Monday, March 5, 2012

The Only Difference

"The only difference between saints and sinners is that every saint has a past while every sinner has a future." -Oscar Wilde

While Oscar Wilde is by no means a theologian, I think this quote captures an essential truth of the gospel. The primary difference between someone who is a Christian (saint) and an unbeliever (sinner) is not behavior modifications or external self-improvement, though those will occur. The primary difference is one of position. Positionally, a saint is one who, despite the fact that they still sin, stands as justified before a holy and righteous God, solely on the basis of Christ's finished work, on whom the saint has fully trusted themselves' to. A sinner is one who, regardless of how well intentioned their life has been, is trusting in their own goodness in order to please God.


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