Are Christians Sinners?

[Ernest T. Bass]

Cause I'm sort of confused about this. Anybody and everybody who isn't Jesus sins,.. but yet since we are all saved by grace and the blood of Christ, does that mean we can't actually be called sinners since God no longer looks at our sin? Then again, we still need to repent whenever we do sin so which is it? Since murders are still murders even if they've felt remorse for it and have been forgiven for it afterwards.

A sinner is one who will not repent of His sins hence God imputes sin unto him whereas a Christian does repent of sins and God does not impute sin.

Example:
Luke 1:6 tells us about John's parents:
"And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless."
They are said to be "blameless" but that does not mean they were perfectly sinless for they did sin (Romans 3:23). Though they sinned God saw them as "righteous" because they were obedient to God walking in all the commandments and ordinances which included repenting of sin, offering sacrifices for sin. To such people God will not impute sin as Paul quotes David in Romans 4:6-8. Had they quit walking in all the commandments and ordinances then their sins would not be forgiven and God would impute sin unto them.

John's parents lived under the OT law but the same is true for Christians under the NT:
1 John 1:7
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

The Christian will not be perfectly sinless but as long as the Christian continues walking in the light (includes repenting, confessing sin) then all his sins are continually washed away, not imputed to him. Yet if the Christian quits walking in the light (quits repenting, confessing sins) then his sins are not cleansed away, his sins are then imputed to him making him now a lost sinner.

 

[Truther]

A sinner is one who will not repent of His sins hence God imputes sin unto him whereas a Christian does repent of sins and God does not impute sin.

Example:
Luke 1:6 tells us about John's parents:
"And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless."
They are said to be "blameless" but that does not mean they were perfectly sinless for they did sin (Romans 3:23). Though they sinned God saw them as "righteous" because they were obedient to God walking in all the commandments and ordinances which included repenting of sin, offering sacrifices for sin. To such people God will not impute sin as Paul quotes David in Romans 4:6-8. Had they quit walking in all the commandments and ordinances then their sins would not be forgiven and God would impute sin unto them.

John's parents lived under the OT law but the same is true for Christians under the NT:
1 John 1:7
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

The Christian will not be perfectly sinless but as long as the Christian continues walking in the light (includes repenting, confessing sin) then all his sins are continually washed away, not imputed to him. Yet if the Christian quits walking in the light (quits repenting, confessing sins) then his sins are not cleansed away, his sins are then imputed to him making him now a lost sinner.

If I may. Obeying Acts 2:38 is our righteousness. All we will be able to do at our time of death is reflect on being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins. There is no other way to claim righteousness.

 

[Ernest T. Bass]

If I may. Obeying Acts 2:38 is our righteousness. All we will be able to do at our time of death is reflect on being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins. There is no other way to claim righteousness.

1 John 1:7 - The verb 'walk' being in the present tense denotes an ongoing, sustained walk for life. One initially becomes a Christian at the point of baptism and the walk begins there and must continue unto death, Revelation 2:10..."...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Quitting the walk, the Christian then falls away becoming a sinner. 2 Timothy 4:8 there is much a faithful Christian has to reflect upon at death..."For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" ...... the Christian can reflect upon that faithful walk in faith that he kept throughout his life (Matthew 24:13).
Being baptized is one form of doing God's righteousness. Living a faithful life to Christ's commands (Revelation 2:26 which brings forth fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23) is also doing Christ's righteousness.
John's parents would not continue to be seen as righteous nor be blameless had they not continued to walk in all the commands and ordinances of God.

 

[Brakelite]

KJV James 2:8-11
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

And I could add, coveting, idolatry, lying, knowing the good thing to do but not doing it, theft, dishonoring your parents, profaning the Sabbath.
Now some, maybe most, would call me a legalist for daring to suggest that obeying God's Commandments is actually required by Christians. And not doing so is
A. A sin but it's not imputed because there's now no law... Or
B. It isn't a sin because Christians can't sin...(sorry, but I have known numerous people who have done at least one of the above mentioned violations of God's Commandments, including myself)...
C. We can't help doing any and maybe all of the above because we're human and that's why there's grace... Whatever that means.

My conclusion. Yes. Christians can and do sin.

