Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

Saint or Sinner?

This entry was posted on 02-17-2007 and is filed under Devotional.

"To all who are in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints" (Romans 1:7 NIV).

Are you a saint or a sinner? "Saint" is found 101 times in Scripture while "sinner" appears 69 times. A sinner is what we used to be. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "Saint" was Paul's term of choice when he wrote to Christians. He even spoke of all the congregations of the saints (1 Cor. 14:33). He never addressed them as "sinners" though he did address the subject of sin.

You are precisely who God says you are in His word. You are not what Satan whispers in your ear. You are not what your flesh tries to tell you. Our text today reminds us we are loved by God and called to be saints. A saint is someone whom God has separated for service. Paul never sullied his salutations by calling those whom God has called "sinners." He repeatedly calls them saints (1Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2). I will deal with this subject more completely in my "Viewpoint" of the March 2007 Knowlesletter. If you are not getting The Knowlesletter, it is free for the asking at P. O. Box 275, Joplin, MO 64802. Ask and ye shall receive!