I often hear people say "I'm just a sinner saved by grace." When I hear this, I sometimes ask them “are you a sinner saved by grace or were you a sinner who has been saved by grace?” Many of the times the answer affirms their original statement.

     Sometimes they will to quote Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," but they do so, not realizing that they have taken this text out of its original context. In its full context Romans 3:21-24 (NIV) states:

     [21]But now righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. [22] This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

     Are Christians really sinners saved by grace? What about being a new creature in Christ, what about being set free from the dominion of sin in our lives? The truth is that even as Christians we are prone to sin, but does it mean that we are sinners when we have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb? Consider this though in response to the question as to whether we are sinners saved by grace.

     "The reason way born-again Christians should not identify themselves as sinners lies in the focus of where we find our identity. In the life of a Christian, sin is an action or behavior, not an identity. Our identity is to be found in the righteousness of Christ Jesus. We do not deny that we sometimes sin, but we do not find our identity in that sin, but in the righteousness afforded us by Christ."  I thank you Lord that once was a sinner who has been saved by your grace. Thank you for your grace in my life despite my imperfections.