Responding to a YouTuber’s comment “Am I still a “sinner?”

YouTuber Tom Dutch inputted the following comment under one of my videos.

I believe Tom’s comment is reasonable. Therefore below is my response.

Tom thank you for your comment. Yes you are partially correct, and yes perhaps I do say that too much. But let us not forget that the Apostle Paul referred to himself as the “chief” of sinners. Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” Regardless of the context, Paul did not say I was  a sinner, he said I “am”  a sinner. This ‘am’ is the Greek word eimi, which is in the first person singular present indicative.

The more I grow in Christ (by Gods grace), the more I am increasingly aware of my sin nature. Hence in that context, I am a sinner. I often call myself a “sinner” because there are too many ‘sinless perfectionists’ out there that claim they never ever sin. Plus, I err on the side of praising the Lord, and exalting Christ, not myself.

Though I am grateful for the place the Lord has brought me. It is important to remember where I came from. Charles H. Spurgeon said the following of Christians that have not forgotten they were sinners. “And then, again, they always make the most zealous saints.”

However, when a person that professes to be a Christian, but continues-in, and/or practices unrepented sin tells me “Hey we’re all sinners,” it is them that I respond to differently, and much harsher. As the Scriptures says they are most likely not saved.

Yes you are correct, now that I am regenerated, the Scriptures refer to me as a saint, an ambassador of Christ, a bond-slave to Christ, I am holy because He is holy, I am clothed in His imputed righteousness, and I now belong to His royal priesthood.

In your defense, it says in 1 John 3:4-9, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”

But it also says in 1 John 1:8-10, that “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

Do these passages contradict each other? The answer is NO. But there is a ‘thin theological line’ that must be studied, examined, and circumspectly walked upon. As I said in a previous blog post, “Law Enforcement is expected to toe what is known as a “Thin Blue Line.” In the Christian realm I refer to a “Thin Theological Line.” There is a Thin Theological Line between the two aforementioned passages.”

Though I fall short. It is my intent to have a balanced Theology, and teach the whole counsel of God.

To further explain this.

Though 100% of mankind are sinners. God’s elect becomes Simul Iustus et Peccator. “Simul Iustus et Peccator” means His elect are now simultaneously justified and sinner, aka both sinner and saint. Though by nature I still sin, by Christ’s imputed righteousness, my identity is in Christ, aka saint. Therefore, a Christian character, conduct, and reputation ought to be more like a saint. #SimulLustusEtPeccator

By nature, I am a sinner, but by definition (or title) I am now a saint, a bond-slave (δούλος) to Christ, etcetera. Therefore I ought to act less like a sinner, and more like a saint and a slave.