful thoughts and actions (Galatians 5:19-21) to those of a Spirit-controlled believer (Galatians 5:22,23); accepting God’s gift of grace (Romans 6:23b) and Jesus’ mercy offered through his actions on the cross. As, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

The problem being, at least in part, I keep on sinning! I don’t do so blatantly or intentionally (usually), but I’m not perfect by any stretch of the imagination either. Why? Simply put, I possess – or am possessed by – depending on my state of grace, a sin-nature. Which is best defined as an inherent selfishness that demands its own will and way. Yet, “What the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering…” For, “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires… Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.” Romans 8:3-9 As such, we must begin to, “…count (our)selves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” Romans 6:11, as we begin to grasp the concept that, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24; producing fruit in keeping with repentance (See Lk., 3:8 Matthew 7:16 & John 15:1,2 & 5,6); at the urging of the new Spirit within us. (John 14:25,26 & Galatians 5:22,23)

So, “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1 For, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sin is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment…” Hebrews 10:26,27 “Let us fix our eyes (then) on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross… Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2,3

Check back next week to find out more on how to become more of what we already are.

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

Experience and Understand the Significance of Pentecost