The Bible states that humans are naturally inclined towards disobedience and rebellion against God. Christians also believe that salvation from sin is achieved through faith in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to atone for the sins of humanity. That changes everything!
However many want to think of themselves as sinners. So a lot of church liturgy demands confession, that assuming we always need forgiveness
Jesus does not go on accusing people of sin or calling us sinners!
Consider John 3 16-17:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. God’s picture of us now!
Consider the adulterous woman in John 8: Where are those who condemn you? Go and sin no more! (a promise not command).
Consider many of the parables: pictures of how God sees us! E.g., more joy in heaven over one who repents than over the 99 who need no repentance; the lost (prodigal) son; the Pharisee and the tax collector—who is justified?
Yes, Jesus did refer to some people as ‘sinners’ in the Bible. It was the church leaders, Pharisees who called some people ‘sinners’. For example, in Matthew 9:10-13, Jesus is criticized by those religious leaders for eating with tax collectors and ‘sinners’. Jesus responds by saying, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but ‘sinners’.”
Consider Paul:
Sin is something we experience, yes; but it’s not who we are. We have a choice! We can choose to say ‘NO’ to sin, even as we battle against it. The Christian says “choose life.” Stop sinning!
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. . . . . 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. see Galatians 5:13-26.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” Eph 2:10
Romans 5 says we have all sinned but and come short of the glory of God, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Fit for eternal life! And while we were enemies Christ died for us.
Consider 1 John 1: “. . . our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” God is a loving Father who wants to bless His children. We are not his enemies, through Jesus we are his friends—He sees you as a friend! We have opened the door to Him and He has come in. This is our identity!
Consider famous Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s response to Richard Dawkins 2023
Her spiritual journey from Islam, to atheism to Christianity is extraordinary. Richard Dawkins criticised it, highlighting Christianity as being “obsessed with sin.” But Hirsi said I find that Christianity is actually obsessed with love. And that the figure, the teachings of Christ as I see it, and again, I’m a brand new Christian, but what I’m finding out — which is the opposite to growing up as a Muslim and the message of Islam — but the message of Christianity I get is that it’s a message of love, it’s a message of redemption, and it’s a story of renewal and rebirth.
And so, Jesus dying and rising again for me symbolises that story. And in a small way I felt like I have died and I was re-born.
I quote from a good article from the highly recommended Daily Declaration:
Tony Baines says it so well in this 9 May 2024 article:
“What is the true identity of man?
To discover that, we need an infinite, infallible reference point – God Himself.
Human beings cannot tell you what your true identity is. That can only be uncovered by going to someone infinite and infallible outside ourselves. You have to see yourself through the eternal eyes of God.
When we learn to see that way, we can view everything through love.
He is the One who saw you before time began. He sees your new creation spirit (Eph 2:10).
And when we see that new creation spirit, our eyes and ears open to Heaven’s possibilities. We can live out of the reality of our new identity, through His grace and truth.
Knowing our new inner identity (2 Cor 4:16), we can get to know the Holy Spirit through prayer. Our progress in building this relationship with God depends on several factors. What is our willingness to surrender to Him? What time will we give Him?
God is unchangeable and self-sufficient. He doesn’t live in the constraints of time. He lives in the realm of eternity.
Before you were lost in Adam, you were found in Christ Jesus. He chose you before time began and before you ever sinned (Rev 13:8). Let’s remember that we are unconditionally loved – and forever in His love (Eph 1:13–14). We are blameless in His sight, highly esteemed, adopted in His beloved Christ (Eph 1:6). This is the true identity of the one who has been born again (1 Peter 1:23).
Learn to see yourself through the eyes of the eternal God. If you see yourself through the wrong lens, it will introduce you to a world of shadows, following in the fallenness of Adam. In that place, we get lost in shame, blame, confusion and fear.
But if you hold to the true gospel of Jesus Christ, you will see yourself through the eyes of God — the One who held you in Himself before time began. You will see yourself in the new creation image of Christ (Eph 3:16).
If you do that, you’ll know your value and identity. You are blameless and without accusation in His sight through His glory and grace. Always!”
Prayer
“Jesus, we need You. Please help us Holy Spirit. Come in like a flood, help us love. May we have an overwhelming compulsion to dive deeper into the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, would You beautifully begin to reveal deep revelations of emotional healings necessary for each of us. May Your glory come upon us so strongly that wounds are healed and strongholds are torn down.
Please manifest Yourself within the new creation born inside every beloved believer. Let us deepen our foundational identity in Jesus. May we learn to cast aside our old selves, and instead live out the true reality of the new creation spirit. Amen.”
Ian Thomson 