 

[Truther]

1 John 1:7 - The verb 'walk' being in the present tense denotes an ongoing, sustained walk for life. One initially becomes a Christian at the point of baptism and the walk begins there and must continue unto death, Revelation 2:10..."...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Quitting the walk, the Christian then falls away becoming a sinner. 2 Timothy 4:8 there is much a faithful Christian has to reflect upon at death..."For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" ...... the Christian can reflect upon that faithful walk in faith that he kept throughout his life (Matthew 24:13).
Being baptized is one form of doing God's righteousness. Living a faithful life to Christ's commands (Revelation 2:26 which brings forth fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23) is also doing Christ's righteousness.
John's parents would not continue to be seen as righteous nor be blameless had they not continued to walk in all the commands and ordinances of God.

No, being baptized in the name of Jesus is specifically for the remission of sins.(Paul also obeyed Acts 2:38 for himself)...

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.


As we pass on into eternity, we will not be reflecting on our goodness, but on the day we obeyed Acts 2:38.

Try to think of one day you have gone through in your life that you did not sin or fail God in some way.

Be honest.

 

[Ernest T. Bass]

No, being baptized in the name of Jesus is specifically for the remission of sins.(Paul also obeyed Acts 2:38 for himself)...

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.


As we pass on into eternity, we will not be reflecting on our goodness, but on the day we obeyed Acts 2:38.

Try to think of one day you have gone through in your life that you did not sin or fail God in some way.

Be honest.

Baptism is where sins are remitted but baptism is not the only event. Baptism must be accompanied by living a faithful, continual walking in the light (1 Jon 1:7) for if the Christian does not continue that walk, then the baptism was in vain. Paul nearing his death reflected on the whole of his life as a Christian.

 

[Truther]

If I am a really good boy today and keep my faith high.... am I considered righteous today, or was that declared on Oct 7, 1979 when I was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of my sins?

 

[Truther]

Baptism is where sins are remitted but baptism is not the only event. Baptism must be accompanied by living a faithful, continual walking in the light (1 Jon 1:7) for if the Christian does not continue that walk, then the baptism was in vain. Paul nearing his death reflected on the whole of his life as a Christian.

I guarantee Paul reflected on the name of Jesus that remitted his sins during his baptism in Acts 9 as he exited this world.

He could never forget the experience that led him to that event.

 

[Truther]

Baptism is where sins are remitted but baptism is not the only event. Baptism must be accompanied by living a faithful, continual walking in the light (1 Jon 1:7) for if the Christian does not continue that walk, then the baptism was in vain. Paul nearing his death reflected on the whole of his life as a Christian.

Of course the saint must walk in the light and reflect.

My question for folks is this....."what have you done, other than obey Acts 2:38, to find remission of your sins"?

 

[Ernest T. Bass]

I guarantee Paul reflected on the name of Jesus that remitted his sins during his baptism in Acts 9 as he exited this world.

He could never forget the experience that led him to that event.

I agree, I think Paul reflected on the events of traveling on the Damascus road that day and his meeting with Ananias. I believe he also reflected upon on the all joy and persecution he suffered as a Christian, reflected and thought about all the converts he made, reflected upon his fellow Apostles and co-workers in the Lord, etc.,

 

[Ernest T. Bass]

Of course the saint must walk in the light and reflect.

My question for folks is this....."what have you done, other than obey Acts 2:38, to find remission of your sins"?

1 John 1:7 walking in the light continues to remit/cleanse away the Christians sins. Baptism is the beginning point sins are cleansed and the walking in the light continues to wash away all sins the Christian commits after having been baptized.

"but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

 

[Truther]

1 John 1:7 walking in the light continues to remit/cleanse away the Christians sins. Baptism is the beginning point sins are cleansed and the walking in the light continues to wash away all sins the Christian commits after having been baptized.

"but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Yes, as long as the name of Jesus is invoked at our initial baptism.

 

[Ronald Nolette]

Cause I'm sort of confused about this. Anybody and everybody who isn't Jesus sins,.. but yet since we are all saved by grace and the blood of Christ, does that mean we can't actually be called sinners since God no longer looks at our sin? Then again, we still need to repent whenever we do sin so which is it? Since murders are still murders even if they've felt remorse for it and have been forgiven for it afterwards.

