The title of March 4th’s devotion was “Who am I?” In it, I described, as the bible does, those in Christ as saints. I wanted to touch on that word a little deeper.
For many who read that, and even I who wrote that, think, “wait a minute, saint? I’m no saint!” The fact of the matter, fact because the bible says so, is if you are in Christ, have surrendered yourself to Him, believe God raised Him from the dead, choose to follow Him, you are indeed a saint.
Now, having said that, this is a cautionary tale. Before you get a little puffed up, proud and think too much of yourself, read this…
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV)
Even, though the bible says that we are saints, it’s not because of anything we have done. It’s all His doing, His gift, His work, His love, His purpose. Even the work we do for Him was prepared and laid out by Him. His!
Consequently, we are no better than anyone else, including those not in Christ, just exceedingly fortunate.
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:11-13 (NKJV)
It is imperative that we saints recognize and remember that we too were once lost, dead to sin the same as any other. I find myself easily prone to slipping into the notion that I’m doing pretty darn good. “I’m going to church, reading the word, praying, tithing, watching my language, lending a helping hand, spreading the gospel. I’m trying really hard to do what God would want. Oh I slip up, sure, but at least I’m not doing what that guy’s doing!” We can’t do that, can’t think that way. We are no better, no worse. Anything we accomplish is His doing, His work, His glory. With humility I must say, “thank You Lord Jesus, praise God, You are great! To think that You just accomplished that using a man such as me!” After all, saved or not, we are all created in His image. The only thing that separates us is our receipt of His glorious gift of grace.
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:14-18 (NKJV)
For those of us in Christ, we are saints, because the bible says so, because God made it so, not because we are better than the next person or did anything special. For any not in Christ reading this, let Jesus break down that wall of separation, accept that glorious gift of grace He has for you. None are more or less worthy than the next. He made a way for all to be saints, all we have to do is recognize it and say “YES Lord, I accept. Thank You God!” If God can use a man such as me, there’s hope for all! Take care and God Bless you all!
In full pursuit of the greatest Trophy,
Scott Pace
