Outside Ourselves Living as Sinners and Saints with Steven Paulson
Jun 22, 2023
Kelsi chats with Dr. Steven Paulson, a 1517 Senior Scholar in Residence and Lutheran pastor, who delves into the Reformation concept of being simultaneously sinner and saint. He challenges listeners to distinguish between their feelings as sinners and their identity as saints through Christ. Dr. Paulson reflects on his journey from engineering to theology, exploring the transformative power of faith and the importance of grounding one’s identity in God’s word. Also discussed are the complexities of emotional suppression in faith communities and the liberating teachings of Jesus.
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Simultaneously Two Opposite Persons
- The simul justus et peccator means a Christian is literally two opposite persons, sinner and saint, simultaneously.
- Christ separates these two wholes in us rather than merging them into one unified self.
Christianity vs Schizophrenia
- Being simul justus et peccator is not schizophrenia; Christians hear Christ's voice, not their own conflicting voices.
- This difference frees Christians from harsh self-judgment by trusting Christ's external promise.
Simul: Whole Sinner and Saint
- The simul means being 100% saint and 100% sinner, not a progression of percentages.
- Christ has fully put to death the old self and fully raised a new self, but this is not immediately felt or seen.
