Who are you?

Philippians 1:2 ESV

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who are you? Any cineophile with a propensity for late 2000’s coming-of-age films knows the saying, that one needs to “find themselves.” My name is LT Tidd, and I am a big red one Soldier. I am a Father, a husband, a Chaplain Candidate, et cetera ad infinitum.

Who are you? Are you similarly a father? Mother? Minister? Perhaps you have other identities. Alcohol. Drugs. Lust. Pornography. Hate. Put another way, you have “any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, any law of God, given as a rule to the reasonable creature.”

So who are you? You are a sinner, and you and me, we are in good company!

I invite you to open your Bible with me to Romans 7 beginning at verse 15. Paul here is talking about the dichotomy between the law and sin, but pay attention to how Paul describes himself. As we begin,

Psalm 19:14 (ESV)

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Paul writes:

Romans 7:15–20, 24-25 (ESV)

15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. Skipping down to verse 24:

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

We may, friends, through faith in Christ and his finished work on the cross, are simul justus et peccator, simultaneously justified and sinful. And because we are justified,

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I invite you to pray with me:

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

For those of us sinners in need of a Savior today, hear these words of comfort and promise:

1 John 1:9 ESV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Take comfort friends that though we are still sinners, Christ died for us. Let that be your reminder today as you go in peace and serve the Lord. Amen