This writing comes from my frustration with the Body of Christ accepting any wind of doctrine that sounds plausible. We pronounce this with such vigor, such tenacity. We wear it like a suite of armor, and some would even argue this point to no end. We negate the fact that the bible it self debunks this statement time and time again, but most of us are not bible readers; we are bible hearers. Meaning we listen to the word preached, but don’t search, or read the word for ourselves.
How many times have you heard someone say, or said it ourselves: “I’m just a sinner saved by grace”? While I will admit that it sounds good and it will make for great preaching; it is not true.
1 Timothy 1:15 states: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” If Jesus came to save sinners and we are sinners saved by grace, is Jesus’ coming and death in vain? For the scripture says that he came to save sinners, we therefore say we are saved; what are we saved from if we remain sinners. It is therefore, impossible for us to be sinners and saved by grace. For if we are sinners saved by grace then our sin remains, and Christ’s death is in vain.
Romans 6:2 states: “…How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” We were buried into Christ by baptism into his death, and have risen in the newness of life in the likeness of his resurrection. If this be so, then we have been redeemed from the death of sin into the glorious life of Christ who knew no sin. If Christ knew no sin, and we are born into Christ by baptism into a new life free from sin, how say we then; we are sinners saved by grace? Being born of a sinless God, if be that the Holy Ghost which is sinless dwells in us; as stated in the scripture: “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:9)”
Sinner saved by grace gives us the consciousness of sin therefore, because I am just a sinner saved by grace, my constant falling into sin is understandable, or even expected. It is often used to make others comfortable in living a saved life filled of compromise. Never able to move into holiness because we are sinners saved by grace. Wherefore, we never obtain the fullness of Christ because we live a life conscious of sin.
True believers of Jesus Christ would, and should renounce sin at all cost. They would not want to be associated with sin; even in name. For either we will be sinners, or we will be saved, but we cannot be both.
Can sweet and bitter water come out of the same faucet? Neither can anyone be a sinner and saved.
Is it true that “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Cor. 5:17)”? If so then a sinner is who I used to be, saved is who I am now therefore, if I am saved and sinning, I have chosen to sin. Calling one’s self a sinner saved by grace is a choice to keep on sinning, because by its meaning I will never be able to grow past being a sinner saved by grace. Wherefore, sinner saved by grace takes the place of the law which reminds me of sin. Paul said in Romans 7:7: “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”
Sinner saved by grace reminds me of sin therefore, reminding me of death, because the wages of sin is death (see Romans 6:23). It constantly reminds me of the sin I was slave to and brings me back into bondage of sin. However, if I am simply saved by grace, then am I free from the law of sin and death to which Jesus’ blood cleansed me from. Wherefore, we are not sinners saved by grace, we are simply saved by grace, because the saved that I am has freed me from sin that I should not obey sin in the flesh.
Sinner or saved, you make the choice, but you will have to choose because no sinner will inherit the kingdom of God.
April 30th, 2012 at 6:08 pm
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. This is one of my favorites bc it is God, through his spirit and word that reveal things to us. So i don’t spout off lightly when i believe something it is from the Lord.
April 24th, 2012 at 4:03 am
Just a few scriptures that I like. Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
March 26th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
I pray you give that some thought Chris Tan
March 26th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
And all of that that you posted is what is going to happen during the tribulation period. The Church will already be taken out of this sinful awful world and the Spirit of God will not be striving with man any longer. Then the resposiblity of spreading the Word will fall back on Israel. So the scriptures you had reference to will actually be people from the nation of Israel, not us Gentiles.
March 22nd, 2012 at 5:08 pm
And I bet yall believe you can still have visions and prophecy today too. Like I said, we will agree to disagree and I pray that God show you the truth.
March 22nd, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Acts 2:17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’ (NKJV)
You know, it’s not only that last line in V21 that’s valid. Apart from salvation, verses 17-20 are still valid.
1 Cor 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. (NKJV)
Yes, some will say chapter 13 is the more excellent way, but that doesn’t negate what chapter 12 says. We still need apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, helps, administration and tongues.
Just because we don’t see it doesn’t mean it is not true. Scripture is as valid today as it was then. It’s just most of us Christians who are living in Nazareth, the land of unbelief. Many of us Christians have chosen to believe only what clicks with our limited intellect, which explains the sad state of many churches today.
We need to bring the level of our experience up to what scripture says through our belief, not bring what scripture says down to the level of our experience through our unbelief. The latter requires no faith whatsoever.
I pray that you do give that some thought, Ladner.
March 16th, 2012 at 2:09 am
I don’t profess to know anything else – except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It is written that He – Jesus died for my sins, past, present and future. In John 17: Jesus prayed 9)”I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
In Phil 3: it is written that He is perfecting me unto the coming of Jesus Christ. I believe that if we concern ourselves with working out or own soul salvation, that we won’t get so caught up in commenting on what the scriptures mean to others. I have no heaven or hell to put anyone in, but believe that the writers of GOD’s HOLY WORD as it has been presented to us, are inspired by GOD and in HIS WORD, it is written that “HE IS NOT THE AUTHOR of confusion”. When we get so caught up in our own beliefs that we are trying to condemn those who don’t believe the same…I say as James Bligen so eloquently said as he quoted one of my favorites and I paraphrase, “let a man be persuaded in his own mind – what is true after he has read (seeking GOD for understanding)GOD’S WORD.”
