Sin is, and has always been, man’s greatest problem. The first man and woman fell because they transgressed God’s law and sinned (Genesis 3:1-13). Thereafter, all men experience the same problem because we all sin in like manner (Romans 5:12). Because of our sins, we were separated from God, and we die spiritually (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Yet, God in His infinite mercy and grace extended to us salvation through His only begotten son Jesus (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Hence, as Christians, we can have reconciliation and fellowship with God once more! (Romans 5:1).
Despite the salvation that we receive in Jesus Christ, the struggle with sin continues, because Satan is always prowling around seeking to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). Hence, Christians do continue to fall to sin even after being saved. Hence, some believe that we can never be confident of our salvation. Some believe that, as long as we are in the flesh, we are inherently sinful. Some believe that Christians will continue to sin every day. What should be the Christian view concerning our battle with sin? Should we continue to label ourselves as “sinners?”
1. We are not sinners: we have been forgiven of past sins.
In the past, we were sinners, trapped in our sins and the consequences thereof. As long as those sins remained on our record, we were spiritually dead! (Ephesians 2:1). However, Jesus provides salvation and forgiveness of our sins. If we had obeyed Jesus’ instructions, to believe on Him, to repent of our sins, to confess Him, and to be baptized, then our sins have been washed away! (John 3:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:10; Acts 22:16).
If our sins have been washed away, then they are no longer on the record. As it is written, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12). Often, man keeps record of others’ wrong-doings. However, God does not. Hence, we need not be weighed down by the burden and guilt of our past sins! We ought not allow our past life to prevent us from living the new life. After all, we have become new creatures in Christ, and hence, we have the opportunity to start afresh (2 Corinthians 5:17).
To be clear, the apostle Paul does occasionally recount his past wrong-doings (1 Corinthians 15:9). However, his recollection of the past does not devalue his self-worth, nor hinder him from moving forward. Rather, it helps him to recall God’s immense grace towards him, in forgiving all his previous crimes. Hence, this spurs Paul to repay God’s love by labouring even more abundantly for the cause of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:10). If we truly appreciate God’s grace towards us, we ought to be motivated like Paul to give our best in the service of the kingdom (John 14:15).
2. We are not sinners: we no longer live the life of sin.
There is a difference between being a sinner and being a Christian who sins occasionally. A sinner lives a life of habitual sin. A Christian does not (and ought not) sin habitually any longer! The apostle Paul asked a rhetorical question: “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2). If Jesus has freed us from sin, then we ought not live a life of sin any longer (Romans 6:6). Instead, we must flee from sin! (2 Timothy 2:22).
Unfortunately, there are Christians who have tasted God’s goodness, and yet decided to fall back to the pollutions of the world (2 Peter 2:20-22). There are Christians who profess to be faithful but are secretly living in sin (Matthew 15:8). Have we been struggling with habitual sin? The apostle Paul asked: “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). In other words, if you have been obeying sin whenever it comes knocking on the door, you are not a servant of God, but a servant of sin! We need to be honest with ourselves, and repent if we have been giving in to sin habitually.
That being said, even faithful Christians may, from time to time, fall to Satan’s temptations. King David, the man after God’s own heart, fell to the temptation of women (2 Samuel 11:1-27). However, when King David was confronted of his sin, he repented and displayed a contrite heart towards God (2 Samuel 12:13). The difference between erring Christians and faithful Christians is their ability to bounce back from their sin and return to a life of faithfulness to God.
3. We are not sinners: we can be victorious over sin
Some Christians have adopted a defeatist attitude towards sin. Some believe that we unavoidably sin every single day. However, God has not promised us such a grim outlook. God has promised that we have been “freed from sin” (Romans 6:7). God has promised that we can have the victory over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Hence, Christians must not allow sin to rule over us, but instead, we can (and must) overcome sin! (Romans 6:11-12).
God has given us all the tools we need to overcome sin. God has given us knowledge of Satan’s devices, so that we will be prepared (2 Corinthians 2:11). God has given us the armour of God, so that we may stand against the wiles of the Devil (Ephesians 6:11). God has given us His Word, so that we may guard our hearts against sin (Psalm 119:11). God has given us the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood, which washes away our sins continually (1 John 1:7). Hence, we have everything that we need to gain the victory over Satan and his temptations!
Because of the victory that God has promised to us, we can (and must) be confident of overcoming sin. The apostle Paul was confident of the crown of righteousness that awaits him (2 Timothy 4:6-8). The apostle John affirms that we can possess confidence at Jesus’ Second Coming (1 John 2:28). The Hebrews writer exhorts us that our hope in God’s promises is the “anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast” (Hebrews 6:18-19). Hence, we can possess confidence in overcoming sin and going to Heaven! However, to have this assurance, we must continually flee from sin, and live faithfully towards God, walking in His light day by day (1 John 1:7; Revelation 2:10).
Are we still sinners?
As Christians, we have the power from God to overcome sin. God washes away the guilt of our past sins through the blood of Christ. God gives us the tools we need to overcome sin in our lives. Hence, let us not give in to sin, but let us overcome, so that we may have confidence and assurance as we look forward to Jesus’ Second Coming. Let us be sinners no more.
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