Declared Righteous: You Are No Longer a Sinner
We are all “sinners saved by grace.” Truly, this is the essence of the entire salvation message. We were once lost in our sin… a slave to it in fact… but in Christ, we were set free from sin’s power and have inherited eternal life. As Believers, the Bible tells us that we are now declared righteous by God. (Romans 5:1) You are no longer a sinner, rather you are a saint in Jesus’ name.
But if this is true, why do so many Christians still view themselves as sinners?
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You are set free from the power of sin…
The Bible tells us that sin no longer has any power over the life of a Believer. In other words, before Christ, sin had great power in our lives. It was a daily struggle. Sure, we could potentially make some good choices. After all, there are some in the world we would consider to be “good” people who aren’t Christians. But the Bible tells us that no matter how good we think we are, sin has a power in our lives that we can simply not overcome apart from Christ.
In Christ, however, sin no longer has any power! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can say no to sin. It doesn’t have to be a daily struggle. We can choose to live by the Spirit who will be faithful to train us in righteousness and give us the strength we need to resist the devil’s schemes.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. – Romans 6:5-7 (NIV, emphasis added)
You have been forgiven and washed clean of all sin…
One of the most amazing aspects of salvation is the fact that our sins are literally wiped clean. The Bible describes us as pure and spotless, without blemish. It is as if we never sinned.
The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. Past. Present. And Future.
The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! – Hebrews 9:13-14 (NIV)
You are declared righteous by God…
As Christians, we understand fully that we were once sinners. But we often view ourselves as sinners even after we’ve been saved by grace. I know firsthand that it’s easy to do. After all, we aren’t perfect. We still make mistakes. We slip up and sin. But did you know that the Bible never once calls you a sinner in Christ? You are no longer a sinner, but a saint! You are being perfected in Christ Jesus and are growing stronger in Him each and every day.
As children of God, it’s important for us to remember that we are no longer sinners. Why? Because it’s a lie of the enemy. He loves nothing more than to trap us into thinking that we are hopeless and will always struggle with sin. Labeling yourself a sinner makes it easier for him to convince you that you can’t say no to sin… that somehow sin still has power over your life. But our sinful nature was nailed to the cross. This is the truth we should be declaring every day.
But what about the fact that Christians still sin? Yes, we will still make mistakes. As we grow up and mature in Christ, we will still need to take our sins to God with a repentant heart. But you have been washed clean. So to continue to label yourself as a sinner is a lie. Instead, declare the truth about yourself. You have been declared righteous by God and are growing more mature each day in Him. Choose to see yourself as God sees you… without blemish or fault.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. – Titus 2:11-14
You are no longer a sinner. You were once a sinner who is now saved by grace.
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*Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.
**Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