While blogging is a tool to find out what others are thinking on a subject, it, like everything else when used the wrong way, can do more harm than good. Let every man be a liar and GOD BE TRUE!
March 5th, 2012 at 6:14 pm
1 Corithians 15:50, 52-57.
Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ
Our sin nature is in the blood. As long as we live in this life we will sin because of the blood of Adam runs in our veins. Now just because I am saved doesn’t mean I have a license to sin, but understand that it is a battle that is fought everyday. Am I going to sin after salvation? yes because we can sin in thought or deed. But at the same time we do have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Rightous. The only way I will over come sin is when God the Father through Jesus Chrst our Savior gives my my INCORRUPTIBLE body. Until then sin will be in this world and in our lives.
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:45 pm
This is an exciting subject and I always like to know what ppl think and why? It sounds good but it doesn’t hold any water (see articles intro). The (er) on the end of sinner places you in a committed practicing mode. Although we may “sin” we aren’t not sinners because of our new nature yet we a clothe in this earthly body. Yet, above all we have an advocate with the Father who is able and just to forgive. I don’t let no one hang that line (I’m a sinner saved by grace on me), I know better. It sounds good but that’s as far as it goes with me.
February 27th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Since we will not agree on the former topic, let me ask you some questions then. How can you get saved, who can be saved, and do you believe in predestination?
February 24th, 2012 at 6:34 pm
bottom line is we still sin after we are saved. We make mistakes. If you think you don’t sin then you are calling God a liar. I know what the scripture says and I question your understanding of the Word of God. There is no way we can become sin free in this life. We are going to make mistakes and fail, but what the Word of God teaches us is that when we do sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Rightous. I will pray for you that God reveals the truth to you.
February 24th, 2012 at 7:09 pm
You are actually calling Jesus a liar, because Jesus said “All things are possible to them that believe.” IF you say it is impossible for us to live without sin in the flesh, then you have made Jesus a liar.
If you want to continue to live in sin, and deny the power of God then that is your choice. Let every man be persuaded in his own mind.
February 24th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
but there are 3 other categories of sin. We have the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, and sins of omission. Even though you may not sin lusting in the flesh, you still sin. Again I will direct you to read 1 John 1:8-10. The bible does not contradict itself. It is perfect and infalliable. These verses say that if we say we do not sin the truth is not in us and that we have made God a liar. So my question is this, are you calling God a liar saying that you do not sin?
February 24th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
It doesn’t matter the sin, we still must renounce them, because no sin shall enter the Kingdom…None! No, I’m not calling God a liar, I’m calling your understanding of scripture a lie, you can’t take one scripture to keep one in bondage to sin. John 1:10 clearly states: “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
I did not say that I have not sinned, I affirm that I do not have to sin. Believing that we are born of sin, and therefore, have to continue to sin simply is not true. 1 John 1:7 states: “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.”
Furthermore, 1 John 1:8-9 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Again these scripture says nothing about staying in sin, but that once we repent of our sin, God is faithful to forgive our sin and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. To cleanse means to wipe clean, or to cause not to be filthy which sin does make us filthy and keeps us in darkness. We therefore, can’t choose to walk in the light and keep sin with is a fruit of darkness.
If you desire to remain a sinner, then do so, but I will choose the Lord and renounce the hidden things of sin. It’s your choice.
February 24th, 2012 at 6:25 pm
I say “Amen” to James. I think the point here is that we no longer have a sin nature. We should have no more consciousness of sins – those who were under the law using the blood of bulls and goat did, which is why they came back continually:
► Heb 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. (NKJV)
But because when Jesus said “It is finished”, it was:
► Heb 10: 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, (NKJV)
No point reminding ourselves of who we were, but spend time to find out who we are in Him. I am cleansed, made righteous, with the ability to
► Heb 12: 1b …lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (NKJV)
Paul said that we…
► 2 Co 5:16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV)
Sure – in flesh, I am not perfect, but that’s not what I regard. We are new creations. Paul even calls the Corinthians “saints”. See how he himself sees them?
► 1 Co 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. [11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.] (NKJV) (brackets mine)
In many places, he refers to sin with reference to those in the world, not saved, refers to those outside as “disobedient”, “sons of disobedience” and those in the Kingdom on the contrary, as the ones receiving an inheritance. If we receive no inheritance, then we are not sons. If sinning can cause us to have no inheritance, then we are back to works.
