For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:11–14 (RSV)
'Simul justus et peccator,' this is your Latin phrase of the day. No, I am not going to start a language course via these posts. We will have no quiz to test your retention. It is a good phrase from Luther we would do well to know.
If you haven't already translated it, the meaning is: We justified and a sinner at the same time. It sounds simple enough until we remember that Luther struggled with the notion that to be justified (made right with God), one had to shed all the sin in their life.
Let's pretend that this is remotely possible. How would one accomplish this? I would suggest we start with the Ten Commandments. The first, 'I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me.'
The keeping of this first commandment means that every second of every day of the whole of our lives is to be about God. How are we doing so far today? Thought so, the First Commandment defeats us. Being justified by keeping the Law, by not sinning is an impossibility.
Luther spent hours in the confessional trying to rid his heart of sin. Despairing, he soon discovered that he could not. Confession and repentance only served to reveal more sin.
It wasn't until the Spirit opened his eyes to see this truth: 'For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all,' that he found peace. Luther had it backward. We are justified by Christ, not by the Law. The Law serves to show us how much we need a Savior. It accuses us until we giving up trying to do what only Jesus can do.
We live as forgiven sinners. As long as we live in this flesh, we will have sin in our lives. We have God's promise in our baptism that His grace is always there as we seek to live a more Christ-like life.
So, if anyone questions the idea that Jesus could work miracles, all you need to need as proof this is the truth that you are a forgiven sinner. You are Simul justus et peccator and will be until we enter the kingdom.