A sinner saved by grace.
But first, a look at Greek. No not the Greek translation of this particular sentence, but a basic understanding of Greek word structure (really this could be done with any language but Greek sounds like fun today). There are two important marks you may see on a Greek word, a breathing mark and an accent mark. The breathing mark will appear on the first letter of the word, especially for any word beginning with a vowel. Depending on which breathing mark you begin with (smooth, which leaves the vowel sounding normal, or rough, which leaves an "h" sound before the word) will determine the meaning of the word. So for example the neuter Greek word for "one" is "hen". It begins with the rough breathing mark, thus giving the "h" sound. The Greek word for "in" is "en".
So depending on your breathing mark and your accent in any given word, the meaning can change. Now back to "a sinner saved by grace." Where is the breath in this sentence? Where is the emphasis?
Often it is "A SINNER!... saved by grace..." I am who I am. I am a sinner right? Well yes. We are guilty of overemphasizing the first part of this sentence. Often this kind of over emphasis might lead to guilt or shame. It may justify one's sinful actions followed by a cheap version of grace to follow. As if to say, sin because well... you're saved by grace, so it'll be all good.
But the same can be said of the other option. We may say, "a sinner...SAVED BY GRACE!" In this scenario the emphasis of grace far outweighs the emphasis of sinner. Indeed the sinner could just be dropped right? Saved by grace! (sounds like a cheesy Saved by the Bell knock off...) But often this view forgets the power of sin. It forgets the honest depravity of humans. Sin becomes too ugly, too dark to talk about. In fact, to call someone a sinner is too unloving and wrong. Again, we've made grace cheap.
So what then? Well, both. We can't ignore the strength of both statements. They are two sides of the same coin. They cannot be separated. The full weight of the Gospel demands both. A sinner... yes. But that's not the end of the story. Saved by grace.... yes. But that's in of itself must realize what we have been saved from. Sin. Its power. Its reign. Its claim of our identity.
As Martin Luther said, we are both sinner and saint. We cannot escape the sinful nature, but we are no longer condemned by it. But we can't stop there. John Wesley pushed us farther. Grace keeps us moving forward. God intends to change us. We are not completed, and that progress of completion begins now, not later.
But first, a look at Greek. No not the Greek translation of this particular sentence, but a basic understanding of Greek word structure (really this could be done with any language but Greek sounds like fun today). There are two important marks you may see on a Greek word, a breathing mark and an accent mark. The breathing mark will appear on the first letter of the word, especially for any word beginning with a vowel. Depending on which breathing mark you begin with (smooth, which leaves the vowel sounding normal, or rough, which leaves an "h" sound before the word) will determine the meaning of the word. So for example the neuter Greek word for "one" is "hen". It begins with the rough breathing mark, thus giving the "h" sound. The Greek word for "in" is "en".
So depending on your breathing mark and your accent in any given word, the meaning can change. Now back to "a sinner saved by grace." Where is the breath in this sentence? Where is the emphasis?
Often it is "A SINNER!... saved by grace..." I am who I am. I am a sinner right? Well yes. We are guilty of overemphasizing the first part of this sentence. Often this kind of over emphasis might lead to guilt or shame. It may justify one's sinful actions followed by a cheap version of grace to follow. As if to say, sin because well... you're saved by grace, so it'll be all good.
But the same can be said of the other option. We may say, "a sinner...SAVED BY GRACE!" In this scenario the emphasis of grace far outweighs the emphasis of sinner. Indeed the sinner could just be dropped right? Saved by grace! (sounds like a cheesy Saved by the Bell knock off...) But often this view forgets the power of sin. It forgets the honest depravity of humans. Sin becomes too ugly, too dark to talk about. In fact, to call someone a sinner is too unloving and wrong. Again, we've made grace cheap.
So what then? Well, both. We can't ignore the strength of both statements. They are two sides of the same coin. They cannot be separated. The full weight of the Gospel demands both. A sinner... yes. But that's not the end of the story. Saved by grace.... yes. But that's in of itself must realize what we have been saved from. Sin. Its power. Its reign. Its claim of our identity.
As Martin Luther said, we are both sinner and saint. We cannot escape the sinful nature, but we are no longer condemned by it. But we can't stop there. John Wesley pushed us farther. Grace keeps us moving forward. God intends to change us. We are not completed, and that progress of completion begins now, not later.
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