SALVATION

"Are We
Sinners Saved by Grace
or
Called to be Saints?"

" . . . Beloved of God, CALLED (invited by the gospel; divinely appointed) TO BE SAINTS (holy ones) . . . " Romans 1:7b KJV (Capitals are mine for emphasis)

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS KIND OF STATEMENT IS THAT IT INDICATES THAT IN GOD'S EYES WE ARE STILL SINNERS

The truth on this matter is so clear in Scripture that it is amazing to find out how many are misinformed and confused on the subject. Sincere, but innocently ignorant believers will stand up and testify, thinking that they are being humble and spiritual, "I am just a sinner saved by grace". They feel that they are glorifying the Lord with this declaration, when in reality, they are diminishing the elevating power of His grace. Yes, we were--past tense--sinners, and it is true that by His grace alone, without good works of our own, we were saved. But, the problem with this kind of statement is that it indicates that in God's eyes we are still sinners. Nothing could be further from the truth.

WHEN THE FATHER LOOKS AT US, HE DOES NOT SEE US AS SINNERS WITH OUR WEAKNESSES, BUT "HE SEES JESUS", AND "HIS FINISHED WORK OF REDEMPTION IN US"

Upon the receipt of our confession of sin, asking Jesus to be our Savior and Lord, we are "justified", which means that in God's eyes, "it is just as though we had never sinned". God the Father declares that "we are the righteousness of God in Christ". This means that when the Father looks at us, He does not see us as sinners with our weaknesses, but "He sees Jesus", and "His finished work of redemption in us". God does not see "a sinner saved by grace" who is "so unworthy, and a creature who is repulsive and next to nothing". He sees us as part of His family, which is royalty, not some sinner who has been improved upon by His grace. Jesus did not come to fix us, but to make us brand new.

THIS CALL IS GIVEN WHILE WE ARE STILL ALIVE AND HERE ON EARTH

Religious people have been taught that certain holy people who have been confirmed to have performed at least one miracle during their lifetime, after an intensive investigation by the church, and 100 years after their death--with some notable exceptions--can become candidates for sainthood. No where in the Word of God is this taught. Instead, we have been "called"--invited by the gospel and divinely appointed--to be saints (holy ones). This call is given while we are still alive and here on Earth. God pronounces us as one of His saints the very moment He accepts us into the body of Christ.

IT IS NOT OUR HOLINESS, BUT HIS HOLINESS WHICH HE IS WORKING IN US, CHANGING OUR CHARACTER TO BE CONFORMED INTO HIS LIKENESS

Tell me, where in the Bible does it say that our position in Christ is known as "sinners saved by grace"? No, we are appointed to be "saints". It is not our holiness, but His holiness which He is working in us, changing our character to be conformed into His likeness. The Apostle Paul says that he was "the chiefest of sinners" before his conversion, but he certainly was not that after his experience of salvation. Repeatedly in the epistles those of us in the church without any special titles or designation are referred to as "saints".

IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE, BUT IT IS BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS

It is not my intention to offend anyone, but we do not have to wait for a famous artist to paint an oil portrait, with a halo around our head in order to be known as a saint. This does not mean that we in ourselves are "holy". It is the impartation of the holiness of Christ into our spirits which causes Him to issue His calling to be saints. It is not because of who we are, but it is because of Who He is. This is recognition of what true grace is all about.