Saint and Sinner

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10 NRSV)

Just about every Sunday, we are reminded during confession that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Then following confession, we are reassured that our sins are forgiven. We are cleansed of our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ. Christians are well aware that we are "simul justus et peccator," both saint and sinner. We do not always do what we know we ought to be doing. But, we also know as we confess our sins that we are forgiven. We know that we are sanctified by the blood of Jesus.

However, when it comes to personal confessions, I find it truly frustrating to hear someone's confession and the confession ends up sounding more like they are confessing for someone else. There are some who simply cannot 'fess up. They are always right and everyone else is wrong. They will not confess their own sins. Rather, they end up confessing the sins of others. I'm not sure how they think this is working for them. There are times when I long to be back working within the correctional system again. There they have already been convicted of their sins and many are eager to be absolved of their sins. But, within the community of those baptized into the church, I often see attempts to cover sins committed by blaming someone else or flat out lying about what one did or didn't do. If we truly want to be cleansed of our sins, we first have to admit that we are sinners.

Help us, Lord, to recognize our sin that we might repent and turn to You.

God's Peace - Pr. J

A New Day In Christ

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

                 2 Corinth 5:17 NIV

It is the first day of a new year. What has changed since yesterday? The answer for most of us is probably not much. But, over the many years a lot has changed. Years ago, I would've been laying on the couch watching television, cooking cabbage, and generally doing nothing. Today, I find that most of my family, including myself is working.

Many of you have made new year's resolutions. You have resolved to try to change something in your life this new year. I quit making them years ago. I find that I cannot wait for a new year to change. I have found that it is best to take an inventory daily; confessing my sins and resolving to try to change so that I don't keep committing them, with the help and by the power of the Holy Spirit. When I became a child of God, I did not become perfect. I still make mistakes. I still sin. But, I am also a saint (as all who believe are) because the blood of Christ washes away my sins. The blood of Christ sanctifies me.

Most of you (I hope) have changed over the years. It is not very fruitful for you or anyone else for you to not grow and change. We must change.  We must grow in Christ. Who would want to live life as a child for the rest of their lives? And, so it is as new creations, as well. When the new comes with rebirth; the old man in us is washed away. But, we are still  infants in Christ. We will grow in him, slowly but surely, if we have truly been reborn into the Body of Christ. (Yes, there are plenty of imposter Christians - wolves in sheep clothing) The new creation in Christ cannot help but grow by the power of the Spirit of Christ that abides in each of us; by the power of the Holy Spirit that regenerates us to be more like Christ each and every day.

Those of us who know Christ; who abide in him and he in us have changed drastically over the years. Little by little we have grown in him. Slowly but surely we have changed with time.  

If you can look back at your life and see that you have not changed; then please turn to Christ that he might help you grow and live life more abundantly, according to the will of our Father in heaven, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Have a blessed new year and may you continue to grow in faithfulness and love toward God and one another.

God's Peace - Pr. Judy