(Rom 11:30, Gal 5:19-21, Eph 2:2-3, Eph 5:5, Col 3:6-7)
► 2 Co 10:6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (NKJV)
No. Disobedience belongs to those in the world The obedience we have was fulfilled by Christ, who came not to do away with the law but to fulfil it. (Matt 5:17)
The full manifestation of this will come at judgement day. Meantime, we live by faith in the Son of God and His finished work. (Gal 2:20)
February 21st, 2012 at 6:03 pm
yes no sin will enter the presence of God because we will have a glorified body when we leave this life. Even though we are saved we still have to battle daily with the flesh, sin, in this life. Read this from Romans 7:19-23.
Romans 7:19-24
King James Version (KJV)
19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
February 21st, 2012 at 7:05 pm
Err… read on…
Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! [Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!] So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 [For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.] (NKJV) (brackets mine)
A big part of this comes from the understanding of Spirit Soul and Body. See my blog at
http://christanatwork.blogspot.com/2011/11/one-spirit.html
Chris
February 21st, 2012 at 10:10 pm
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16
February 21st, 2012 at 10:07 pm
This is why Paul teaches us to walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. It has been my experience that when you walk after the spirit, as well as in the spirit you do not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16
February 17th, 2012 at 11:27 pm
An interesting article: http://richielewis.com/which-jesus-did-you-meet/
February 18th, 2012 at 12:42 am
Amen and amen. That’s so true, what the article says.
John 17:22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (NKJV)
We have Jesus’ glory, and we are loved by God the Father just as He loved Jesus.
February 17th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Actually, there’s a lot of emphasis in the New Testament about focussing on the right thing rather than trying to avoid focussing on the wrong thing. Even David in Ps 1:1-3 caught this – his delight is in the Law of the Lord, as the solution to sin. In the Parable of the soils, the seeds that were choked weren’t even choked by sin, but by cares and the deceitfulness of riches. These put the focus of Christians away from following Jesus. They were saved, but did not bear fruit. In many passages, we are told to lay aside sin, weight and sin (Heb 12:1-2 for example) etc. Really, at the end of the day we should be focussing on the “Who and the why” of scripture. Who Jesus is to us, who we are in Him, why He saved us and why we should follow Him. Much of Christianity is too busy with the “What and the how”. What should I do as a Christian and how – 20 ways to avoid adultery that sort. Jesus gave laws only to those who asked “What and how” to gain eternal life. To those who simply trusted in Him, He (“Who”) was THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life. Jesus didn’t say that He knew the Way, had the Truth and could give Life. All three are embodied in knowing Him (John 17:3). It’s not about us anymore – it’s about Him Gal 2:20. Yes, we used to be in sin, but we have been washed by His blood and made on with Him and unless I am still going by what I do (works) I should not have anymore sin consciousness. I’m not advocating sinning, but no more consciousness of it. Sin will still have its consequences – smoking still causes cancer – but it won’t send Christians to hell. Whom the Son sets free IS free indeed!
February 17th, 2012 at 2:50 pm
out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murders, envying, and strife. Matt 15:19
February 16th, 2012 at 9:51 am
For me the phrase,”I’m just a sinner..” denotes humility to God,No amount of me,or what I do will gain me eternal life. Only Through Christ work of Redemption on the Cross and His precious blood.
February 17th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
The phrase “I’m just a sinner” is a false teaching and is not found in scripture however, I have seen people take scripture and attempt to match it to their own views. The scripture does say to let every man be fully persuaded in their own mind. I therefore am fully persuaded that Jesus saved me from sin and though we have the choice to sin, he has given me power not to sin. If ones faith says that they will always be a sinner, then the cross of Christ is of none effect to you, you are yet in your sins. Know however, that no sin shall enter the presence of God.
February 15th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
read 1 john 1:8-10. We can and do sin after we are saved. these verses say that if we say we don’t have sin in our lives we are a liar and the truth is not in us. It also says if we say we have no sin we make God a liar and his word is not in us. Yes we are sinners saved by grace and yes we do sin after we are saved. It should not be a willful sin because the bible also tells us after we are saved if we sin willfully there is no more sacrifice for those sins, that we are going to be punished for those and possibly lose some of our reward. Hebrews 10:26 and 1 Corithians 3:12.
February 16th, 2012 at 3:14 am
So a man thinks in his heart so is he.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
I say a BIG AMEN to your thought’s James. We have had our sin nature removed. Now all we contend with is the flesh. Not even us, but the Spirit. Caught in the crossfire is the brain, the will. Do we sow to the Spirit or to the flesh? All we need is the Word of God to renew our minds.
The point is not so much that we don’t sin anymore, but that that is NOT our nature. We were of the devil, but now the Holy Spirit dwells in us, is one with us, will never leave us. The important part it to understand the Spirit, Soul, Body nature of our beings. We know no man after the flesh.
October 16th, 2011 at 6:28 pm
i think of it more as saying where i was and how i got to where i am. i could do nothing to get to god. the only way i can have a relationship is by the grace he provided. it’s an attitude of humbleness and remembrance. if i have that attitude it will drive me to be holy in my life because of where i was and how i got to where i am now.
May 31st, 2011 at 4:26 pm
As a site owner I believe the material here is reallymagnificent. I thank you for your time. You should keep it up forever! Good Luck.
