I have always called myself a sinner, and I know some think they are righteous and don't refer to themselves as sinners. I was then reading today in Romans and saw that Paul called himself a sinner and would like to quote it as an example of how we should see ourselves before our perfect God:
Romans 3:7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
What his means is that just because Jesus died for our sins that does not glorify us to God's glory, we are still considered sinners and need to follow the parable of the Tax Collector and Pharisee:
Luke 18:9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The point is at some later time after we die we will become as the angels serving God, and receive some of his glory and live more perfectly. But for now we are sinners.
Romans 3:7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
What his means is that just because Jesus died for our sins that does not glorify us to God's glory, we are still considered sinners and need to follow the parable of the Tax Collector and Pharisee:
Luke 18:9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The point is at some later time after we die we will become as the angels serving God, and receive some of his glory and live more perfectly. But for now we are sinners.