“ST” Moving From Sheep Thieves (Sinners) to Saints
1 Corinthians 1:1-4 “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus”
Illus: A long time ago 2 boys living in England were caught stealing sheep. The punishment for such a crime was death, but their mother pleaded for their lives citing their young ages. The village elders spared their lives, but as punishment their foreheads were branded with large bold letters – “ST” – for sheep thief. For the rest of their lives people would know what they had done simply by looking at them. This stigma was too much for the older brother, and he ran… from village to village, but he couldn’t escape the stigma of his brand. Eventually, in despair, he took his life. The younger brother knew he couldn’t change his past actions, but he could, and did, give his heart to Christ and resolved to live the best life he could in His grace. Years went by, one day a stranger came into the village. He sat in the village square to rest and noticed an old man with a strange mark on his forehead. He asked someone near by what it meant. The person replied, “its been so long I don’t recall the whole story. But I know that man and I think the letters on his forehead – “ST” – stand for saint.”
The perspective had changed, he had moved from Sheep Thief to Saint.
62 times both the Old and New Testaments refer to “the saints”, and tell us some facts about saints:
“As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” Psalm 16:3
“But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” Daniel 7:18
“I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints” Daniel 7:21
“and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised” Matthew 27:52
Clearly, saints are God’s people that He delights in, they live on earth though some have fallen asleep in Jesus and are sleeping (dead) in the grave; they are attacked by Satan and the antichrist; the sleeping saints will be raised to life on resurrection morning, and along with the living saints, they will inherit God’s kingdom.
But the saints are not just “any people”!
A saint is a former sinner who has chosen to be reborn in Christ – they are baptized by water and the Spirit.
Paul addressed some of his other epistles to the “saints” of those churches (see Eph 1:1; Col. 1:2).
As Paul writes to the Corinthian church from Ephesus (1 Cor 16:8), he is fully aware of the struggles the Corinthian church is facing – it was established during his 2nd missionary journey, he had worked in Corinth for 18 months.
Paul had a twofold purpose in writing this epistle, it was:
1) To reprove for their backsliding.
2) To give instruction/explanation/clarification of the gospel, and the beliefs and practices of true believers.
In the book Acts of the Apostles, we are given this insight into the importance of studying this epistle to the Corinthians: “Then, putting aside all personal feelings over the course of those whose conduct revealed such strange perverseness, and keeping his soul stayed upon God, the apostle wrote to the church at Corinth one of the richest, most instructive, most powerful of all his letters.” AA 300.4
Corinth was a hub of commerce. It was a port hub that had the vices of sea ports, and more so. The city had a reputation for its licentiousness. There was even a legal requirement that 1,000 beautiful young women would work as public prostitutes before the temple of its chief deity, Aphrodite, the goddess of love.
God needed a light shining in a dark place; He needed living saints.
1 Corinthians 1:1-4 “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified (Grk: Hagiazo -separated/dedicated/made holy) in Christ Jesus, called to be saints (Grk: Hagios –holy ones), with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus”
What makes Paul’s addressing the Corinthian church members as saints especially amazing, and encouraging, is what he says later in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11a,
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you.”
Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase “hate the sin but love the sinner. Friends, we are living in a world that is becoming increasingly tolerant of sin and intolerant of those who call sin what it is, but Paul doesn’t mince words. Neither did John the Baptist (Matt 3:2) or Jesus (Matt 4:17) when they said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.
Repent means to turn away from sin.
But it wasn’t just the city, those sins Paul mentioned had been the conditions of the hearts and lives of the church members. But they had made a choice to come out of the world to be citizens of God’s kingdom, to walk in Christ’s steps, to live Christ’s heavenly culture. They were not perfect, they were still in the process of sanctification, and they were called God’s saints.
Do you mind if I go a bit “old school” for a moment, maybe I should say “old tech” with my white board and markers. Whenever I give Bible studies with someone, I eventually draw out and explain this diagram because I have found people find it very helpful – many people tend to be visual learners.
Illus: Diagram: Lost => Salvation; Sinner => Saint While Justification is the entire process of salvation, we usually describe it and think of it in three parts: Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification. Justification happen as soon as the heart is surrendered to Christ & Sanctification continues to happen as the life remains surrendered to Christ and walking with Him in His truth and leading. Glorification happens at the second coming.
Justification: Heart surrendered to Christ
Allow me to share some quick observations of Scripture’s teachings:
Rom 3:10,23. We are all sinners
Prov 14:12. We can’t do anything but sin in our own strength
1 Jn 3:4 & Jam 4:17. Defines what sin is: breaking God’s law; violating our conscience (the Holy Spirit’s leadings)
Rom 6:23 The result of sin is eternal death
Isa 53:4-6; Jn 3:16; 1 Pet 2:24; Eph 2:8-9; Rom 5:8 We have an essential need for Christ; God’s love for us is sacrificial
1 John 5:11-13. We can have the assurance of salvation
Sadly, this is where most Christians stop. The sentiment seems to be: “you’re saved”, no need to worry. “once saved, always …”
Do you remember the radio host Paul Harvey, and his famous phrase: “now for the rest of the story”? The Bible has more to the story too ….
1 John 1:9. We have the power of choice. If we exercise our faith by choosing to repent/confess our sins, God will do two things for us: First He will forgive us (Justification), and secondly, He will cleanse us (Sanctification) He will begin to remove the desire of sin from our heart. He imbues us with His power for victory over sin so we can reflect Christ’s character.
