The Bibe does not ever say we are sinners after coming to the faith. The Bible only says Christ paid the price for us at the cross while we were yet sinners;
Meaning, this was Christ taking care or redemption for man so as to offer Him the free gift. The Bible says Jesus came to save sinners. But nowhere does the Bible ever say that God's people stay as sinners after accepting Him or His free gift. On the contrary, Jesus says to two people to: "sin no more." John says, "sin not." Paul says, "be ye angry and sin not and do not give place to the devil." Paul also essentially says, "if any man speaks contrary to the words of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of Godliness is proud and knows nothing." Paul in several places in Scripture has said that we used to be sinners as a part of our old life. Are you unaware of these verses? If so, please read Ephesians 2:2-3, Ephesians 2:11, Colossians 3:7). In Romans 6:1-6, Paul forbids us in thinking that we can continue in sin so that grace may abound. He says we are to walk in newness of life. He says how can we who are dead to sin walk any longer therein. For he says the old man is crucified so that the body of sin might be destroyed.
The Bible also calls us saints and holy and peculiar people. We are kings and priests. We cannot be sinners and also saints. That would be a contradiction in terms. A person cannot be both the hero and the villian. A person cannot abide in the Light and also abide in the darkness. A person cannot abide with God and also abide with Satan. A person cannot be a slave to righteousness and also be a slave to sin.
But to answer your question personally. Am I a sinner who is saved? Again, not all sin is the same (See 1 John 5:16-18). There are sins that lead unto death (like lying, murder, hate, fornication, etc. - Revelation 21:8) and there are sins that do not lead unto death (
Psalm 19:12). In other words, in the context of those sins that lead unto spiriutal death (Which are the types of sins that can separate me between me and my God), I am not a sinner who is saved. Rather, in that sense, I am saint who is saved. For I do not commit sins that lead unto spiritual death on a daily basis like lying, hate, adultery, theft, idolatry, and drunkenness. Sins that do not lead unto death (or hidden errors or faults) are automatically paid for by Christ and they are not charged to our account; And we are also to pray so as to seek and find even these types of sins so as to overcome them, as well. But sins that do not lead death do not label the believer as being a sinner if they are walking after the Spirit in Christ Jesus in holiness. The Bible has defined these types of sins as faults or errors and not as grevious sins that will separate us from God or the types of transgression that would label us as being a "sinner." For the Bible recognizes the disobedience to certain Commands as not leading unto spiritual death like baptism (1 Peter 3:21).
I do not lie, hate, fornicate, or get drunk with other people. So no, I would not be a bad influence upon anyone. I am very careful to let the light of Christ shine upon men.
Peter said if you love me, feed my sheep.
According Matthew 13:41-42, in the end, Jesus will send forth his angels to gather out of HIS Kingdom all who offend and do iniquity (i.e. sin) and will cast them into the fire. We are to warn others about this out of love.
In other words, those in Christ's Kingdom who work sin and iniquity will be removed by Christ's angels and destroyed by fire.
No, I do not tell others to not commit a grevious sin that I am doing myself. That would make me a hypocrite and there are plenty of those out there that people have used as an excuse to not accept Christ.
I do not go to a traditional Institutional church. For the church is not a building, but it is a people. If you were to adhere to Scripture alone, there is no evidence for an Institional Church with one man calling the shots. Jesus sent people out in two's. The Biblical approach to fellowship is in having house fellowship so as to celebrate the Lord's supper and have an intimacy with the brethren like they did in the New Testament (Whereby the Pastor is more a guide or shepherd instead of a dictator that is above the Word of God in certain cases in telling people what to do that is not Biblical). Nowhere does the Bible ever say we are to have fellowship with unbelievers.
Which is your confusion by the fact that you attend an Institional Church. Evangelizing in the Bible involved two going house to house or in preaching to large crowds by invitation. Nowhere does God's people ever gather to have fellowship with unbelievers. That does not make any sense. For what fellowship has light with darkness? What fellowship does Christ have with Belial?
God's people are holy and they live righteously. It is how we are different from the world and how we lead people to Christ. For it is not our light that shines upon others but it is the light of Christ within us that shines in the darkness (Leading men to true repentance from sin).
....
