“I am a sinner”

I am a sinner.  I saw this in a friend’s post today.  It provoked me to thought.

What does it mean to be a sinner?  The Bible says that ALL have sinned.  We have all fallen short.  That is absolutely true.  What is not true is that I AM a sinner.  Sin is no longer my identity.

Well, if I’m not a sinner, who am I?  The truth is . . . I’m a saint.  Whoooooaaaaa!  Hold it right there!

Are you saying you are without fault?  Of course not.  I often wrestle with impatience and anger, among other things, but that is not who I am.  No, I identify with Christ, the one who shed his blood to make me right with the Father.  Because I chose to receive this gift of salvation through Jesus, I am right with God.

I used to see my salvation kind of like this.  Christ’s blood washed my slate clean, and now it’s my job to keep it that way.  That perspective was pretty depressing.  It depended on me being perfect.

Now I see it this way.  My job is to look into the Father’s eyes, to see how my attitudes, thoughts and actions are affecting his heart and then to respond accordingly.  I have the privilege of coming boldly before him, handing him my broken places and trusting him to give grace for this day, for this moment.

This is what God wants for you.  It was never God’s plan for us to do life on our own.  We were always meant to come to him just as we are.

If you see yourself as a sinner, I have good news.  The Father has a new identity for you.  Come to him today.