Pastor Timothy Keller says that the world is not divided into sinners and saints, but into repentant and unrepentant sinners.
Christian, are you a sinner?
Christian, are you a sinner?
Pastor Timothy Keller says that the world is not divided into sinners and saints, but into repentant and unrepentant sinners.
Christian, are you a sinner?
That is a pretty good way of putting it.I suppose being a sinner is like being an alcoholic. Even when you quit drinking you're still an alcoholic, you're just no longer a drunk.
Jesus said: "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." So the question is not: "are you a sinner" because we are all called to be righteous. The question is are we righteous before God.Pastor Timothy Keller says that the world is not divided into sinners and saints, but into repentant and unrepentant sinners.
Christian, are you a sinner?
But none have been perfected yet, none made incorruptible yet. These are works done by messiah at his return. So, I like the alcoholism analogy used above.Some Christians believe that once they become saved, or baptized, that they are no longer sinners.
Some Christians believe that once they become saved, or baptized, that they are no longer sinners.
Jesus said: "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." So the question is not: "are you a sinner" because we are all called to be righteous. The question is are we righteous before God.
Jesus talks about the righteous when He says: "36 I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’" Matthew 25
Jesus was righteous and He lived His live as an example for others to follow. He want about preaching, teaching and healing the sick.
God is looking for the Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and self control. When a tree produces fruit then the seed is in the fruit so the tree can reproduce itself. If we do not produce fruit then we are cut down and thrown into the fire.
Jesus said: IT IS FINISHED. So the work God does in us is a perfect work. Finished means to be whole, compleat and mature. It means to bear fruit. We need to be washed and cleansed in the Blood of Jesus so we are without spot, blemish or wrinkle. WE do not live in the flesh to be carnal we live in the Spirit. So we put off the old man corrupted in deceitfulness and we become a new Creation Christ and we put on the new.
I ran across a really odd belief among some "independent Baptists" that has it that no matter what a person does after baptism it isn't sin.
Some Christians believe that once they become saved, or baptized, that they are no longer sinners.
After we have been saved and joined the body of believers the Bible doesn't call us sinners anymore. Saints is the only term the Bible uses for someone who has come to the saving knowledge of Jesus.
So while the Bible says we need to overcome or hold fast etc, we are always still referred to as saints.
I believe a problem occurs when we start thinking of ourselves outside of that context. When we think of ourselves as sinners, we are more likely to excuse unGodly behavior..
When we see ourselves as saints, we realize the full weight of what it means to commit a sin, to sin against the Holy Spirit.
So while it's a catchy thing to say, it's unbiblical to say it. What we are is saints of God, and if we sin we have grieved the Spirit of God within us.
Pastor Timothy Keller says that the world is not divided into sinners and saints, but into repentant and unrepentant sinners.
Christian, are you a sinner?
I attended a church where he preached 360 sermons on different qualities that make up the mind of Christ. He had a scripture for ever sermon. For example 1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble." There are five sermons here. People with the mind of Christ are "like-minded", they are sympathetic, they love one another and are compassionate and humble. I realized one day you could fill up a dictionary with words of the qualities of the Mind of Christ. One women even went through all her notes to come up with a list of all the qualities he preached on. I have it around here somewhere in a rubber maid container. He started in July 2000. They are still available. Some on tape some on disk. He is 97 and so far he is still preaching.The thing is, I am not sure how many people realize that our thoughts matter to God, that He knows us inside and out, every thought, word, deed, every attitude of the heart.
The Apostle seems to disagree with that sentiment, as he not only includes Christians of all levels of maturity in the faith in the "we/our/us" of v8-10 below, he also includes himself.Some Christians believe that once they become saved, or baptized, that they are no longer sinners.
We can not overcome the flesh in the flesh. We die to self so we can live for God.Do I struggle with any of these as a Christian?
It wasn't so long ago I committed a sin.Pastor Timothy Keller says that the world is not divided into sinners and saints, but into repentant and unrepentant sinners.
Christian, are you a sinner?