Is a Christian A Sinner Saved by Grace?

Dan Corner

Is a Christian a Sinner?

Hell and How To Be Saved From It (pdf)

A Christian WAS a Sinner and Is Saved by Grace

We have received many emails over the years from people who think a Christian is a sinner saved by grace. Hence they are implying that all Christians are sinners or that they must continue to sin all the time in this life! This teaching is written for the express purpose of shedding Biblical light on this subject. The reader is asked to drop all preconceived ideas about being a sinner saved by grace and ponder the various times the words sinner and sinners are found in the Bible. Cited in this article is every verse that contains these words in the New Testament. After this list, several important observations will be made as a consequence:

Every NT Scripture Verse

And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume. (Luke 7:37)

Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner." (Luke 7:39)

I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:7)

In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:10)

But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner!" (Luke 18:13)

When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." (Luke 19:7)

Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, "This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." But others were saying, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And there was a division among them. (John 9:16)

So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner." (John 9:24)

Sinner Saved By Grace Really Equals The Faith of Demons

He then answered, "Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." (John 9:25)

Someone might argue, "If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?" (Rom 3:7)

let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:20)

AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? (1 Pet 4:18)

Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. (Mat 9:10)

When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?" (Mat 9:11)

But go and learn what this means: "I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE," for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. (Mat 9:13)

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds. (Mat 11:19)

Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners." (Mat 26:45)

A Sinner Is NOT Described As One Possessing Saving Faith

And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him. (Mark 2:15)

When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?" (Mark 2:16) And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "it is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17)

And He came the third time, and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. (Mark 14:41)

The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?" (Luke 5:30)

I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32)

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. (Luke 6:32)

If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. (Luke 6:33)

If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. (Luke 6:34)

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, "Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" (Luke 7:34)

And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate?" (Luke 13:2)

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. (Luke 15:1)

Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:2)

We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. (John 9:31)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8)

For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. (Rom 5:19)

We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles. (Gal 2:15)

But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! (Gal 2:17)

realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers. (1 Tim 1:9)

For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens. (Heb 7:26)

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Heb 12:3)

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8)

to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. (Jude 15)

Was Paul a Sinner Saved By Grace or Saint Saved By Grace?

Just listed was every verse in the New Testament where the words sinner or sinners, are found with only the following exception:
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. (1 Tim 1:15)
The Apostle Paul identified himself as a sinner there but the context reveals he was talking about his life before he came to salvation. Notice the context of that Scripture:
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life (1 Tim. 1:12-16).
When Paul wrote I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor it clearly shows he is writing about the time when he was unsaved. This is further shown when he also wrote I acted ignorantly in unbelief. How sad it is that false teachers will remove 1 Tim. 1:15 from its context in an attempt to pin the label of sinner on Paul after his salvation! (See our other materials also answering their similar misrepresentation of him at Worst Of Sinners.) What a horrible distortion of God's holy word it is to to call Paul or any Christian a sinner saved by grace! This is what the eternal security teachers, especially, have done. It is nothing for them to slander the holy character of Paul in this way, or mishandle any other Scripture, as long as they can somehow portray the Christian life as allowing for wickedness, fruitlessness, worldliness and the like. The eternal security teachers have a dangerously darkened understanding of what God's word teaches and have corrupted multitudes by their teachings.

Sinner Saved By Grace - Repent!

Regarding the words sinner (or sinners) the truth is if you are such, then Jesus has called you to repent (turn from wickedness):
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32)
It is crystal clear that God's word contrasts sinners with righteous people numerous times. In other words, if you are a sinner, then you are not righteous and therefore not in line for God's kingdom, but instead headed for the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth:
These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (Mat 25:46)

So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mat 13:49,50)

The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (Mat 13:41-43)

Reasoning From The Scriptures

This is the 1, 2 punch out for those who wrongly say, 'Christians are sinners'. Carefully read the following 2 scriptures:

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the RIGHTEOUS to eternal life. (Mat 25:46)
If it is hard for the RIGHTEOUS to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and THE SINNER? (1 Pet 4:18)
Only the righteous go to eternal life (Mt. 25:46);
The righteous are distinctly different from sinners (1 Pet. 4:18);
Therefore, the ones going to eternal life (Christians) are not sinners.

Are you of the Devil

Furthermore, the one who does what is sinful is of the devil. Such a person is not considered righteous merely because of a past moment of faith in Jesus Christ as some have been deceived into believing:
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil .... (1 John 3:7,8)
Finally, Paul wrote of himself:
I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. (Acts 24:15,16)
Dear reader, Paul always maintained a clear conscience before God and man in light of a resurrection of both the righteous and wicked (or sinner). He clearly put himself with the group that is described in Acts 24:15,16 as righteous. Therefore, in light of this Scripture and the aforementioned ones, neither was the Apostle Paul nor is any Christian a sinner, even though the people who change grace into a license for immorality (like the type mentioned in the book of Jude -- verses 3,4) would like you to think otherwise. They love, but misuse verses like:
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one (Rom. 3:10)
By that type of misrepresentation of the Christian as a sinner, false teachers have tainted the holy image of Christianity itself. Again, a Christian is NOT a sinner saved by grace even though he was a sinner before salvation and is saved by grace!

OTHER TOPICS:

Skull And Crossbones Awards For False Prophets And False Teachers

The Mark Of The Beast (666)

Plan Of Salvation

Evangelical Outreach Alphabetical Map

Noteworthy Christian Women

Come Out In Jesus' Name (Demonic Exorcism)

Ray Comfort's Evangelistic Approach is Flawed

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