Sinners and Saints
Week two - We’re All Saints
1 Corinthians 1:1-3 (NIV, ESV, and The Message) and 1 Peter 1:15-16
Bottom line: We’re not saints because we live differently. We live differently because we are saints.
Last week -
We’re all sinners. (the ugly side)
But, there is a hopeful side…Jesus died for sinners, making us death and resurrection people. Which means, we’re also
Saint - someone set aside for God’s holy purposes
Formally - saints are those recognized by the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, or the Anglican Church among others for extraordinary works of faith with very specific manifestations and miracles attributed to them
Examples: Saint Mother Teresa, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Augustine
Informally - it’s how we refer to people who seem to excel in goodness; as near to perfection as a human can be
Saint in NT context (“hagios”) = ordinary people who are putting their trust in Jesus
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 1:1-3 (NIV)
Holy = set apart
We’re not saints because we live differently
1-2 I, Paul, have been called and sent by Jesus, the Messiah, according to God’s plan, along with my friend Sosthenes. I send this letter to you in God’s church at Corinth, believers cleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God-filled life. I include in my greeting all who call out to Jesus, wherever they live. He’s their Master as well as ours!
3 May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours. —1 Corinthians 1:1-3 (The Message)
- Called and sent
- Cleaned up and set apart
We’re not saints because we live differently.
We live differently because we are saints.
1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 1:1-3 (ESV)
What makes you a saint? Calling on Jesus
Some of us are a little more comfortable with the idea of being a sinner than the idea of being a saint.
Sinner comes naturally.
Saint feels
15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. —1 Peter 1:15-22
What do saints do?
Love one another, deeply.
Not because you’re perfect. Not because they’re perfect.
But because you have been set apart by God and for God’s purposes.
Jesus said, “They will know you are my disciples if you love one another.”
Tom Conlon’s song, “Emmanuel”:
Go to the garden, hide when you have to.
Have a drink with the sinners and sing with the saints.
Blurry as the lines are, we’ll all get the picture.
This love is a picture I know you’re going to paint.
Emmanuel.