Jesus Is

By Mark VanOuse

One of the most common, unbiblical myths in Christianity is the Myth of the Christian “Sinner”. Almost universally and everywhere I hear (or read of) Christians referring to themselves as “sinners”. A common sentiment is the well-worn phrase, “I’m just a sinner like everyone else”. Or, “I’m just a sinner saved by grace”.

I’m here to say that Christians — those that are truly born again by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ — are never called “sinners” in the Bible. Such a belief that Christians are called “sinners” is not only patently unbiblical, it is unhealthy and downright dangerous to the cause of righteousness, both personal and in the church.

Now at the outset let me say that I am not saying Christians never sin. They can and do, sadly and opposed to God’s will. For the Christian who sins, there is remedy found in scriptures like 1 John 1:9.

What I am saying is that you will not find even one verse in the Bible that calls Christians “sinners”. Not a single one. So what are they called? “saints”. More on that later.

The Greek word for “sinner” is “hamartolos”*, meaning “devoted to sin, a sinner, not free from sin” or “pre-eminently sinful, especially wicked”. One can see from this definition of “hamartolos” that such a condition should not biblically describe a Christian. “Hamartolos” is found 45 times in the New Testament. Not a single time is it used to describe a Christian. Not even ONCE.  Some are quick to point out that Paul called himself the “chief of sinners” in 1 Timothy 1:15:

(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.”

To misuse this verse and use it as a means to make the argument that Christians are called “sinners” is to violate the meaning of the verse in its context, as well as the original Greek.

First, in its context, Paul in the verses preceding verses writes:

1:12) And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, (1:13) although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. (1:14) And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Verse 13 makes clear that Paul is speaking of his former life as a “a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man”. He is making a clear point that God’s grace was exceedingly abundant in his life to not only save him from such a miserable state but also place him in the ministry!

Verse 16, right after the “chief of sinners” verse says, “However, for this reason I obtained [note the past tense] 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.” Paul continues in the “past tense” vein speaking of how God by His mercy took him from his former life as the chief of sinners!

Furthermore, if indeed Paul at the time of this writing called himself — the “chief of sinners”, then he would be disqualified from the ministry, based upon the righteous standards he describes for those in ministry just two chapters later!

The Greek translated ”chief” is ”protos”, meaning “first in time or place, in any succession of things or persons” or “first in rank”. Someone has used the analogy of a star track athlete who broke the school record in the mile race. When he returned to his alma mater 25 years later, he was surprised to find that no one had beaten his time. He can rightly say, “I am the record holder in the mile race at my high school”. Notice that he uses the present tense. Never mind the fact that that today he has middle age flab, huffing and puffing just going up the steps (poor guy). He still IS the chief record holder in the mile race. His trophy is still in the case. He still tops the list in the record books. He won that distinction.

The fact is, Paul was pointing out God’s rich mercy in his case as the record holder as a sinner to bring encouragement to people to come to the Lord of mercy.

Even if 1 Timothy 1:15 could be interpreted as Paul identifying himself — present tense — as the chief of sinners, it is improper to build an entire doctrine making the case that Christians are “sinners” out of just one verse.

Well, I’ve made my point (the first of three). Every single time the word “sinner” is used in the New Testament it NEVER is used in reference to Christians. Ever. That means it is patently UNSCRIPTURAL for Christians to call themselves (or any other Christian) a “sinner”.

So, what are we called? Ah, now we come to the wonderful part!

Before I get to that, it’s important to clearly understand that EVERYTHING good that we receive from the Lord is given not upon our own worthiness or merit. It is given by grace, through the perfect merit of Jesus Christ and HIS worthiness. It is ALL of grace:

(2:8) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (2:9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph 2:8-9 NKJV

Romans 5:1-2 NKJV

(5:1) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have° peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (5:2) through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Grace is about what a loving God does for me, completely underserved. Someone has said that grace is undeserved favor in the face of deserved wrath. It is given on the grounds of the perfect life and righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is enjoyed by simple faith in Christ.

God – purely on the basis of grace and the perfection of Christ’s righteousness — makes and calls us His children (John 1:12, 1 John 3:1), He through that same grace calls us “saints”. The Greek word for “saints” is “hagios” meaning “most holy thing, a saint”. The word “hagios” is used in the New Testament 219 times. 161 times it’s used to describe that which is holy, i.e., the Holy Sprit, the temple, the holy city, etc. 61 times its translated “saints” or “saint”.

The core idea is of something that is completely set apart for God and his purposes. In the Old Testament, common objects were made holy when they were dedicated to the Lord upon the altar. They were called “holy” by virtue of the holy altar, not the inherent value of the object itself.

We are called “saints”, or “holy ones” or “set apart ones” because of God’s righteous decree. This is not because of our intrinsic worth or merit, it is based purely on the loving grace extended to us through Jesus Christ. It comes from the hand and heart of a holy God. It is all about HIS goodness and holiness and not our own.

1 Corinthians 6:19 declares, “know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” Notice the core concepts: our body is a temple of the Holy Ghost, “which ye have of God, and ye are not your own“. Verse 20 continues, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

We all know that the Corinthian church was backslidden, worldly, carnal, fighting, arrogant, proud… and Paul greets them in his first epistle with, “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.” (1 Corinthians 1:2a).

So you see, my friend, everything good in your life is brought from the hand of God. Including what He calls you: a saint.

By God’s doing you are justified, forgiven, born again, make His child, a joint heir with Jesus Christ and called to be a saint (Romans 1:7)

The tragic thing about saints wrongly labeling themselves “sinners” is when they do so they are identifying with sin and the work of Satan. Further, it is actually thinly disguised pride. It is a waving our hand in the face of a Holy, gracious God who calls us holy and saying to Him, “Not so.” However, when you recognize that upon the basis of pure grace through Jesus Christ alone you are called a saint, you identify with grace and the work of God. I can’t think of anything more humbling than understanding that you deserve to be called “sinner”, reprobate and foul, only to discover that by God’s amazing grace He lifts you out of the miry clay and calls you His child (1 John 3:1), blessed (Eph 1:3), not condemned (Romans 8:1), sanctified (1 Corinthian 1:2), a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21), a trophy of God’s grace (Ephesians 1:6 and 2:7)….

CALLED TO BE A SAINT (Rom 1:7, 1 Cor 1:2).

On All Saints Day (November 1), I like to greet my Christian friends by calling them “Saint so and so”. Saint Mike, Saint Cathy, Saint Ted. When I greeted one sister in the Lord in this way, she looked down, rather embarrassed and said, “Well, I don’t know about that“. To which I said, “Are you born again?” She said, “Yeah”. I said, “GOD calls you a ’saint’, get over it and enjoy it!”. I then shared some of this truth with her that I am writing now. I could see the light bulb going on as I shared with her this glorious truth.

Dear Ones — Saint of the Living God — lift your eyes from yourself and look in the face of your Loving Savior. Upon the basis of the beauty of HIS holiness, righteousness and perfection. Look not upon your own failure and wretchedness. Jesus Himself said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). It’s all Jesus, all Jesus, all Jesus. That’s how we entered the new life, that’s how we walk it, that’s how we are glorified and live for ever with Him.

It’s all of grace. All of it. Even what He calls us.

Saints. Children of God. Chosen ones. Dearly loved.

(c) 2008, Mark D. VanOuse.  All rights reserved.