October 16th, 2010 at 12:37 am
For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH, and that NOT OF yourselves: it is a GIFT of GOD; Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph. 2:8-9
The Bible does not say that we stop being sinners, it says that after salvation, God has forgiven us of our sin. You can be saved and still choose to sin: genuine Christians do it all the time. We ARE sinners saved by grace. Before salvation, we were sinners. Jesus paid the PENALTY for our sin. Salvation does not keep us from being sinners on earth, because we still have our sinful flesh. In Heaven we will no longer be sinners, because our sinful flesh will be taken away. God, in saving us, has freed us from our sin, so we are no longer slaves to it. It is a contradiction to our faith to sin, but does the fact that we contradict ourselves make us any less saved? No. Salvation does not make you perfect. God does. God saves you, but that is only the first of His works to make you more like Him.
October 19th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Please find for me in the Scriptures where it says we are sinners saved by grace, and please do not attempt to piece words together, but make sure it says it verbatim in the scripture you choose. Because unless someone can show me by scripture I will never believe that I am a sinner saved by grace.
Why did Jesus tell those he healed to go and sin no more, if it is impossible for us not to sin, and are you saying that we shouldn’t desire to stop sinning? Simply because we have the choice to sin we should what…Just continue to sin?
September 30th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
ok James,
I am filled with God’s Holy spirit.. I am not into theology..I serve the same Great God you say you serve…and the best thing for any of us to do is to keep on serving God, because going back and forth is not going to solve anything..I do not down you for your views..If you believe that you will never sin again, that is between you and God..and you would be at peace about it..and leave the subject alone if you actually down in your heart believed that..
For I am at peace and assured by God’s word, that I am a child of God ,God Almighty who heals my pain, and answers me when I call..and remember the bible says A righteous man may falls seven times, but the LORD delivers him from them all;,,Proverbs 24:16…I will not be checking this site again…may we all grow in the grace and knowledge of God..good bye…
September 30th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
The title of the post is called I’m not a sinner saved by grace. I am simply saved by grace.
Every born again believer can make a choice to sin or not to sin. I’m simply making the choice not to sin, or not to disobey the Lord.
This in no way implies that everyone will make this choice. It is possible to be overtaken in a fault, but this is not willful or continual sin, and that is what my writing addresses.
My writing in no way implies that if someone sin they are not saved. It does imply that they are not sinners, they are disobedient. Sinners don’t know they are sinning, saints do.
Any born again believer replying to this post should know that because many do sin continually, does not mean they have to continually sin. There is a choice and that choice is to choose Jesus and not sin. Don’t trust in your inability, trust in God’s ability.
I am sorry for those who will not exercise their faith to believe a life without sin is possible. Most everyone who has replied have demonstrated their faith in the inability of Born again believers not to sin. This is a shame as we believe in an all powerful God, but we can’t believe an all powerful God can keep us from sin.
All I have written have been exercised and demonstrated by the Lord living through me. I can do nothing of myself, but the Lord does it through me, and if you let him he will do it through you as well.
This will entail you denying yourself completely, staying in the Presence of the Lord, because in the presence of the Lord no sin will dwell. This means you will have to live in the presence of the Lord, which you are already doing if the Holy Ghost lives in you. This is accomplished in the spirit not the flesh. All I’m saying is that life without sin is possible for the born again believer.
Believe it or not.
Blessings
September 30th, 2010 at 2:54 am
We are in right standing with God positionally….What is sanctification? Is it simply one of those big, “Christianese,” words we like to toss around to impress our hearers? Christians are often guilty of doing so. At times the word isn’t adequately defined for hearers because the meaning isn’t clear in the mind of the speaker. What does the word mean as it is used in the Bible?
The Bible speaks of sanctification process in three separate tenses: past, present, and future. The Bible also speaks of sanctification, as applied to the Christian, in two distinct manners: positional and progressive (or actual ). A working definition of sanctification is to be separated from sin and dedicated to God, literally, the state of being set apart. The words translated from the Greek to the English words “saint,” “sanctification,” and “holiness,” all have this root meaning of separation from sin and dedication to God.
All Christians, according to the terminology used in the Bible, are “saints,” though the recorded behavior of many is less than saintly. Any person who has decided to follow Christ is a saint, even though that person still may have some worldly ways about him or her. Those ways do not make one any less a “saint.” In 1 Corinthians 1:2 Paul refers to the Christians of Corinth as “sanctified” and “holy.” If you have read through the Corinthian correspondence,
you know the behavior of those Christians was less than holy. Yet positionally they were sanctified and holy. In fact part of Paul’s reason for writing was to bring the Corinthian Christians’ actions into line with their position.
The Bible speaks of sanctification in the past tense. In doing so, it is speaking of that which occurred at the moment of salvation. At that very moment the Christian was separated from sin and dedicated to God. This is “positional” sanctification.
God does a work of cleansing at the new birth, as 1 Corinthians 6:11 makes clear. God sees the new Christian as being completely separated from sin and totally dedicated to himself. God no longer sees that person as a sinner, though he or she still commits occasional acts of sin. God sets the Christian on a new course of life.
