Sinner No More

What you call yourself is what you are. Self-talk is important and Christians need to stop calling themselves sinners. It is demeaning and a complete lie. Now, the Bible does say that 'All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23), but it never refers to believers sinners. And frankly I'm tired of us referring to ourselves as such.

One word sisters, LETITGO! Two things inspired this post, 1. My women's Bible study this week (4/5). 2. A post I saw on Instagram and Facebook. The post said "Don't mistake my positivity for a lack of struggle. I'm a sinner, been broken, didn't know my worth, accepted anything and God still rescued me." I will give the post credit in that it speaks some truth about what walking with Christ is misconstrued as, but that one phrase 'I'm a sinner' struck a nerve! "Stop disrespecting yourself and God's work in you!", I wanted to pointlessly shout at my phone. But instead of looking like a raging maniac, I took to the keyboard.

Oddly enough, the day before I saw the post we had just finished discussing being new in Christ and what that means. If that's not a push to write then I don't know what is.

What the World Says

Society has a tendency to label you by your mistakes and failures. It remembers all the things that were once your norm, like thotting (google it if you're unsure what it means; root word: thot), heavy drinking, foul mouthed, not keeping a job, being vengeful, unforgiveness and all manner of sinful nature. Some people just won't embrace your growth and change, especially when you're bold and outright about it. They want to cut you down throwing your past in your face. The world would have us believe that at the very core of a person there is no change at all, only changed behavior. It wants us to condone its waywardness by guilting us of our own transgressions and we fall for it time and time again. Maybe not each time or consecutively but we do indeed fall into the trap of think we are no more than sinners.

What the Word Says

I am here to contradict that post and our own views of ourselves. It is fine for the world to wallow in their flesh and call it their "truth" but we must not succumb to that same mentality of viewing ourselves forever as never-ending sinners. Romans 8:1 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after flesh, but after the Spirit.' Meaning, we are forgiven for our past sinfulness and are free from the lies that sin is the only way or that we are one way forever. Instead we are renewed in Christ and must seek that renewal daily (Ephesians 4:22-23). Being a sinner means you willingly submit to your flesh and are enslaved by sin. But if you have accepted Christ, you are no longer a slave to sin and must choose every day to walk in that freedom (Romans 6:6-7).

Know Your Name

Here are some reminders of all the things God does call us and what he calls us to:

'We are God's children.' (Romans 8:16)

'Prophet to the nations.' (Jeremiah 1:5)

'A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation... His own possession.' (1 Peter 2:9-10)

'... called us to His own glory and excellence.' (2 Peter 1:3)

'you are a people holy to the Lord your God.' (Deuteronomy 7:6)

'... let us lay aside every weight, and sin that clings so closely... ' (Hebrews 12:1)'

'present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God' (Romans 12:1)

When you are a Christian, you have sins, but when you are a sinner, sin has you!

Remember who and whose you are!