INTRODUCTION

I'm sure most of you, especially in church circles, have heard the phrase, "I'm just an old sinner saved by grace" before by church folk trying to be humble. I have even heard it spoken by church leaders as well. It annoys me every time I hear this lie, especially by people who should know better. While their intent is well meaning, they are incorrect. Are you an old sinner or are you saved by grace? You can't be both!

 

EXAMINING THE LIE

This lie is an attempt at humility, but it is actually false humility born by a lack of knowledge of the Word of God concerning redemption and perpetuated by religious tradition, especially amongst Protestant denominations.

 

EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE

Being "an old sinner" implies that you believe you are still one today. Before a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, yes they are a Sinner as it is written:

"There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, thereis none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Romans 3:10-12)

Being "an old sinner" also implies a sin consciousness even after you get saved. However, the Word of God says:

"'Come now, and let us reason together,' Says the LORD, 'Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.'" (Isaiah 1:18)

"I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember them." (Isaiah 43:25)

If God almighty Himself chooses to forget your sins after He blots them out, why are you remembering them?

However, once a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they are no longer a sinner, but are saved by grace through faith.

"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ upon all that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:21-26).

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Once this happens, we become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

 

CONCLUSION

You are NOT "Just an old sinner saved by grace." You were an old sinner before you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. When you did accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior you were saved by grace through faith in His blood and are now the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Get rid of that stinkin' thinkin' and get that religious lie out of your mind and out of your conscience!