Sinners v Saints

Sinners v Saints

Photo: Facebook, winter

Re: Mark 2 16-17 - 11 14 22 from You Tube, below

Pastor Courson is generally right here. 

Philosophically, I will however, opine that there are certainly some sinners, outside of the salvation of Jesus Christ, that know they are sinners. They would not believe that they are saints. For example, an organized crime, killer and thug.

I would also opine that within the salvation of Jesus Christ, there are some that downplay their sinfulness, too much. They are regenerate (Titus 3, John 3, 1 Peter 1), but fail to really embrace the depth of his/her sinful nature, consciousness, desires, will, acts/actions.

But again, Pastor Courson is basically right here. I will add that theologically, those in Jesus Christ are saved by grace (alone) through faith (alone) in the applied atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ (alone).

Ephesians 2 from the New American Standard Bible (NASB)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [l]this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:8 (l) this salvation

The Apostle Paul states that the righteousness of God has been revealed (Romans 1). The atoning and resurrection, gospel work of Jesus Christ applied, provides salvation and legal justification by grace through faith (alone). In particular, within Reformed theology, Romans reasons that those in Jesus Christ, receive God's righteousness. The righteousness of Jesus Christ, infinite God and perfect man. 

Human good works and the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament law could not guarantee human righteousness and therefore could not justify (Romans 4). Abraham too was justified as righteous by faith, not works. (Romans 4). Those in Jesus Christ receive the imputed righteousness (Romans 1-2, 3) of Jesus Christ and therefore are legally justified by God. This is instead of facing God's wrath and through Christ's death on the cross, human sin is atoned for. This leads to everlasting life and a sanctification (setting apart in holiness) (Romans 6-8) of the sinful human nature toward the perfect human nature of Jesus Christ. To be completed at resurrection (1 Corinthians 15, Revelation 20-22). 

Salvation (justification, sanctification, my add) is by grace through faith, not works, and human beings can do nothing to merit God's acceptance. Sanctification (6-8) is to increase obedience in the Lord. (263). Sin should be diminished, not promoted. 

Romans 6: 22 

English Standard Version (ESV)

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

New American Standard Bible 

But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 

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There are two kinds of people

The regenerate (Sinners/Saints saved)

The non-regenerate (Sinners unsaved)

I opine that those lacking the mental capacity to embrace sin, are not embracing the sinful deeds of Revelation 20 (NASB). For deceased children and those who are persons that are mentally deficient, it can be deduced that since they do not arrive at a reasonably competent point of consciously rejecting God, and reasonable understanding of the punishment for this rebellion, they may be regenerated by God and included within the culminated Kingdom of God after death. I would view this as reasonable speculation. Biblically persons appear to be judged for sins, which result from a sinful nature, and not for the sinful nature itself. 

In Revelation 20:12, those persons who are thrown into the lake of fire are judged for their deeds, and therefore persons are judged for deeds and not nature. Although the nature must be perfect through the eventual resurrected state (1 Corinthians 15). Mounce states here that no one is so important to be immune from judgment, and no one is so unimportant to make judgment inappropriate. Mounce (1990: 365). A non-regenerated child or mentally deficient person would still have a corrupt nature unacceptable for God’s presence, but I speculate that a certain mental capacity is required to be everlastingly punished for sinful deeds.

   

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BRUCE, F.F. (1987) Romans, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

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COLLINS, G.N.M. (1996) ‘Infant Salvation’, in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.   

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

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ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

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GRENZ, STANLEY J., DAVID GURETZKI AND CHERITH FEE NORDLING (1999) Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill., InterVarsity Press. 

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HARPUR, GEORGE (1986) Ephesians in The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

MARSH, PAUL, W. (1986) ‘1 Corinthians’, in F.F. Bruce, (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/Zondervan.

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MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1995) The New American Commentary: Romans, Nashville, Broadman & Holman Publishers.

NUTE, ALAN G. (1986) in 'Titus', The International Bible Commentary, F.F. Bruce, General Editor, Grand Rapids, Zondervan/Marshall Pickering. 

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The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.