What's in a word?
"Sinner"
Many folks, even preachers who know better, teach "G-d hates the sin, but loves the sinner." Do you know that is deception because that is NOT what the Scriptures teach. Psalm 5:5 says YAHWEH hates all who do ininquity (another word for sin). The below is an article submitted on this exact topic.
Have you seen the many books and heard the many talks on “You are what you speak and/or think?” Lots of evidence that the way you think is the way you are. On top of that, if you believe you ARE a sinner, it makes sinning a bit more “acceptable”--after all, we’re all sinners, right? It has always bothered me when people I know and love refer to themselves as “sinners.” If you believe yourself to be a “sinner,” aren’t you seriously endangering your innermost being? First, we MUST understand what sin is because, surprisingly, many do NOT know: 1 John 3:4, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness [without law].” So if you think the law was “done away with,” then sin is non-existent.
Let’s look at just a couple verses to show what I am saying regarding a person calling and believing that they ARE a sinner:
- Proverbs 11:31 (quoted in 1 Peter 4:18), If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, how much more the unrighteous AND THE SINNER.
- Proverbs 13:22, A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the SINNER is stored up for the righteous.
In John 9:16, some of the Pharisees actually accused the Messiah of being a sinner. Why? Because He did not keep the Sabbath (as the oral law/tradition said it ought to be kept—placing burdens on the people that YAHWEH’s words do/did not). Many of the Israelites sinned, repented, and were forgiven; some died because of their sin. On a couple occasions when Yahushua healed someone, He said, “Go and sin no more.” Isn’t that indicative of no longer being “a sinner”?
Unfortunately, people have been taught most all their lives that “we’re all sinners,” when that is NOT what the Scriptures teach. Romans 3:23 says we have ALL sinned and fallen short of the glory of Yahweh and we’re told in 1 John 1:10 that if we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar! Do you see the difference? If you are currently “living in sin,” practicing sin on a daily basis, THEN you could rightfully call yourself a sinner but beware of what you are doing. See the scriptures above and the many more that show “BEING a sinner” is not a good place to be!
When I’ve approached this topic with some, many have immediately perceived I was being “self” righteous but that is not the case whatsoever. I am “striving” towards righteousness, just as all the patriarchs, apostles, etc. were. Again, look at some of our examples. David was the apple of YAHWEH’s eye, yet he sinned—but repented (Psalm 17:8; 2 Samuel 24:10, 17). Noah and Lot were both called “righteous” (Genesis 6:9; 7:1; 2 Peter 2:7), yet we know they had sinned.
Most all know the power of prayer, but did it occur to you that “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16)? Does our Father hear and/or answer the prayers of “sinners”? Isaiah 59:2 says that sin has separated them from their Elohim and His face was hidden so He will NOT hear. I want my prayers to be effective ones and answered by my Father in the manner He prescribes! I’m pretty certain those reading this would as well!
Let’s look at 1 Peter 3:12 (referencing back to Psalm 34:15-16): For the eyes of YAHWEH are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers, but the face of YAHWEH is against those who do evil.
Now for the clincher—1 John 3:9 says, Whoever has been born of YAHWEH does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of YAHWEH. I’m fairly certain people interpret this verse in different ways, but let me explain it in simplistic terms--”IF” you love your Father and you know your Father’s instructions and keep them in the forefront of your mind, it truly is impossible to sin. How could a person think “I know I should not steal this, but I want it,” at the same time he has the command “Do not steal” in the forefront of his mind? If you have been baptized in the Name of Yahushua, did you not come up a “new” person, born of the Father? And we are also told several times how the “new” covenant is His laws in our hearts and minds (what we say and do). When we "slip," it is because those instructions fall from the front of our mind, albeit momentarily.
Here are a few other verses to consider the next time you want to refer to yourself as “a sinner”:
- Proverbs 13:6, Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
- Ecclesiastes 2:26, For Elohim gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give it to him who is good before Elohim.
- Ecclesiastes 9:18, Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.
- Luke 7:37, And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Yahushua sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil. NOTE: We are not really told why this woman was a sinner yet we are told further down in verse 47 that her sins WHICH WERE MANY, were forgiven. So, she was no longer a “sinner,” right? We are told the Messiah told her in verse 50, “faith has saved you, go in peace”--the implication: “Go and sin no more.”
The Scriptures are replete with opposites—good and evil, day and night, morning and evening, summer and winter, sin and righteousness. So, the next time you decide to call, think or refer to yourself as a sinner, think twice—you may be a sinner but, if you are, it would benefit you to read the scriptures, repent and turn FROM being a sinner to one who is striving for righteousness! Remember what the Messiah said often: “Repent and sin NO MORE.” He absolutely knew we would slip because we are human and that is WHY we need a mediator, and praise YAHWEH for providing one in His Son!
