Lies Christians Believe #5 ~ “I’m a saved sinner”

August 18, 2017

(I've added a bit to this one since it was posted on FB)

This lie is said by many and lived out by many more. For some I’m sure, it is simply some sort of “humble” rhetoric that is supposed to make them look less proud. It might also be an effort to keep some sort of camaraderie with unbelievers. They think that if they don’t talk as if they are holy, they won’t look self-righteous and push people away.

For others however, this lie is a statement of their false security. They will call themselves saved because, after all, they asked Jesus into their hearts. But then they call themselves sinners because they are sinners. And they are ok with that because they are “saved sinners.” Whatever that means. They consider it normal to sin in thought, word and deed every day. What they are saved from is still a mystery.

Whether it is simply an attempt to be “humble” or whether it’s actually the way people live, it’s high time we put such unbiblical terminology to rest…six feet under.

Listen to what Leonard Ravenhill has to say about such language:
“You know, people say that today. "I am a saved sinner." That is like saying you are a married bachelor. That is like saying you are an honest thief, or a pure harlot. You can't be a saved sinner. You are either saved or you are a sinner.”

I want us to consider several Biblical reasons why we should stop using the word “sinner” to refer to the saints:

The word sinner is never used in Scripture to describe anyone except for, 1) Unbelievers, or 2) Believers who are in a wrong relationship with God. Hence, if you are a “sinner,” you need to repent. The Bible contrasts the sinner and the righteous, which are you?

Sin separates from God (Isaiah 59:2) A holy God cannot have fellowship with sinners. Therefore, if you are a sinner, you are not in fellowship with God and need the saving work of Christ in your life.

He that sinneth is of the devil (1 John 3:8). Sinners are offspring of their father the devil and will share in his reward. The word “sinneth” is in the present continual sense. This is talking about someone who is in habitual sin, he lives a life of sin. Do you still want to call yourself a sinner?

1 John 1 says that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Do you believe that the person who confesses their sin is washed clean from ALL unrighteousness through Christ? Such a person cannot be called a sinner.

True humility is accepting what God says about us. It is not humble to call yourself a sinner (someone living in unrepentant sin), unless of course you are a sinner. God’s view of normal believers is that we are new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), partakers of the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4), escaped the corruption of the world, we are sanctified, we are washed (1 Cor. 6:11), set free from the bondage of sin (Rom. 6:14), no longer living after the lusts of this world, we are the righteousness of God in Christ, justified by His blood (Rom. 5:9), being saved to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25), hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience (Heb. 10:22), we have a new heart, dead to sin (Rom. 6:11), alive to God, no longer slaves to sin (Rom. 6:18), servants of righteousness, saved from wrath (Rom. 5:9), reconciled to God  and beloved of God (Rom. 5:10; 1:7). Notice that many of those references are just from the first half of Romans! It’s incredible how highly God speaks of His church through Paul and the other apostles! If you look through the epistles you will find so much more evidence that God sees His people as a radically redeemed and holy people, zealous of good works. Do you still insist on calling yourself a sinner?

We are looking to our experience rather than to God’s Word. If we believed God’s Word and walked in obedience through grace, our experience would line up with God’s truth. We need to stop defining doctrine by our experience of failure in the Christian walk. We need to examine God’s Word and allow our hearts to be lifted up in faith and rejoicing for the great salvation that is ours through Christ! Once again, if we truly are “sinners,” we need to but confess our sins and seek for daily victory through the grace of God (see my last note “Lies Christians believe #4). We are not to accept a life of sin as the norm and let it inform our doctrine concerning victory over sin.

Paul was not a sinner. Inevitably someone will pipe up and say, “But Paul called himself the chief of sinners.” Context is key here as usual. I’m going to draw from an earlier note to address this. In 1 Timothy chapter 1 Paul seems to say that he is the chief of sinners until you read the context of that chapter and the context of his other epistles. The immediate context is talking about Paul’s past life of sin. In another book he says of himself, “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:” 1 Thess. 2:10. Which is it? Present tense “chief of sinners” or holy, just and unblameable? It can’t be both.

Not once, do the apostles talk as if being a “sinner” is the normative condition of believers. If someone was in sin or was a sinner, they are expected to repent and move on as “saints” and “holy brethren” etc.

Let's consider this further. Either Paul was really a “sinner” (contrary to the rest of his writings about himself) which means we was the worst habitual sinner in the world and therefore in a wrong relationship with God. Or, it was rhetoric, he was just being “humble” and was expressing feelings of modesty (Paul doesn’t do that kind of thing). OR he was talking about his previous life. Note, he was not admitting to His neediness and weakness apart from Christ. There’s a big difference between admitting our great need for God’s grace to live holy and...  admitting to being a “sinner” (one who habitually sins or has unconfessed sin). Please, before you disagree on this point, do a study through the epistles about “sinners” and what the Apostles considered to be the normal (and therefore attainable) condition of the church.

Paul is not some pie-in-the-sky idealist who can’t relate to human weakness or who has unattainable standards. The Holy Spirit told him what the church was to be like and would therefore provide the needed power to make it happen. The problem is, we don’t believe God’s Word as we ought to which is why we find our experience falling so far short of God’s plan for the Church.

Someone may object with the parable told by Jesus about the Pharisee and the Publican. The Pharisee was proud but the Publican was humble enough to admit he was a sinner. Some would argue that this means we should have a humble attitude and call ourselves sinners. The problem with this is that the Publican "went home justified" not a "sinner." Yes, Jesus came to seek the lost, heal the sick and save the sinner. But when Jesus changes us, are we still "lost", "sick" and a "sinner"? No, we are found, healed and saved.

Finally, if you are living faithfully for Jesus, you dishonor Christ by calling yourself a sinner. You dishonor the mighty work of salvation He has done for and in you. Humbly and truthfully declare what Christ has done for you. Sinners need to see a holy difference not just hear a profession of faith. Let them call you self-righteous because on your confession of Christ’s work of holiness in you. You are standing on God’s work of righteousness in you through Christ. Your testimony gives glory to God and gives hope of change for those who need it. Christ’s life of holiness lived out through us ought to make sinners feel sinful and guilty and in turn, point them to Jesus.

“Well why in God's Name do you expect to be accepted everywhere? How is it that the world couldn't get on with the holiest Man that ever lived and can get on with you and me? Are we compromised? Have we no spiritual stature? Have we no righteousness that reflects on their corruption?".  - Leonard Ravenhill

Brothers and sisters, we are saints not sinners! If you are a sinner, repent and walk in obedience through the abundant grace of Christ. Sinners don’t go to Heaven, friends.