So you read Romans 7 where Paul said, “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing,” and now you think Christians should identify as ‘sinners.’ You’ve told your pagan friends that you’re ‘not better than them’ because you’re ‘a sinner’ too. You’ve shouted at me during a church service for suggesting that Christians should not say that (okay, this is a pretty small demographic but it DOES exist).
It’s important to keep in mind as you read Romans 7 that it is followed by Romans 8. Paul describes a phenomenon in Romans 7 that most Christians will admit to experiencing themselves. He says, “I don’t do the good things I want to do. Instead, I do the bad things I don’t want to do.” (That’s a paraphrase so feel free to put the sentiment into your own words). However you choose to say it, Paul is admitting that he still wrestles with sin even though he is a follower of Jesus. It’s right there in black and white! Paul, an apostle of Jesus, still sins! So you can tell your pagan friends that you’re a sinner just like them—unless you choose to include Romans 8 in your theology.
In Romans 8, Paul says: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
AND then he says: “But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”
AND AND then, he says (WARNING: If you still identify as a sinner, you might want to sit down before reading further): “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
The Spirit you received does not make you a slave, it makes you a child of God. You’re not ‘a sinner’…unless you’re NOT wrestling against your flesh. When you tell pagans that you’re no better than them, you’re admitting that you don’t live according to God’s spirit. You’re telling them that you live by the law of sin and death. Is that what you meant to say?
You know better than I what’s going on in your head and heart. If you say you’re a sinner, I believe you. I just want you to understand that the Bible says you can’t be a child of God at the same time.