If you have been a Christian any length of time you should know the difference between “positional” and “actual” or “progressive” sanctification–though you may not have defined it as such in your mind. Positionally God sees you as completely separated from sin and totally dedicated to him, but you know better (or should know better). You know that you are not always totally dedicated to God. Sometimes you do things for selfish reasons. At times you may entertain less than holy thoughts.
The reality is, you are still dealing with sin in your life–we all are. Which brings us to another way the Bible speaks of sanctification, in the present tense as an ongoing work.
As we grow in the Christian life, those times of giving in to temptation should become less frequent. Entertaining less than holy thoughts should occur more infrequently. In short, we should actually become set apart from sin, dedicated to God. We are progressively becoming what he has already declared us to be. We are in the process of really, truly becoming holy, sanctified. Progressive sanctification begins the moment of salvation and continues throughout the life of the Christian (Philippians 1:6).
Positional sanctification is completely God’s work. He separates the Christian from sin and sets that person apart for himself. Progressive or actual sanctification occurs as the result of a working partnership with God. As He allows our faults to be revealed, we work to overcome those faults with the aid of the Holy Spirit. One primary means of being sanctified is the study and application of the Word, the Bible, to our lives (John 17:17, Ephesians 5: 25-27). Another primary method in doing so is through the practice of self-control. Many sins are the result of our giving in to bodily appetites. Progressive sanctification takes places when we take control (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; 2 Peter 1:4-8; and 2 Peter 3:18). Each time we do so we become more holy, more separated from sin, more dedicated to God. In this sense, sanctification is within our control. We can choose self-control and denial of fleshly desires or we can give in to those desires.
The goal is absolute sinless perfection–a goal which we will never see completed in this life. That is why the Bible also speaks of sanctification in the future tense. The pervasiveness of sin is such that we can never fully eradicate it in this life. We all have sin in areas of our lives that we don’t, at this moment, know we have.
I have met some who believe they are now living in a state of perfection in which they no longer commit acts of sin. In reality, these people change the definition of sin. They label it a “mistake,” or say “I was amiss,” instead of simply calling their failures sin, which they are. Such fallacious thinking stands in direct contradiction of the Bible. 1 John 1:8 (NIV) says “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” A close walk with God reveals how far short we actually fall. Progressive or actual sanctification involves, first of all, our willingness to admit failure. Secondly it involves our willingness to do something about it, our willingness to change.
Sanctification is a growth process in the life of each Christian. It begins at the moment of salvation (and is positionally complete at that moment) and continues throughout the life of the believer (Philippians 1:6) until the day of Christ Jesus. That ongoing work is a partnership between the believer and God (2 Corinthians 7:1), done out of reverence for God. One day, at Christ’s return or when we pass from this life the work will finally be completed, we will be completely sanctified (1Thessalonians 3:13). Only then will the work be complete. Only then will we truly be blameless in holiness–completely, actually, fully sanctified. Until that time we are to pursue perfection with our whole being, yet always aware of how far short we fall.
I love you James,..take care..we all are learning..
Sanctification, Biblically Speaking
by Thomas R. Fletcher
September 30th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
A few years ago I would have been spewing the same intellectual nonsense.
1 John 1:10 states the following: “If we say that we have not sinned (past tense), we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
We have already concluded that all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.
Paul was dealing in his day with the same dysfunction we are dealing with today in the Body of Christ; peoples intellect. The Lord had delivered them out of the bondage of sin, but they were living like they were still bound to sin. So Paul in all the scriptures used began to speak into them who they are now, not who they were before accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
I would suggest that my fellow brothers and sisters read the scriptures again, but this time ask for revelation from God.
The writing you posted above sounds like the writers own intellectual beliefs, and not revelations from the Lord. My writings are based on revelations from the spirit of God, not what I think.
We in our own power will never be able to obtain what I’m talking about, but through the power of the Holy Ghost and Jesus Christ we can do all things. It is through the Power of the Holy Ghost that we obtain the power to deny our own desires and wills. Then live a life free from sin.
Don’t try to reconcile this in your intellect, because you will never obtain it by intellect. You will only obtain this by revelation and faith.
Blessings to you.
September 29th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
James..you keep forgetting that we are humans; The God that created us made provisions for us as humans to reach a closeness with God…and everyone;s walk with God is different in the ways that only HE knows best for us to reach the plan HE has for us with the help of the Holy Spirit;;therefore I do not believe it is correct for you to deem those who may not be where you are with the Lord wrong.. for God does with each of us as HE will..in respect to progression..yet as long as we are in these bodies will will not be perfect, and Jesus Christ returns and we are changed from mortal to immortality through Christ Jesus The Anointed One…Peace my brother for the end of the matter is that we serve God and keep HIS commandments..Ecclesiastes…
September 29th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
My Dear Angellistic,
Everyone is entitled to what they believe, and in the Lord we are only limited by our belief. I simply believe that through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we have been restored to our original standing with the Lord; if we receive him as our personal savior. It simply amazes me that some would defend the very thing that the Lord hates; sin.
