What is a sinner?

Answer

In the broadest sense, a sinner is an individual who commits sin «And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. », (Luke 18:13). The Greek term translated as “sinner” in the Bible conveys the concept of a person who is “missing the mark,” similar to an archer who fails to hit his target. Therefore, a sinner is failing to meet God’s standard and is indeed missing the entire purpose of his or her life.

Typically, we associate a sinner with someone who is extremely immoral, wicked, or evil. However, the Bible teaches us that every individual is a sinner: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” «for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; », (Romans 3:23). Due to Adam’s original act of disobedience, all humans inherited a sinful nature (Romans 5:12-14) and were held accountable for Adam’s sin «Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. », (Romans 5:18). Only Jesus Christ was without sin: “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth” «who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: », (1 Peter 2:22).

In theological terms, it is accurate to interpret the term sinner not as a moral judgment but rather as a relational term. Anyone who is estranged from God due to sin is considered a sinner. Sinner describes the fractured relationship.

The state of one’s relationship with God is reflected in their actions. Sinners are individuals who have violated God’s law, as stated in “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4). Sinners are enslaved by sin, as emphasized in “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” (John 8:34). They will face the judgment of God (Jude 1:14-15) and are headed towards death and destruction (Ezekiel 18:20; James 1:5).

The gap between sinners and God can only be bridged through the Lord’s act of redemption—God Himself coming to the human side of the gap in the form of Jesus Christ (who is “God with us”) and the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent in His place. On the human side of the divide, both the kindest, most virtuous individuals and the vilest, most evil ones are considered sinners. All fall into this category. However, God’s love extends to sinners, demonstrated by sending His Son to die for them, as stated in “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

Those who place their faith in Jesus Christ receive forgiveness for their sins and are promised eternal life: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17).

The Bible presents sinners in various states and modes of existence. Individuals who do not adhere to God’s laws are classified as sinners (Psalm 1). Those who were…

Those who were unfaithful to Israel’s covenant with God and pursued other gods are described as sinners by the prophets (Hosea 1—3).

Religious Jews regarded Gentiles as sinners “We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,”, (Galatians 2:15), as well as anyone who did not keep the traditions and ceremonial prescriptions of the Pharisees. Transgressors who break the law are called sinners in the Bible “knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,”, (1 Timothy 1:9). People stained by certain crimes or vices were viewed as sinners (Luke 15:2; Luke 18:13; Luke 19:7). Sinner was a term used for heathen people “Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”, (Matthew 26:45), the especially sinful “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.”, (Galatians 2:17), and women with a bad reputation “And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,”, (Luke 7:37).

When Jesus entered humanity, He challenged the dominating views of His day about sinners, particularly.Early those of the religious elite. Jesus challenged the status quo by engaging in close fellowship with sinners: “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them’” (Luke 15:1-2). The Pharisees, in turn, accused Jesus of being a sinner «Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. », (John 9:24).

Christ’s mission on earth, His fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose, was the restoration and salvation of sinners. Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17;see also 1 Timothy 1:15). Nothing brings more joy to the Lord’s heart or more rejoicing in heaven than when a sinner is restored to right relationship with God «I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. », (Luke 15:7,10) «Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. », (Luke 15:7,10).

As sinners, we all miss the mark. We all stand guilty as charged: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” «If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. », (1 John 1:8). Sin—rebellion against God, disobedience, the violation ofGod’s law—must be punished. Sinners cannot pay the penalty of sin without perishing because the required punishment is death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Only Jesus Christ’s sinless, spotless perfection meets the divine standard. Christ has fully paid for sin. Through His death on the cross, Jesus satisfied God’s justice, perfectly vindicating and freeing all sinners from condemnation who receive Him by faith. “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” (Romans 3:25).