You Are Not a Sinner

A “sinner” is someone who habitually sins--as a lifestyle--with no ability to repent. A sinner is a slave to sin. The Greek word literally means "one not freed from sin." If that’s you, then you’re not a Christian at all. That’s why Romans 5:8 says that Jesus died for us “while we were still sinners.” Yes, we were all sinners. That’s past tense. The “were still” clearly indicates that there is a “not anymore.”

Why does the New Testament call us saints forty-five times and sinners maybe once? Salvation changed us from sinners to saints. If you call yourself a “sinner saved by grace,” here’s the truth of what you’re saying. “God’s grace is powerful enough to make me live forever in heaven, but it’s not powerful enough to change me here on earth.” If you believe that, you just don’t know anything about God’s grace.

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Why does that statement make some people angry? That's not an entirely rhetorical question...I really don't know the answer. I suppose I have some ideas, but ultimately, the thought that someone would be angered by the news that they are permanently approved by God and changed into a new kind of person...just baffles me.

You are not a sinner. I challenge all readers to find a place in scripture that calls believers in Jesus sinners. There are two in the New Testament that seem to, but only if taken out of context. By contrast, however, there are forty-five places in the New Testament alone that refer to believers as saints, or "holy ones."

As for the two instances where it seems we may be labeled sinners, in the most quoted, first Timothy 1:16, Paul is obviously referring to his past life, before He believed. That one is easy. The second, in James, is a little bit more difficult. In short, James is referring to their behavior, not their identity, but if you want to keep that one on the sinner side, feel free.

Consider this, however, before you use the one-to-forty-eight ratio to label yourself a sinner rather than a saint: God declared you righteous by Jesus' blood—to declare yourself a sinner is to directly contradict God’s declaration about you, at the cost of His Son. Are you willing to put yourself in that position? You’re a brave one, aren’t you?

Next, God not only declared you righteous, but He gave you His righteousness. Calling yourself a sinner is to say that you are not righteous, and since your righteousness is God’s righteousness, to say that you are not righteous is to say that God is not righteous. Again, very brave.

Additionally, a “sinner” is someone who habitually sins--as a lifestyle--with no ability to repent. A sinner is a slave to sin. The Greek word literally means "one not freed from sin." If that’s you, then you’re not a Christian at all. That’s why Romans 5:8 says that Jesus died for us “while we were still sinners.” Yes, we were all sinners. That’s past tense. The “were still” clearly indicates that there is a “not anymore.”

Why does the New Testament call us saints forty-five times and sinners maybe once? Salvation changed us from sinners to saints. If you call yourself a “sinner saved by grace,” here’s the truth of what you’re saying. “God’s grace is powerful enough to make me live forever in heaven, but it’s not powerful enough to change me here on earth.” If you believe that, you just don’t know anything about God’s grace.

Finally, to think that God would inhabit "saved sinners" is to cheapen His holiness. God’s grace doesn’t cause Him to overlook our sinfulness. He’s too holy for that. He can’t leave sin unpunished and He can’t be in the presence of sinful people without involuntarily vaporizing them. (See Exodus 19:20-22) God had to change you to have a relationship with you. If the Holy Spirit came into a sinner, he'd just dissolve like Nadab and Abihu when they sinned in front of the altar.

God’s grace is so powerful that it changed who you are, at the core of your being. I was a sinner, and I'm reminded of that daily by some of my tendencies, but that's just not me anymore. I've been changed, and if you believe in Jesus, so have you. You are no longer a sinner, but a saint. Enjoy it.