The Bible does not deny that we were various things–addicts, homosexuals, hateful, prideful, pornographic masturbators–but that is what we were (past tense) (1 Cor. 6:9-11; Titus 3:3-5). The emphasis in Scripture is on what we are and what we are called to be. The Christian does not say, Hello, my name is _____ and I am an X Y or Z.” The Christian says I was dead, but now I am alive. The Christian says I am a struggling sinner, yet I am a saint. The Christians says I am a new creation; I am transformed. Paul OBrien
About This Quote

In Christian terminology, the word used for "past tense" is aorist. The belief that we were various things but that is what we are no longer. The emphasis in Scripture is on what we are and what we are called to be. The Christian does not say, Hello, my name is _____ and I am an X Y or Z.

The Christian says I was dead but now I am alive. The Christian says I am a struggling sinner but I am a saint. The Christian says I am a new creation; I am transformed.

"I used to be an addict" is a statement that looks back at the past and doesn't look forward to what God wants from us now.

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More Quotes By Paul OBrien
  1. Visionary decision-making happens at the intersection of intuition and logic.
  2. When you find your path in life and are in sync with your primary missions in this lifetime, everything else just falls into place.
  3. Discovering and fulfilling your personal destiny is life’s ultimate challenge and its greatest reward.
  4. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is an unending process of self-discovery and creative evolution. Real success depends on being true to what fascinates you.
  5. The quest for enlightenment illustrates the paradox of desire–the fact that you must have desire to be motivated to transcend being ruled by desire.
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