Is a Born Again Christian a "sinner"?

[Tree of Life]

Like what?

Like making sense of the reality of your indwelling sin and resistance to God.

 

[Jonaitis]

Like making sense of the reality of your indwelling sin and resistance to God.

So unless I call myself a "sinner," I don't make sense of the reality of my indwelling sin? I can acknowledge my short comings, weakenesses, and sins without labeling myself a sinner.

 

[Resha Caner]

I go to a Church where we regularly kneel and confess our sins and refer to ourselves as "sinners". Since I am Born of God, this bothers me somewhat. I think to myself, "I am not a sinner, I am a saint". But I know that sometimes I still sin.

These verses come to mind on Christians and sinning:

1 John 3:9 "Whoever is born of God does not [continue to] sin"
Ecclesiastes 7:20 "Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins"
1 John 1:8 "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us"
Ephesians 2:1-2 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient"

In the end, I am ok calling myself a sinner OR a saint. By "Sinner" I mean that I have sin in my flesh and that I don't expect I will do right continually and never sin. But by "Saint" I mean that I no longer make it a practice of sinning and I am led by the Spirit of God and not the Prince of the Power of the Air any longer.

But what do you think? Should we as Born Again Christians call ourselves "Sinners" or "Saints"?

We are both. "Saint" in the theological sense doesn't mean someone who is perfect, but rather someone who has been redeemed by Christ.

 

[FireDragon76]

Yes I agree. But the Trinity was once the only thing that existed. How could the Triune God be Holy if the Trinity alone exists?

Now we are getting into wooly mystical theology but I'm not even sure it is fully accurate to say that, since God isn't just a thing among other things, but the Source of all being and time. He is beyond being and existence.

I think holiness is more of a relational term when applied to God.

 

[Tree of Life]

So unless I call myself a "sinner," I don't make sense of the reality of my indwelling sin? I can acknowledge my short comings, weakenesses, and sins without labeling myself a sinner.

Why do you believe it's inappropriate to call yourself a sinner? Paul called himself a sinner.

 

[Jonaitis]

Why do you believe it's inappropriate to call yourself a sinner? Paul called himself a sinner.

I'm kidding, I don't have a problem with it. A topic like this seems to be a contention with Reformed folks I've talked to.

 

[Tree of Life]

So unless I call myself a "sinner," I don't make sense of the reality of my indwelling sin? I can acknowledge my short comings, weakenesses, and sins without labeling myself a sinner.

And, to answer your question, I would say "yes". The Catechism teaches that we break God's commands in word, thought, and deed every day. Saved people still have remnants of the fallen nature and have resistance to God. We need to be able to recognize it and confess it.

 

[FireDragon76]

Like making sense of the reality of your indwelling sin and resistance to God.

That's the Augustinian legacy. We Lutherans and Reformed, historically, were less about trying to rid ourselves of sin and more about owning up to all the ways we are still messed up.

 

[Jonathan Mathews]

God only saves sinners, as Luther told Philip Melanchthon.

It's a cute phrase, but not Bible. The Word says "the LORD saves his anointed" (Psalms 20:6)

 

[FireDragon76]

It's a cute phrase, but not Bible. The Word says "the LORD saves his anointed" (Psalms 20:6)

Which the Church understands Christologically.

 

[Zetetica]

I am a child of God !

The nice thing about the NT is that it is very positive. Why remind yourself of what you used to be?
Keep affirming those negtive statements and you'll begin to feel like a sinner & act like a sinner.

The New Testament contains the good news. Not the “okay” news but the GOOD news. You’re point is exactly right.

 

[Jonathan Mathews]

Now we are getting into wooly mystical theology but I'm not even sure it is fully accurate to say that, since God isn't just a thing among other things, but the Source of all being and time. He is beyond being and existence.

I think holiness is more of a relational term when applied to God.

It's a good question.... Before Creation, God was still Holy. He was seperated from nothing. He was everwhere and everything, just as He will be at the End..... "That God may

Yes I agree. But the Trinity was once the only thing that existed. How could the Triune God be Holy if the Trinity alone exists?

It's a good question.... Before Creation, God was still Holy. He was completely separated from nothing. He simply "was" as the name "I AM" implies. He was everywhere and everything, just as He will be at the End..... "That God may be all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28)

 

[FIRESTORM314]

The New Testament contains the good news. Not the “okay” news but the GOOD news. You’re point is exactly right.

Yeah I know - I am not perfect yet but I'm so close it scares me

Seriously though - isn't it good to affirm the positive things that go with being a Christian - something to aspire to - something to raise you higher.

God Bless

 

[Tree of Life]

It's a cute phrase, but not Bible. The Word says "the LORD saves his anointed" (Psalms 20:6)

Jesus said he did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

 

[Jonathan Mathews]

Jesus said he did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Right. Call. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Jesus takes sinners, predestined by God to be made like His Son, He calls them, justifies them, washes them, and makes them Righteous. And one day, we'll be as Righteous as God Himself.

 

[Tree of Life]

Right. Call. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Jesus takes sinners, predestined by God to be made like His Son, He calls them, justifies them, washes them, and makes them Righteous. And one day, we'll be as Righteous as God Himself.

But in the meantime we are still fallen creatures.

