Stop Calling Yourself a Sinner (Romans 5-6)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

How do you refer to yourself as a Christian?

Many believers refer to themselves as “saved sinners,” but the Apostle Paul wouldn’t have favored this type of language. For Paul, the thought of continuing in sin was appalling. It went against all he knew and understood of Christ. In chapter 5 of Romans, Paul laid the foundation of what it meant to be justified by faith.

Justification occurs the moment we give our lives to Jesus Christ, simultaneously with regeneration. To be justified means we are fully pardoned from the penalty of our sins. It is a change in our standing before God. In Romans 5, Paul outlines the marvelous grace of God that he has given to his people. However, in Romans 6, Paul wants to make something very clear. This new freedom that is found in Christ Jesus is not to be used as a means of exploiting the grace of God.

In Romans 6:1-2, Paul says, ¹ “What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? ² Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” The phrase translated as “absolutely not” is the strongest form of no in the Greek language. Paul was saying, “Away with the notion!” or “Perish the thought!” For Paul, the idea that a follower of Christ would continue to live in willful rebellion against God was utterly appalling. Paul wants us to know that not only is the standing of a believer’s life changed, but their status and personal relationship with God is changed as well.[1]

When we become a child of God, we are no longer considered sinners; we are saints (1 Cor. 1:2). As saints, we are to live differently than sinners. We operate under a different authority because we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:1-2, Paul says, ¹ “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, ² because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

Scripture teaches there are four primary types of sin. These include high-handed acts of rebellion against God, sins of passion, sins of omission, and sins of ignorance. Broadly speaking, to sin is to miss the mark. Narrowly speaking, to sin is to willfully do what we know is wrong.

In Romans 6, when Paul speaks against continuing in sin, he is saying that when we become followers of Christ, we receive the enabling power of God’s Holy Spirit that produces within us strength and resolve to live above willful sin against God.

In Romans 6:6-7, Paul says, ⁶ “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, ⁷ since a person who has died is freed from sin.” This is an accurate representation. Slaves are continually in bondage; free people can make their own decisions.