When I was about 18 years old, I had this discussion in my Grandma’s kitchen. I had declared, “We are saints in Christ,” and she kept saying, “No, we are sinners.” It went back and forth a few times, and neither of us changed our minds. Several decades later, I’m having this discussion with myself. Funny thing is that I had skimmed over for many years the part where Paul called himself Chief of Sinners. Paul also wrote we inherited God’s promises of a firstborn son, acting with great authority. In other words, a saint.
Still God left Paul with a reminder, a thorn, and in paraphrased words, my grace is sufficient for you. My spiritual food for today was realizing Jesus declared multiple times that all is finished. This comes by accepting God’s promises like Abraham did. By God’s spoken words, I now carry the image of Jesus, the perfect one. A new creation. So when I fail, struggle, question or any manner have a problem, I have help. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ro 8:26–28.
One more thing. Luke 19:40 …Rocks will cry out… We might see ourselves as ordinary, yet certain ordinary-looking rocks viewed with ultraviolet light will glow with brilliant colors. Under God’s light in our redeemed lives, Jesus glows within us, all essential elements in place, a finished work.
