No. 46 I think it is correct to say that the Christian life may be described as an inner-struggle between the old man who wants to live according to the flesh and the new man who lives according to the Holy Spirit. What would you say to parishioners who struggle with their sins, showing signs of repentance, but fear they are only flesh and might be in danger of losing the Spirit? On the other hand, what would you say to those who feel somewhat confident they can go on sinning without fear of losing the Spirit because God will forgive them anyway? >>DR. LEOPALDO SANCHEZ M.: Eric your question really challenges us to put theology in a pastoral context. Now, it is a given that the Christian life is an inner struggle between the old sinner in us and the new creature in us when the Spirit comes to dwell in us in baptism. This struggle just begins and goes on for life. It is truly a daily struggle between the flesh in us and the Spirit in us. In this life we are, therefore, simultaneously sinner and saint. At the same time flesh and Spirit. This creates a true paradox in Christian existence. On the one hand, we're totally justified and forgiven before God in heaven on account of Christ. And that is a sure promise. As the justified, we're always supposed to walk in the Spirit and be motivated by the Gospel to do good works. On the other hand, however, we're also totally sinners who are in need of constant forgiveness. We simply know that we do not always walk in the Spirit. And that we're not always motivated by the Gospel to do what is of service to others. Each Sunday we are reminded of that. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Now, as pastors, we should not try to solve this paradox in this life. In the life to come God will indeed, take care of this in a definitive way. At that time there will be no more sin to struggle with. And life in the Spirit will be lived by the baptized to the fullest and in eternal doxology and praise to God and the lamb. Okay. Well, back to our time here. In the meantime, however, the paradox remains. We cannot solve it. But we can deal with it by knowing our parishioners well. More specifically by getting a pastoral sense for how exactly they are dealing with their being simultaneously saint and sinner in everyday life. Usually what will happen is that our parishioners will try to live mostly on one side of the paradox at any point in time and minimize the other side. Some Christians, for example, will dwell on the fact that they are sinners and forget that they are also forgiven. Other Christians will dwell on the fact that they are forgiven and forget that they are also sinners. These parishioners require a different Word from the pastor depending on their specific situation. So you have to know your audience in other words. You have to know the sheep and their present need. What would I say to parishioners who dwell constantly on their sins and struggle with them all the time? What would I say to parishioners who by their admission of sin show signs of repentance and yet fear their own flesh might be in danger of losing the Spirit? To these parishioners who live in the fear of their sins, whose struggle shows evidence that the Spirit has not given up on them, to them I will speak a word of Gospel. I will flat out absolve them of all of their sins right there. "In death have no fear, you are forgiven, you are justified. You are a new creature in Christ. That is a sure promise." To the sinner who despairs of his sins, give a word of Gospel. There is also, however, the case of the arrogant sinners, the ones who live as if what they do or leave undone matters little to God. These parishioners will dwell on the fact that they are forgiven and use that as a license to sin. They are usually offended when they are told to do what is pleasing to God and stop doing what is not pleasing to God. What would I say to those who feel somewhat confident they can go on sinning without fear of losing the Spirit because God will forgive them anyway? To these parishioners I will flat out say a word of law to awaken them from their slumber. I will say to them: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. The pastoral concern here is to leave the unrepentant to repent of their sins and say like David: Create in me a clean heart, oh, God. And renew a right Spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence. Nor take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with your free Spirit.