Sinner Saint

A Surprising Primer to the Christian Life

Author: Luke Kjolhaug and Michael Horton

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Description

Few mysteries of the faith are so perplexing as the ongoing presence of sin in the life of the believer. On the one hand, Christians are no longer slaves to sin. On the other hand we find ourselves rocked by it, daily battling conflicting impulses and neuroses, caught in the middle of a cosmic tug-of-war between good and evil desires. What are we to make of this? Whatever we may believe theologically, practically speaking, the struggle is universal. The honest truth is that we're not as good as we would like to be. In other words, the answer to the question "Could I be better?" is always a resounding yes. Various answers to this problem have been posited throughout the history of the church: Insufficient faith. Lack of willpower. Incomplete sanctification. All such answers, however, envision a kind of progress where we shed our old "sinner" and experience a kind of metamorphosis into the new "saint." But does such an explanation actually jive with what we experience? Does such an operative principle play out consistently in the lives of the great heroes of the faith? And, most importantly, does it actually align with the full counsel of God? What if there were another option, a way of understanding ourselves that shunned simplistic "either-or" explanations for a more honest "both-and"? What if there were a way of being real about our failures yet insisting that, in Christ, they don't define us? Welcome to the reformation doctrine of the simul, where we find ourselves sinful and righteous, broken and redeemed, and-above all-unconditionally loved by the God who overlooks our shortcomings on account of his Son.

Critic Reviews

"Christians are regularly told what do; tragically, they are rarely told who they are. Luke Kjolhaug's new book Sinner Saint very clearly, convincingly, and memorably reminds us of our dual identity, as well as the tremendous importance of embracing this in our everyday lives." - Nicholas Perrin, Senior Pastor, Corinth Reformed Church

"Are you looking for something fun to read that will also bring you closer to Jesus? This wonderful book is for you. It will give you a new perspective on what it means to live as a Christian. And it will set you free." - Sigurd Grindheim, Ph.D., Missionary, The Norwegian Mission Society, Professor of New Testament, Mekane Yesus Seminary, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
"Sinner-Saint is a wonderfully down-to-earth presentation of Protestants' law-and-gospel heritage. Here we encounter sanctification as growth in grace. While Lukas Kjolhaug writes as a Lutheran pastor, Reformed believers like me can be challenged and nourished by his proclamation of core biblical convictions that we share." - Daniel J. Treier, Ph.D., Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Theology, Ph.D. Program Director, Wheaton College (IL)
"For anyone who is stuck on the cycle of rededication, backsliding, and shame, this book gives gospel truth to the reality of the Christian life. It reveals a grace that rises up to look sin in the eye. I could not put this book down. Accessible, profound, and deeply needed." - Gretchen Ronnevik, Author of Ragged: Spiritual Disciplines for the Spiritually Exhausted and Katie Luther: The Nun Who Escaped to True Freedom
"Is it true that a believer fully redeemed in Christ is a saint but also still a sinner at the same time? In a very honest and engaging manner, Luke Kjolhaug capably establishes biblical and theological grounds for this position while taking the reader on an exploratory journey through the personal and pastoral implications of this dual identity."
- Gaylan Mathiesen, Ph.D., Retired Professor of Mission and Evangelism, Lutheran Brethren Seminary, Fergus Falls (MN)
"When a book makes me think deeply about God and sharpens my understanding of Scripture, and does so with gold-standard prose that is clear and lovely, I give that book a standing ovation. When I finished Sinner Saint: A Surprising Primer to the Christian Life, I was on my feet. Read. This. Book. Luke Kjolhaug has blessed us all." - Chad Bird, Scholar in Residence for 1517

About the Author

Luke Kjolhaug is the pastor of Elim Lutheran Church in rural Osakis, Minnesota. He holds an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College and a master's degree from Lutheran Brethren Seminary. Luke blogs for 1517 and contributes regularly to the Lutheran Brethren periodical Faith & Fellowship. You can also find him impersonating a theologian on the socials @foxholetheology. He and his wife Bethannie have been blessed with two daughters.