Let us see what the Scriptures have to say about such a
statement. From Psalm 103:12, we read, "As far as the east is from
the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." Notice
that God has removed our transgressions or sins from us.
From
Romans 4:7, "Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered." We note here that our iniquities are
forgiven and sins covered. How? By the blood of Jesus Christ. Once
and for all, He has shed His innocent blood on our behalf. He
doesn't have to die again. No more animal sacrifices are acceptable
to God.
Rom 5:8-9, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more
then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through him." Notice in this verse we were (past tense) sinners.
Christ died for us. We are no longer sinners but now saved from
wrath through Jesus Christ.
Rom. 5:12, "Wherefore, as by one man
sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed
upon all men, for that all have sinned:" Sin entered by Adam and
death by sin, so all were (past tense) sinners.
"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. 19 For as by one man's
disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one
shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the
offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more
abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace
reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our
Lord"(Rom. 5:18-21).
The Greek in verse 19 reads, "THE many were made sinners" meaning
all mankind were (past tense) sinners because of the sin of Adam. In
the same way the Greek reads, "the many shall be made righteous."
meaning all mankind made righteous by the righteousness of Jesus
Christ .In God's eyes they are righteous.
Rom. 8:1-2, "There is
therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who
walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin
and death." If you are born again or born from above, then there is
now no condemnation. The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made you
free from that law of sin and death, so how can you be classified as
a sinner?
Ephesians 1:7, "In whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his
grace;"
Eph. 2:1, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in
trespasses and sins;
Again, were dead in sins (past tense) but
now you are made alive by Jesus Christ. How? Because you are now
saved by grace. How can you be a sinner and saved by grace at the
same time. Impossible. It's a misnomer. If you are a sinner, then
you haven't been saved by grace. The moment you are saved by grace,
through the blood of Jesus Christ, you are no longer a sinner.
Eph. 2:4-5, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love
wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"
Eph.
2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man
should boast."
Now read Colossians 1:13-14, "Who hath delivered
us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the
kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his
blood, even the forgiveness of sins." If we have been delivered from
the power of darkness, then how can we call ourselves a sinner? We
were delivered the moment we were born again. We have forgiveness of
sins, so cannot be classified as a sinner.
A person (of the world) sins because he is a sinner, he is not a
sinner because he sins.
One more Scripture verse: 1 Cor. 15:49, "And as we have borne the
image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."
Before we were saved by grace, we bore the image of the earthy, the
sinner. But now after spirit salvation, we bear the image of the
heavenly or one saved by grace.
In summary, the expression, "just
a sinner saved by grace" is not in the Scriptures and the scriptures
totally refute such a concept. ***