 

[ThatCanadianDude_88]

I go to a Church where we regularly kneel and confess our sins and refer to ourselves as "sinners". Since I am Born of God, this bothers me somewhat. I think to myself, "I am not a sinner, I am a saint". But I know that sometimes I still sin.

These verses come to mind on Christians and sinning:

1 John 3:9 "Whoever is born of God does not [continue to] sin"
Ecclesiastes 7:20 "Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins"
1 John 1:8 "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us"
Ephesians 2:1-2 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient"

In the end, I am ok calling myself a sinner OR a saint. By "Sinner" I mean that I have sin in my flesh and that I don't expect I will do right continually and never sin. But by "Saint" I mean that I no longer make it a practice of sinning and I am led by the Spirit of God and not the Prince of the Power of the Air any longer.

But what do you think? Should we as Born Again Christians call ourselves "Sinners" or "Saints"?

I would agree with you.

This is fundamental to our identity in Christ, we must be careful not to boil this down to labels or categories. It is not about what we do, it is about who we are. Paul refers to true believers as saints, and it goes without saying that this is the way the Father sees His sons and daughters in Christ.

This is about our basic nature. We are saints by nature who do sin at times, though we do not continue in sin nor is sin our master, Christ is. To continue calling yourself a sinner is to continue to affirm your basic nature as a sinner, which is untrue if you have been born again. I was a sinner saved by grace, I am now a saint kept by grace. And a true saint is marked by a life of humility, obedience and continual repentance as he or she is being conformed into the image of Christ by the Spirit, which is the work of God in our lives.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I go to a Church where we regularly kneel and confess our sins and refer to ourselves as "sinners". Since I am Born of God, this bothers me somewhat. I think to myself, "I am not a sinner, I am a saint". But I know that sometimes I still sin.

These verses come to mind on Christians and sinning:

1 John 3:9 "Whoever is born of God does not [continue to] sin"
Ecclesiastes 7:20 "Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins"
1 John 1:8 "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us"
Ephesians 2:1-2 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient"

In the end, I am ok calling myself a sinner OR a saint. By "Sinner" I mean that I have sin in my flesh and that I don't expect I will do right continually and never sin. But by "Saint" I mean that I no longer make it a practice of sinning and I am led by the Spirit of God and not the Prince of the Power of the Air any longer.

But what do you think? Should we as Born Again Christians call ourselves "Sinners" or "Saints"?

I tend to think of it as Jesus is our righteousness and we're still maturing.

 

[Ecclesiastian]

In the eyes of God, no. Christ has justified us and imputed His righteousness us in the Father's eyes. However in the sense that we have, in our flesh, committed actions contrary to God's commandments, absolutely.

 

[DennisTate]

I go to a Church where we regularly kneel and confess our sins and refer to ourselves as "sinners". Since I am Born of God, this bothers me somewhat. I think to myself, "I am not a sinner, I am a saint". But I know that sometimes I still sin.

These verses come to mind on Christians and sinning:

1 John 3:9 "Whoever is born of God does not [continue to] sin"
Ecclesiastes 7:20 "Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins"
1 John 1:8 "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us"
Ephesians 2:1-2 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient"

In the end, I am ok calling myself a sinner OR a saint. By "Sinner" I mean that I have sin in my flesh and that I don't expect I will do right continually and never sin. But by "Saint" I mean that I no longer make it a practice of sinning and I am led by the Spirit of God and not the Prince of the Power of the Air any longer.

But what do you think? Should we as Born Again Christians call ourselves "Sinners" or "Saints"?

I am a sinner.... and over this past year I have been led to a new level of understanding of the seriousness of my pride..... my lukewarm attitude....... my anger against pastors in general....... but by admitting my errors in my own heart and mind I can assist somebody who is also struggling with issues like this....... So even my sin....... if I will admit it....... it becomes covered by the Blood of Messiah Yeshua and becomes useful as a medicine............. to others?!


2018 outpouring, are you feeling it? I am!

I am no where nearly as thankful as I really should be..........

This lack of genuine thankfulness was a part of why Lucifer fell........

My sins are serious........ I see myself in Yom Kippur not only in Passover..... I can compare myself to Bar Abbas / Barabbas....... the goat for "Azazel"... whatever that means??????? (Leviticus 16:10 in the RSV).

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I go to a Church where we regularly kneel and confess our sins and refer to ourselves as "sinners". Since I am Born of God, this bothers me somewhat. I think to myself, "I am not a sinner, I am a saint". But I know that sometimes I still sin.

These verses come to mind on Christians and sinning:

1 John 3:9 "Whoever is born of God does not [continue to] sin"
Ecclesiastes 7:20 "Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins"
1 John 1:8 "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us"
Ephesians 2:1-2 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient"

In the end, I am ok calling myself a sinner OR a saint. By "Sinner" I mean that I have sin in my flesh and that I don't expect I will do right continually and never sin. But by "Saint" I mean that I no longer make it a practice of sinning and I am led by the Spirit of God and not the Prince of the Power of the Air any longer.

But what do you think? Should we as Born Again Christians call ourselves "Sinners" or "Saints"?

SAINTS
Jude
2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
SINNERS
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Best to acknowledge Christ's work on the cross. For He did not die to condemn us but, to give us everlasting life. All those who's names are written in the Book of Life are Saints. Sin has been defeated.
Blessings