At times there are churches that paint a clear dividing line between those they consider the “saints” and those they consider the “sinners.” The saints would be those who are good enough on their own, and the sinners would be all the rest who aren’t such great people. When Jesus was on earth in human form that same division was present, especially among the Pharisees and others who saw themselves on the “saintly side” as opposed to the common people who were on the “sinful side.”
Is that division real? Jesus often spoke against it! He directed the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector at some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else (Luke 18:9). In Jesus’ teaching all – without exceptions – need the Lord’s mercy. Even the most saintly among us.
In his introduction to Psalm 32, Martin Luther wrote: “Here stand the clear plain words: All the saints are sinners and remain sinners. But they are holy because God in His grace neither sees nor counts these sins, but forgets, forgives, and covers them. There is thus no distinction between the saints and the non-saints.”
Are we sinners? Yes! Are we saints? Yes, in the forgiveness and grace of God. All are sinful, and all have the possibility of being saints through faith in Christ Jesus.
The Apostle John reflects the same teaching when he encourages us not to sin, but then also immediately recognizes that we all will. So he points us to our Advocate.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)
We have a wonderful message to share! No one starts out “better” than anyone else, and at the same time we all have the open door to fully being saints in Jesus Christ, our Savior.