Many who have commented find it inconceivable that one could live without sin, and yet one can if they die to this world and live unto God. It’s not a matter of differences of opinion, it’s a matter of belief.
Thank you so much for your comments I really appreciate it, and feel that this dialog should continue on a greater scale.
Blessings and love in Christ.
September 29th, 2010 at 3:14 am
Now maybe you are saying that you have grown through your trials and mistakes,,because ,,only God’s ways are perfect..everything HE did and does is perfect..so if you are simply saying that your faith has been made strong..I can ascertain that…
September 29th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Yes, we move from faith to faith, and from glory to glory. I understand that many can not move past their physical limitations, but the Lord sent the same spirit that raised Jesus from the grave to transform us from mere men into supernatural spirit beings, and said nothing shall be impossible to you if you only believe.
Your faith will dictate what you believe to be possible. Jesus told us to be perfect even as our father which is in heaven is perfect. Your faith will determine if you believe Jesus’ words enough to believe you can be perfect through him or not. Why do we say we believe in Jesus and are Christians, but can’t believe the smallest things he said? If you think living a life without sin is impossible to you it will be.
Blessings
July 18th, 2010 at 4:29 am
I am just a little confused. I read your original post and some of the comments and replies that followed. Here’s where I am confused. Are you saying that now that you are saved, you don’t ever commit sins?
July 20th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Curt, the thing is that so called Christians believe that because they do sin or are sinning, they have to continue to sin, and nothing could be further from the truth. I am saying that it is possible to live a Born-Again life without sinning. That we could live for God and not do the things he has commanded us not to do.
To answer your question: Yes I do live a life without committing sin. It took a long time to get here, and I am not saying that it is easy simply that it’s possible. I don’t and can’t do this in my own power, but through the power of the Holy Ghost and faith I do this.
One more thing: Because one chooses to believe in the possibility of life without sin, does not mean that they no longer struggle with the temptation of sin.
July 20th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
I believe by faith in Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Ghost that I can live a life without sin. I believe that if everyone who names the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior, would truly believe that they too will find they can live without sin. If one does not believe, they will not obtain, and it is impossible to please God without faith.
July 9th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
I also forgot to answer your question: If Jesus came to save sinners and we are sinners saved by grace, is Jesus’ coming and death in vain? For the scripture says that he came to save sinners, we therefore say we are saved; what are we saved from if we remain sinners.”, and the answer is ETERNAL HELL, not the removal of sin. The scripture does not support your statement. You are using scripture to create an idea of your own…
July 10th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
But sin will cause us to go to hell. So how can we still have sin and escape eternal hell? Your apologetic gospel, what does the Lord have to apologize for? Nothing. We will agree to disagree on this point, because my job is to speak what the Lord reveals, not debate what you think or believe.
July 9th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Your use of scripture is taken out of context : 1John3:9 is referring to Jesus Christ, not man. No “man” has ever been born “of God” except Jesus Christ. We are only born “in his image” (Gen 1)
Your use of 2 Cor 5:13 refers to “justification” not the removal of sin. Look it up in an apologetic book. The only reason why God sees us as justified is because he now sees us throught the blood of Christ, because Christ’s blood was the propitiation of our sin. In other words, our debt was “paid” because we will always (not useing the term were) be incapable of being free from sin. If we are always incapable from being freed from sin we are thus sinners still. I realize you desire to only use Scripture to understand what the Bible is saying, however apologetic materials are build to weed out the lies of the Bible, which you are (hopefully unknowingly) creating.
You have corrupted every use of scripture to support your point. Paul did not say “..of whom I am the worst…” [1 Tim 1:15-16] to say that because he believed in Christ he is no longer a sinner. He said so because as He stated LATER in the scripture ” I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” [1 Timothy 1:15-16] Paul clearly states that God is providing “unlimited patience”. Now, if God had saved him already….why would he still need to have patience? The word “am a sinner” describes a state of being…not a state of being sinless. Romans 6:2 actually reads: “May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” does not mean that sin is dead, rather it is refering to the atrocity of man continuing to sin after being released from the LAW. “But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.” [Romans 7:6 KJV] and any other version states the same idea: the Law was this “sin death” you are referring to in that man is no longer bound by it and never completed in it, not the removal of sin from man. If we make the statement that we “choose to sin”, then we also have to make the statement that we “choose not to sin”. If we choose not to sin, then we are partially responsible for our salvation. If we are partially responsible for our salvation then Christ is not entirely responsible for our salvation, then the meaning of Christ’s death is lowered – He only partially saved us. I see that you are a very insightful person, and I am glad your faith is alive. You can use that power for a more productive purpose in Christ. Rely, as you stated, on the Scriptures alone. As a sister in Christ, I feel (as I was moved by reading your rants) it is my duty now to help you by encouraging you not to begin by proving other people’s statements wrong. Begin by proving Christ’s statements right. His is the only truth, and whenever you desire clarification that is where you will find it. Begining a search with a presupposition that some “person” is wrong will likely always be fruitless. Begin only with the Word and a loving heart to know the truth, not with the sinful judgement as you have. Only then, with love and earnestness, will you have undefiled revelation.
