By Pastor Jon
The goal is to make this piece concise and precise. Miraculous. You can listen to Pastor Dan’s more extended “sermonation” from yesterday’s corporate worship – HERE.
In this piece, I am going to look to amplify in light of the following line – Simul Justus et Peccator.
Does this line “Simul Justus et Peccator” read befuddling to you? Probably. Because, it is Latin, which is Kiwi, for a dance routine! If simultaneously Saint and Sinner is also conceptual for your confused, the following words may prove helpful.
In one real sense, the Latin line before us should read perplexing, if you don’t correctly understand the how of each of these terms applies to the Christian. This may not be helped by the way this grammar speaks.
Therefore, the money line you need to understand is that you are not Saint and Sinner in exactly the same way!
Boom rocket.
In fact, one is the true you as a Christian, while the other is now your existential fraud. One is your past. The other is your present-to-undiminished-future. Only one is being who you are now. The other is practically denying what Christ has wrought. Only one is your proper noun. The other has become more like a Christian’s verb. It is what you do, but not who you are. That can just make this sound even more confusing, but this set-up reflects your identity.
You once were, in Adam (SINNER), but now you are, in Christ (SAINT).
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
The old man died when you were supernaturally and miraculously made alive in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, which is why this can not be your noun ever since.
But, as every Christian readily knows, there is a flesh principle inside each of our bodies that is still very much active, which is why this is still every Christian’s verb. Because only one is a Christian’s noun, this is the actual completed state of reality that the Christian must live out of, and then through. Only one is your living foundation.
Practically, that translates into becoming the foundation for spiritual warfare. The Enemy wants you to doubt Christ’s finished work, and then confuse you to the point where you fail to apply, and in light. And when you don’t understand, you tend to internally flicker between, “He loves me, He loves me not,” and you practically lose the Christian’s finished indicative, and the fully rested state of mind.
This should underscore why Jesus is the most real representative of our true humanity!
However, what still separates must be factored into this equation. Therefore, it could be better to say today for the Christian, “Simultaneously Saint and One who Still Sins.”
But, you are going to have to work the Latin on that, because, I am yet to be anything close to linguistically intimate.
I hope this short post helps.
If you are still confused, my cyber-door is always open!
For the Fame of His Name