An Identity Crisis

Brothers and sisters those who know and pursue the love of Christ, who look to imitate his actions, and learn from his words… I have a question, with the answer possibly being a bit blasphemous.  We’ll see how it goes...  

The question is:

Are we sinners?  Are you a sinner?  Am I a sinner?

Is this a trick question?  Yes…?  (shifts eyes suspiciously)

“I am a sinner.” 

This phrase gets used quite a bit among us.  It’s used when we share our testimonies, when we talk with those who do not share in our hope, establishing that we are all in need of the grace and mercy provided by Jesus, his death, and resurrection.  We use it as an empathetic encouragement for those who are struggling with a specific sin. 

There is a problem with this statement.  It is not truth. 

Uh… blasphemy…?

What did the blood of Christ purchase if not a new identity, if not a relationship where we are righteous and inheritors of a loving promise?  That we are now sons and daughters, and are no longer slaves to sin.  Does Jesus not say that we need to be born again?

Well right.

I’m not one to dabble in semantics, so I do think that what people are trying to say when they admit that they are “sinners” is the fact that they were sinners, and at times they do, indeed, still sin, and that fact only illuminates the amazing power of God’s love and mercy.

Was I a sinner? 

Yes.  “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23

Do I (still) sin?

Yes. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” – 1 John 1:8

But am I a sinner? 

No.  “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have receive the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry ‘Abba! Father!’  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” – Romans 8:14-16

We need to make sure we are communicating a right view of ourselves, a right view of God, and a right view of the sacrifice of Christ.  The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God, but we are now righteous – so why classify ourselves as something that we are no longer? 

But we still sin.  Sometimes a lot.  And pretty much every day.

Yeah we do, and we probably will sin every day for the rest of our lives.  (Although I don’t want to speak that over anyone as Jesus believes it possible for us to be perfect – Matthew 5:48).  But the act of sinning does not define identity – as we are now redeemed.  I sin but am not a sinner in the same sense that I can throw a football and play catch with my brother, but am not a professional football player.  (Despite popular belief)  There are more accurate and consistent ways to describe me based on how I live my life and what my passions are. 

The shift in my identity from sinner to son, an heir with Christ, was purchased with quite a high cost.  Even though we have decent intentions when we admit, “I am a sinner,” the payment of the life of Jesus seems pretty substantial for us to claim righteousness and not sin. 

I think the owner of the Los Angeles Angels would not be the most excited if Albert Pujols still called himself a St. Louis Cardinal.  “Hey Albert, uh remember that time when we paid you 250 million dollars…?”

I don’t want to condemn or call anyone a heretic if they ever refer to themselves as a sinner, because again I think I understand the heart and intent behind the statement.  And I don't want to dilute the impact of sin, and therefore strip away the power of God's grace.  But I hope this can be an enlightening way to affirm the truth of salvation rather than the falsehood of condemnation.  Maybe we are still trapped in reoccurring sin, maybe we don’t repent or confess as easily as we could because we are too quick to assume the identity of sinner.  Instead of that phrase reflecting the grace and mercy of God, the term ‘sinner’ becomes accusatory and self-deprecating, a self-fulfilling prophecy that looks to enslave rather than to free. 

How do we describe ourselves to others?  If we’re claiming the title of sinner more than son or daughter of God, than something may be skewed with the way we view our relationship with God.  In case some of you did not know, I was adopted from South Korea by two wonderful, loving parents.  As in America, they give names to babies in Korea.  So I had a Korean name… don’t ask me what it is, cause I can never remember it.  Why?  Because it hasn’t been my name for 22 and a half years.  I call myself by the name my parents gave me.  The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus gives us a new life, a new identity, a new name.  And this fact makes me want to follow and love God all the more. 

“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.  As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” – Psalm 103:12-13