In Him,
Sara
July 10th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
If we are always incapable of being freed from sin, then Jesus died in-vain. Why free us from something that we could never be freed from in the first place. Then is our faith vain, because we were never saved from sin, but Jesus died to redeem us from sin. However, you say that we can never be freed from sin. Doesn’t quite make sense to me. In your what I would say theory, we will always have a sinful nature. That is you belief and this is based on faith, so if you believe you can never ever be more than a sinner, then so be it. However, I know that it is possilbe to live without sin. You can’t make me doubt what I know, or what I’ve seen.
July 9th, 2010 at 8:38 am
When I say I am a “sinner saved by grace” I do not necessarily mean that I am a deliberate sinner. I only acknowledge that in spite of my best efforts I am still imperfect in one or other way. The problem today is that we have so many believers in the body of Christ who consider themselves holy yet they do the very things that heathen do. We have been taught that God considers us holy not based on what we do – in one sense, yes that’s right. But at least at some point of time later, I’d expect that people who claim they are holy actually walk in a way that is holy. If life remains the same (in sin) throughout, then I’d be only making a theoretical confession of faith. The Holiness that I’d talk about is only virtual and something that doesn’t exist in reality.
In that sense, I would say, considering myself as a ‘sinner saved by grace’ is better. Because when I say that, I am recognizing that in spite of my best efforts, I can still go wrong. And so I still sense a need for God’s grace and forgiveness. Above all I am recognizing that I am only human and not God – the infinitely holy God.
If we call ourselves holy, then where is the recognition of our sins? Where is the need for God’s grace and forgiveness? I have had experiences of dealing with people who boldly affirm they are holy and claim that they only do whatever God wants them to do (yes they have made their best efforts) but unable to realize that they still CAN sin (and of course they did) and still they need forgiveness.
June 17th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
The term “sin” is ambiguous because it has been translated into English. The term is simultaneously used for an action and for a state. The action, transgression of the law of God, leads to the condition of being in the state, separation from God. Because of sin (action) the world is in sin (state) and we were separated from God from the very beginning. Yet Paul tells us in Romans 5 that through Christ’s sacrifice (action) we are reconciled (state) to God. Paul never claims that by accepting Christ’s atonement we stop making mistakes (action); rather, he says that our sin is forgiven; quoting Psalm 32, it is not counted against us. In Romans 3 it is made abundantly clear that no one (before or after acceptance of the Gospel) is without sin; the explanation shows that this refers to the action. Yet, says Paul, there is a righteousness that is apart from the law: that is a sinlessness which is not simply obeying (action) God’s commandments. This is a sinless state that comes from God through faith in Jesus. We are justified by faith apart from the law. This does not excuse transgression of the law in any way; rather, it acknowledges that the law is what we do to stay close to God, and forgiveness is what Christ does to close the gap. Excuses do not justify sin (action), for nothing justifies sin (action). Instead, Christ’s atonement justifies souls; we are reconciled to God as though we had not sinned.
Romans 7:14-25 brings it home. Paul acknowledges that as a man saved by the grace of Jesus, he wants to do only good, yet continues to sin. His mind is a slave to God’s law, but his sinful nature keeps him ever a slave to sin (action). We shall remain imperfect until the final day when evil is abolished and we are made new, perfect and sinless.
June 24th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
1 John 3:9 states: “Whosoever is born of God (by spirit birth) does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God”.
Jesus said: “If you can believe, all things are possible to them that believe”. Mark 9:23
Romans 6:2 “God forbid, (that we should continue in sin). How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
Romans 6:16 “Know you 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 6:6-7 states: “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death (through baptism), we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified (dead) with him (Jesus), that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin”.
According to the revelation given to me, the times that Paul spoke of being a sinner, or of his weakness; he was given a testimony of where he had come from, not where he was. If you really read Paul’s writings with the spirit of God, you will begin to see the difference in Paul as he continued walking, teaching, and preaching with the Lord. Therefore, I will agree that a person has to grow in faith to walk without committing sin (although I believe that one can start living by faith without sin immediately after being filled with the Holy Ghost), or simply die to yourself that the Holy Spirit can live through you, because he does not crave sin.
Mistakes (mis-takes) are not sin. Sin is sin therefore, as a child of God you don’t make a mistake and sin; you choose to sin. When you know what you are doing you can’t say it was a mistake. Just as you choose to disobey, you can choose to obey.
A believing man and woman who had sex out of wedlock did not make a mistake, they made a choice. Therefore, we choose to sin and if you choose to sin you can choose not to sin; for we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
The problem is not that we can’t live without sinning, but that we don’t possess the faith to believe we can live a life free from sin. If we say we can’t live without sin, then we make Jesus a liar, because he said for with God nothing is impossible. That if we have faith nothing (no-thing) shall be impossible to us.
I choose to believe that I can live a life free from sin. That’s why I’m not a Sinner Saved by Grace.
