Understanding the Tension: Sinners and Saints - Navigating the Paradox of the Christian

The Christian life is filled with paradoxes and tensions. One of these paradoxes is the fact that as Christians, we are both sinners and saints. We have been transformed by the power of God's grace and made new in Christ, yet we still struggle with sin. It can be confusing and even discouraging at times, but understanding this tension is crucial for our growth and sanctification.

In order to better understand this paradox, we can turn to the teachings of Augustine of Hippo, a prominent theologian from the early church. Augustine provides a framework for understanding our relationship to sin based on the arc of salvation history - creation, fall, redemption, and consummation.

Before the fall, Adam had the ability to sin, and unfortunately, he did. His sin corrupted all of humanity, and as a result, we are now unable to not sin. Scripture describes us as dead in our sins, completely incapable of living righteously on our own. This is a sobering reality, but it is the starting point of our journey towards redemption.

Through Christ's death and resurrection, we are made alive and given the ability not to sin. The power of sin over us has been broken, and we are now able to resist its temptations. However, this does not mean that sin has completely disappeared from our lives. We still have the ability to sin, and as Christians, we still struggle with it.

This tension between our ability to sin and our ability not to sin can lead to two wrong reactions - prideful presumption and helpless despair. On one hand, we may become prideful and think that we can overcome sin on our own. We may become complacent and indifferent to the power of God's grace, thinking that we have everything under control. This is a dangerous mindset that underestimates the subtlety of sin and overestimates our own strength.

On the other hand, we may fall into a state of despair, feeling overwhelmed by our persistent sin. We may believe the lie that there is nothing we can do to overcome it, and so we give in to our sinful desires. This mindset is equally dangerous, as it denies the power of God's grace and leads us further into bondage.

So, how do we navigate this tension between our ability to sin and our ability not to sin? Augustine offers several insights that can help us in our journey.

Firstly, we need to recognize that our ability to resist sin is a gift from God. We cannot overcome sin through sheer willpower or our own efforts. It is only by the grace of the Holy Spirit working in us that we are able to resist temptation and do good works. Every victory over sin is accomplished by the power of God's grace at work within us.

Secondly, we need to understand that our ability to resist sin is real. It is not an illusion or a mere performance. When we resist sin, it is truly us resisting it. God's grace renews our minds and restores our fallen nature, giving us the ability to choose righteousness. We are not passive bystanders in the fight against sin; we are active participants, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

However, it is important to note that our ability to resist sin is incomplete. We are still in the process of being transformed, and we will continue to struggle with sin until Christ returns. Scripture does not promise us sinlessness in this life; instead, it acknowledges our ongoing battle against sin. We can have victories in this battle, but we should not expect to win the war until Christ's final victory over sin and death.

In light of this, we can find hope in the midst of our struggle against sin. Our hope is not in our own ability, but in the ability of Christ. He has conquered sin and death, and he has sent his Holy Spirit to empower us in our fight against sin. We can trust in his grace and rely on his strength to overcome the temptations that we face.

In conclusion, the tension between our ability to sin and our ability not to sin is a central aspect of the Christian life. It is a paradox that we must navigate with humility and dependence on God's grace. We are both sinners and saints, capable of sin and capable of resisting it. But ultimately, our hope is not in our own ability, but in the ability of Christ to transform us and bring us to full restoration.