Question: “ARE BELIEVERS SINNERS SAVED BY GRACE?”
Introduction –
When the blind man was given his sight by Jesus, he wasn’t still referred to as being blind. In fact, in the book of John 9: 8, 13. 24. And the 25th verses refer to the man who received his as “WAS BLIND!”
When the Lord healed those from the multitude in Matthew 15:
“30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.”
I don’t see where they were referred any more as dumb, maim, lame, or blind!
When the Lord allowed those to return from the dead they weren’t referred to as “the dead.” And when the Lord saved those who needed to be born again, we are told in 2 Cor. 5:17:
“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
So, my question that I need clarity on is this:
If a person is saved, if they are a “new creature,” if: “the old things are passed away,” and if: “All things are become new,” who says that the Believer is still a sinner?
In the Old Testament there are only three meanings for the words Sinner/Sinners:
2398 chata’ khaw-taw’ a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn:–bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass 2398 chata’ khaw-taw’ a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn:–bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass
2400 chatta’ khat-taw’ intensively from 2398; a criminal, or one accounted guilty:–offender, sinful, sinner.
2403 chatta’ah khat-taw-aw’ or chattacth {khat-tawth’}; from 2398; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender:–punishment (of sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).
In the New Testament there are only two meanings for the words Sinner/Sinners:
- hamartolosham-ar-to-los’ from 264; sinful, i.e. a sinner:–sinful, sinner.
*3781. opheiletes of-i-let’-ace from 3784; an ower, i.e. person indebted; figuratively, a delinquent; morally, a transgressor (against God):–debtor, which owed, sinner. *Luke 13:4 is the only place this meaning is found.
As we can see, all of these meanings are referenced to one who sins or is the practice of sinning. But the Bible has a couple of interesting things to say about those who practice sin, and the Believer:
1 John 3:6: “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.”
1 John 5:18: “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”
So Beloved, my contention is this, we have been so used to saying that we are “Sinners saved by grace,” that not only do we believe it, but we don’t even recognize that it is a contradiction of terms; you can’t be one who practices sin and be saved too!
I also want to add that I have a list of over 100 names and verses given to Christians that are found in the Bible, and ironically, the name “SINNER” is not among them. I will state again that if anyone wants these notes, or the lists of Christian synonyms I mentioned, just send me your email address asking me for which one(s) you want.