September 29th, 2010 at 2:49 am
If you are saying that you do not sin..then you are saying that Jesus Christ the Anointed One died in vain, and that God is a liar when HIS word says in Romans 3:9… What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.Romans 3:22-24 that says 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 2 3for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. …Being born sinners results in the fact that we all sin. Notice the progression in Romans 5:12: sin entered the world through Adam, death follows sin, death comes to all people, all people sin because they inherit sin from Adam. Because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), we need a perfect, sinless sacrifice to wash away our sin, something we are powerless to do on our own. Thankfully, Jesus Christ is the Savior from sin! Our sin has been crucified on the cross of Jesus, and now “in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). God, in His infinite wisdom, has provided the remedy for the sin we inherit, and that remedy is available to everyone: “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you” (Acts 13:38)…God takes us faith to faith, and glory to glory..if we never make a mistake how can we grow and be thankful and Praise God for delivering us from our situations and circumstances so that we can grow…in love..take care james.. One more thing.. I have sinned..yet my belief in God’s promises has set me free for The Most High God has healed me from breast cancer and anxiety..and I Praise His Great Name..His word also says that If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9.. read entire chapters so that you may be sure that what God is saying is not taken out of context.. to be righteous means right standing with The Almighty God..Jehovah Yahweh… God bless
September 29th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
I am not careful to respond as I now know the power of God to forgive sins, and cleans us of all unrighteousness, through Jesus Christ, and to keep us from sin. It is amazing to me how we use scripture to keep us in slavery to sin when Jesus died to put away our sins.
Romans 3:9: “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin.”
Paul in the passage above was speaking to the Romans and Jews who had recently received the Lord as their personal savor. He made the comparison that whether Jew or Gentile all are under sin, but as in the 25th verse: “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God“. Now remission means the end of a condition sin being our condition before we come to Christ.
Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Your use of this passage is correct in that we all have sinned (past tense), but does not mention that this is a continual condition after we accept the Lord as our personal savior. I could give you many scripture which support the fact that we can live without sin, much more than you can find that says we will always be sinners.
I did not say that I have never sinned that would be a lie, but I do contend for the faith that it is possible to live a life free from sin. I have experienced it and it seem to me that you would like me to say otherwise simply because you can’t believe that it is possible. If you don’t believe it’s possible to you it will never be possible. So a man thinks in his heart so is he.
We love to have a form of Godliness, but we constantly deny the power thereof. The power of a sinless God to send his sinless son to die on a tree and redeem a sinful world from sin; that we could live the life he demonstrated while he was alive. It is impossible to please God without faith, and the whole walk of salvation is by faith. Why do we reject something that is so simple for God to do?
Hear me: IT IS POSSIBLE TO LIVE A LIFE WITHOUT SINNING. IT IS POSSIBLE TO OBEY GOD IN ALL HE COMMANDS. If we are sinning then we make a choice to disobey God. How can you defend disobedience to God?
For the record sin is a choice once you have receive the Lord as your personal savior. You can’t mistake and have sex without marriage, that’s a choice. You can’t mistake and kill someone, although you can accidentally kill someone. Mistake means to misunderstand something, or to mistake as in identity. Therefore, you can mistake someone’s identity and only realize it after you made the choice to kill, hit, demean, persecute, or lie on them. What we call mistakes in the body of Christ are actually choices.
Make the choice to believe the Lord and obey him.
Blessings
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:33 am
Are you saying that under no circumstances do you sin, ever? If so you have reached a state of perfection. Do you never think a bad thought, wish a bad thing? We all fall short of the glory of God and Pauls says I am the worst of sinners, not I was the worst of sinners. If what you say is true what is the need for Grace as once we have died to sin grace is no longer required.
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Nothing in the scriptures that you have quoted states that we are to remain sinners after that you have received the forgiveness of sin. The scripture says that Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, nowhere in that scripture does it state that Paul remained a sinner. This is a true saying of Paul, that we have a form of Godliness but we deny the power thereof (2nd Timothy 3:5). If you believe that God is almighty and sent Jesus into the world to Save sinners, and take away sin (read Romans 6th Chapter) why is it so hard to believe that it is possible through Jesus Christ to live without sin?
Sin is of the Devil it is a fruit of the Devil, for the Devil sinned in the beginning therefore, whosoever sin does the work of Satan. Do you believe this? There can be no compromise for no sin shall enter the Kingdom of God. You can either make excuses and use the Word of God to justify sin, or you can believe the scriptures and renounce all the hidden things of dishonesty and sin. The choice is yours.
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:02 pm
The apostle Paul would defintely say we are sinners. See: http://about.metrowest.cc/?p=267
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Then I would say you should re-read Paul’s writings, especially Romans the 6th chapter and don’t depend on your intelect to understand, but depend on the spirit of God for revelation. The scripture plainly states that we are not sinners once we have accepted Jesus as our personal savior, are filled with the Holy Spirit, and die to our own ways. This is what Paul’s writtings are all about. Read them again and seek for spiritual understanding not religious teachings which seek to blind and not enlighten to the truth of the Gospel.