TEchnically we are no longer sinners because our old man has been declared dead. We still sin because we at times yield ourselves over to the impulses of the old man. But technically we are a new Creature in Christ and that new Creature is incapable of sin. but just like an alcoholic in AA we say we are sinners for in our flesh- that is what we are and always will be. So our life long task is to learn to walk in the new man so we will no longer fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

 

[Wynona]

Cause I'm sort of confused about this. Anybody and everybody who isn't Jesus sins,.. but yet since we are all saved by grace and the blood of Christ, does that mean we can't actually be called sinners since God no longer looks at our sin? Then again, we still need to repent whenever we do sin so which is it? Since murders are still murders even if they've felt remorse for it and have been forgiven for it afterwards.

No. We are saints!

Miss you a lot. Wishing you were here to put on a virtual Christmas party!

 

[Daniel Veler]

The confusion comes in when we don’t understand what is the difference between sin and and the sins of the flesh. The Lord defines sin in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit would teach us why God proclaimed there was none that were righteous no not one. We were all quilts of sin. That sin was defined as no one was trusting in the Lord. That is the sin that condemned us all. As for the sins of the flesh they are what we don’t do to please the Father. Read psalms 89 starting with verse 27 when he speaks of Christ as being his first born and what happens to those who after being in Christ should fail to walk in his commands. If there is a person that is alive today that thinks they they can obey the Ten Commandments of the Lord let him speak. If you fail with one of the ten you are Quilty of them all. This is the curse the law carries. It is also written in the last days men will bring theirselves back under the law.

 

[Truther]

The confusion comes in when we don’t understand what is the difference between sin and and the sins of the flesh. The Lord defines sin in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit would teach us why God proclaimed there was none that were righteous no not one. We were all quilts of sin. That sin was defined as no one was trusting in the Lord. That is the sin that condemned us all. As for the sins of the flesh they are what we don’t do to please the Father. Read psalms 89 starting with verse 27 when he speaks of Christ as being his first born and what happens to those who after being in Christ should fail to walk in his commands. If there is a person that is alive today that thinks they they can obey the Ten Commandments of the Lord let him speak. If you fail with one of the ten you are Quilty of them all. This is the curse the law carries. It is also written in the last days men will bring theirselves back under the law.

Obeying Acts 2:38 frees us from the Law, and walking in the Spirit keeps us free.
Everyone else is born under the Law.

 

[michaelvpardo]

Cause I'm sort of confused about this. Anybody and everybody who isn't Jesus sins,.. but yet since we are all saved by grace and the blood of Christ, does that mean we can't actually be called sinners since God no longer looks at our sin? Then again, we still need to repent whenever we do sin so which is it? Since murders are still murders even if they've felt remorse for it and have been forgiven for it afterwards.

Paul teaches that the born again have 2 natures that are in conflict with each other, but since salvation is God's work and not our own, if we've received Him, then we're counted as sons and "seen" in the light of His righteousness and not our own. The Jews never looked at themselves as "sinners" because they were under God's covenants with Abraham and Moses. You even find the phrase sinners of the gentiles used in the New Testament.
We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. Galatians 2:15
Sinners of the gentiles is not so much a reference to some group of sinning gentiles, but a reference to all gentiles who haven't entered into the covenants, either of law, or of mercy (and grace) as in the covenant of peace, through faith in the finished redemptive work of Jesus the Christ.

 

[michaelvpardo]

You skipped over the fact that christians are dying all the time, because the "wages of sin is death"

Are they free from Hell?
Show me the scripture you're referring to.

Here is the BIG ONE that christians hate to be asked -
Are you inside of outside the gates of hell?, that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 16:18.

That would depend upon whether God has revealed one fundamental truth to you and I haven't met a single born again soul that has a problem answering the question that you pose.
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

 

[Stumpmaster]

Yup, "the wages of sin is death" (Rm 6:23), christians are dying to beat-the-band as much as non-christian's.
Makes you wonder what they are 'saved' from, doesn't it.

The full quote leaves me in no doubt.

Rom 6:22-23 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. (23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

[Ernest T. Bass]

No. We are saints!

It is possible that a Saint can become a sinner, James 5:19-20. The one who was called "brethren" v19 who errs from the truth is now called a 'sinner' v20. So as long as the brother/Christian remains in the truth walking in the light he is not a sinner but seen as righteous by God. Yet if he quits walking in the light (1 John 1:7) his sins are no longer cleansed away, he become lost sinner in need of being converted. So even though the Christian sins he is not a sinner in need of being converted for as long as he remains faithful in the truth (walking in the light) all his sins are cleansed away.