Sanctification: Life surrendered to Christ
Allow me to share some more quick observations of Scripture’s teachings:
1 Peter 2:21 Jesus is our example in all things. A person who loves God for setting them free from sin and its condemnation will begin to look to Jesus as their example, walking with Him and emulating His lifestyle, in the grace and power He gives them
Col 3:6-7 Once we receive Christ we must walk with Him & in His footsteps. Christ’s expectation, and knowledge, is that those who have received Him will continue to walk with Him wherever He leads them even if it results in many, and some huge, lifestyle changes. With joyful hearts they will keep learning and following God’s will and truth.
Jn 1:12 The power needed to walk with Christ and in His steps is not something we have in us by nature, but receive by grace. It is a gift He gives to those who chose to receive Him into their heart.
Illus: A pastor once said: “When I look at my wretchedness and that of other sinners, I don’t understand how anyone can be saved. But when I look at God’s love and mercy, and the Sacrifice of Christ, I don’t understand how any one can be lost.”
Satan knows how simple the gospel is, and how certain God’s power for salvation is, so he will do all he can to keep you distracted from Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith …
The Parable of the Sower is recorded in Matt 13:18-23; Mark 4:1-9; & Luke 8:9,11-15. Allow me to quickly break down the main points:
The Seed = God’s Word that fell on 4 different typos of hearers
1) The Wayside = those who hear but don’t understand or receive God’s word (1 Cor 2;14)
2) The Stony = those who hear and receive (salvation), but fall away c/o trials. So much for once saved, always ….
3) The Thorny = those who hear and receive (salvation), but fall away c/o the world’s pleasures & cares
4) The Good = those who hear, understand, receive salvation, and bear fruit!
Which group of the 4 would be the saints?
In Philippians 2:12-13, Paul said “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Are YOU working too hard?
Illus: A hardworking lumberjack had bought his first chain saw. It was supposed to cut ten cords of firewood a day. He tried for three days but struggled to cut even a few, so he took it back to the store; he wanted his money back. The store clerk suggested they check to make sure the saw was working properly. That seemed fair, so the lumberjack told him to go ahead. The clerk pushed the primer, set the choke, and gave a big yank on the starter. When the saw roared to life the startled lumberjack yelled, “What’s all that noise?”
That story reminds me of something I read:.
“Christ’s followers have no need to try to shine. If they will behold constantly the life of Christ, they will be changed in mind and heart into the same image. Then they will shine without any superficial attempt. The Lord asks for no display of goodness. In the gift of His Son, He has made provision that our inward lives may be imbued with the principles of heaven. It is the appropriation of this provision that will lead to a manifestation of Christ to the world. When the people of God experience the new birth, their honesty, their uprightness, their fidelity, their steadfast principles will unfailingly reveal it. O what words were spoken to me! What gentleness was recommended through the grace abundantly given! The greatest manifestation that men and women can make of the grace and power of Christ is made when the natural man becomes partaker of the divine nature and, through the power that the grace of Christ imparts, overcomes the corruptions that are in the world through lust.” Ms31, 1908
Friends, the way we “work out” our salvation is simply by making continual choices: to abide in Christ; to rely on His grace and power; to walk with Him. Certainly, there are times when those choices are hard and require fervent prayer and faith.
But the result is worth it to “hear” the words “such were some of you” – that’s how you were but not any more by God’s grace!
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you.” But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
If you make those choices, God promises to give you a new heart, and a new spirit
Ezekiel 36:26 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”
“When Jesus speaks of the new heart, He means the mind, the life, the whole being. To have a change of heart is to withdraw the affections from the world, and fasten them upon Christ. To have a new heart is to have a new mind, new purposes, new motives. What is the sign of a new heart?–a changed life. There is a daily, hourly dying to selfishness and pride (YI Sept. 26, 1901). {4BC 1164.10}
“One of the most earnest prayers recorded in the Word of God is that of David when he plead, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” God’s response to such a prayer is, A new heart will I give you. This is a work that no finite man can do. Men and women are to begin at the beginning, seeking God most earnestly for a true Christian experience. They are to feel the creative power of the Holy Spirit. They are to receive the new heart, that is kept soft and tender by the grace of heaven. The selfish spirit is to be cleansed from the soul. They are to labor earnestly and with humility of heart, each one looking to Jesus for guidance and encouragement. Then the building, fitly framed together, will grow into a holy temple in the Lord” (Letter 224, 1907). {4BC 1165.1}
Illus: A father and son were working on their old English farm home’s high steep roof, the young son lost his balance. The father could not react fast enough and in horror he watched as his son rolled off the peak and fell off. The father feared the worst, as he rushed to the roof’s edge. Other workers also rushed over to where they found the boy… he was alive and well. He had landed on one of the family sheep who broke the fall. The sheep died but saved the boy’s life.
Appeal: Friends, you can fall on Jesus, and be saved, or you will ultimately be lost! But you must also continue to walk in Him!
Have you chosen salvation in Jesus? Are you continuing your race, your journey with Christ, or are you returning to your past, your old “mud-holes”, your old “vomit” (2 Pet 2:21)?
My friend, may God richly bless you as He sanctifies you, making you His saint in Jesus Christ!
Did you know there are over 3,000 promises in the Bible? Promises God gave to help you become and remain His saint!
“as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:3-4