Is it accurate for a faithful Christian to say, “Oh, I’m just a sinner like everyone else.”
In First Peter 4:17-18, look at how Peter advised those who were suffering as Christians to glorify God.
“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now
‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?'”
(Unless otherwise stated: Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Used by permission. All rights reserved)
He placed those in the “house of God” in contrast with “those who do not obey the gospel of God.” He also distinguished the “righteous” from the “ungodly and the sinner.”
Writing to the church in Rome, Paul said, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). He represented “sinners” as a past identity for the recipients of the letter. In verse 19, Paul wrote that many were made sinners through Adam’s disobedience, but many will be made righteous by Jesus’ obedience. He certainly isn’t saying that Jesus makes people into righteous sinners.
When Paul corrected Peter for mistreating the gentile brethren, he described anyone who sought justification through the Old Testament Law as a sinner and a transgressor (Gal 2:15-18). The same applies to all who live any lifestyle outside of Christ.
The only Christian who is a sinner is an unfaithful one. That is not to say that Christians do not sin. When we continue in Christ, we have forgiveness of sin through His blood (1 John 1:7). We are no longer defined by our sin, but by our relationship with Christ (1 Cor 6:9-11).
What about First Timothy 1:15?
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”
Is Paul saying that as he was writing to Timothy, he was the top sinner of all time?
The Bible will not contradict itself.
We could simply view this verse as an exaggeration Paul used to indicate how egregious he recognized his sins were.
However, it fits the context better if we look at the meaning of the word “chief.” It is most often translated as “first.” It can mean “first in importance” or “first in order.”
The next verse uses the same word, but most translations represent it differently. They miss the wordplay and connection. If both words were translated “first,” what would it do with our understanding of the passage?
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am FIRST. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me FIRST Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”
Chief or first? Either way, Paul’s point was not that he was currently a sinner, but that he was currently the first, foremost, and even chief example of how future sinners could believe on Jesus for everlasting life.
If you are a faithful Christian, you are not a sinner. Like Paul, we can know and be conscious of the enormity of our sins while rejoicing in gratitude for Christ’s forgiveness.
-Van
