Look at all these sinners.
Someone asked me a good question last week, “Why are we sinners?”
Well, first of all we are sinners because we all sin.
Romans 3:23 (NASB95) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
We don’t have to be taught how to sin, it is part of fallen nature which we inherited from our fallen parent, Adam. Children start lying to protect themselves at a pretty early age. You don’t have to show them how to do it, unlike brushing their teeth or eating broccoli.
Paul speaking of himself says this about salvation;
1 Timothy 1:15 (NASB95) It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
No one teaches us better than Paul. In many scripture passages he teaches that because of the complete work of Christ we are the “righteousness of God in Christ”, we are justified before God, we have been adopted into God’s family as sons and daughters and in eternity we have a inheritance laid up for us.
So if the work of Christ is complete why are we still sinners?
First we want to emphasize that we are who we are in Christ, not because of our own works, but even in spite of our own works we are saved. Our good works didn’t get us here and they don’t keep us here either. So, especially when we relate these truths to those outside of faith in Christ, we want to convey that we are sinners saved by the complete work of Christ. And that we are still imperfect in our living out the implications of our salvation.
I am positionally made righteous and secure in Christ. I am practically on a journey to Christlikeness. We call that the work of sanctification. No one is mistaking me for Jesus! But that is my goal.
Romans 8:29 (NASB95) For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.
He is still working on us.
Philippians 1:6 (NASB95) For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Secure in Christ alone,
Pastor Randy