What do you mean I am a sinner?
Bible Study Network
In the Bible, Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3.)
There are many people who believe that they have it going on when
it comes to God. There are many people who claim to be “spiritual.”
However, what the passage above is telling us is that a person is not even
getting to first base with God until he recognizes that he—like every one
of us—is a sinner. “All have sinned and are not good enough for God’s
glory.” (Romans 3:23 NCV.)
Even the righteous prophet Isaiah (who wrote a book of the Bible
bearing his name) recognized his own poor spiritual condition when he
came into the presence of a Holy God. He said, “Woe is me, for I am
undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of
a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of
hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5.)
Of course, when a person develops a relationship with God, His
Holy Spirit will indwell him and do good works through him. But it is
the work of God, not the work of man. Isaiah pointed out the difference
between a man’s righteous and that of God: “But we are all like an
unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:
6.)
Even people who do not claim to be particularly spiritual will attempt
to justify themselves. They say things like, “I treat people fairly.” Or “I
live by the Golden Rule.” However, all have sinned. If we look at
ourselves honestly, we know that each of us is far from perfect. After
all, everyone knows that “nobody is perfect.”
As people, we naturally compare ourselves to others. We tell
ourselves things like, “At least I’m not like those child molesters.”
However, the Bible also tells us that in God’s view, sin is sin and we are
condemned by any sin. “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet
stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2.10.)
For more information concerning sin and what to do about it, see:
You Can't Follow My Bubbles to Heaven.
The Ten Commandments: How do you Measure up?
Can a person sin too much to be saved?
How Can I be saved?
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