The Corinthian believers were all described as saints (all of them) because positionaly they were in a perfect relationship to God. They were forgiven of all their sins once for all. Yet they still sinned. John the Apostle says that if a believer says he does not sin he is a liar and a sinner for saying so. So how can a saint be a sinner? Because while being saints are in perfect union with Christ they also can and do sin. So does this sin separate the Saint from the Saviour - not at all. When Paul is discussing in Romans 8 the thing that might potentially separate the saint from the Love of God sin is not even mentioned as a possibility. So what happens when a saint does sin? When we as Christians sin fellowship is broken. The eternal relationship with God is not broken. We see this illustrated in our families. If there is a falling out in the family and say our son does something very wrong the parents do not cast him out and refuse forever to speak to him. No they wait and pray and when he comes to himself he comes back and makes his confession and at that moment fellowship is restored. Now this break in fellowship might be long and hard. Jacob was away from his brother for 40 years. It’s amazing how long a believer can hold out in refusal to return. Some might never return until they meet the Lord Jesus in person but Christ never abandons his children.
And when they return is there some penance to be performed? NO. Definitely not. When the Prodigal returned he made no recompense, he made no promises, he received no punishment we was welcomed back purely on the basis of confession. And when we return to the Lord having gone off in a huff of pride and sin we make no sacrifice because the sacrifice has already been made and the only thing that has been disturbed is our fellowship - our communion. There is union and communion in the Christians life. Our union is secure for ever but our communion can be disturbed.
Steve
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