Friday, July 25, 2014

Are You a Sinner/Saint or are You a Religious Hypocrite?

Intrinsically the saints are always sinners; extrinsically, therefore, they are always justified. Hypocrites, on the other hand, are always [viewing themselves as] intrinsically righteous; extrinsically, therefore, they are always sinners.
--Martin Luther, LW 25:257; quoted in Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, 4:194

If you are a saint you are intrinsically always a sinner. Sin belongs to your essential nature. Extrinsically you are always justified, because you know that your justification does not come from you at all, it is a gift by grace from God. On the other hand if you are a sinner but you view yourself as intrinsically righteous you are a hypocrite and are always a sinner extrinsically. If you think basically you are a good person you are deceived and extrinsically you are always a sinner because you don't acknowledge or believe you are a sinner. Justification is not extrinsically yours because its not a basic part of you. Religious people always get this backwards that's why they are hypocrites. Are you a sinner/saint or are you a religious hypocrite? Thanks Marty for this nugget of truth.

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