Is It Possible That Christians Are Not Sinners Saved By Grace - Part 1? Series

Fifteen years ago I learned a simple truth from scripture. It’s a truth that explains why Christians commit sin after they are born again. It’s a truth that disagrees with a teaching that goes virtually unchallenged in the Body of Christ.

The teaching I’m talking about is “I am a sinner saved by grace.”

Why do most Christians believe this doctrine? What have they seen in the Bible that seems to support it? I’d dare say that one of the reasons is how they have been taught to read Romans 7. Most believe this chapter is describing a person who is born again but still struggling with the sin nature, hence the phrase “a sinner saved by grace.” But is that the truth that Romans 7 teaches?

How do most Christians interpret Romans 7?

In my preparations for this message, I read Romans 7 in several translations, paying particular attention to the marginal and study notes and I’ll explain why in just a moment. The following excerpts are a sampling of what I found.

“In this passage (Romans 15-25) of profound spiritual and psychological insight, the apostle personifies the struggle of the two natures within the believer – the old or Adamic nature, and the divine nature received through the new birth.” (The New Scofield Study Bible)

“Whether Paul is describing a Christian or non-Christian experience has been hotly debated through the centuries.” (New International Version)

(The NIV presents three reasons favoring the non-Christian view and four that favor the Christian viewpoint. On the surface, the NIV appears to be neutral. However, in reading the additional notes for the chapter, it’s clear that the editors believe Paul is talking about a Christian struggling with two natures.)

“Have you ever wondered why you can’t help but keep on sinning sometimes, even after you’ve given your life to God? Read Romans 7:1-25.” (Contemporary English Version)

All of these translations have a high degree of respect in the Christian community. But do they present the truth concerning what Paul is describing in Romans 7 in their marginal and study notes?

Now you may be asking yourself “Why is this question important?”

Many Christians, if not most, read marginal and study notes and accept them as true and accurate without much question. How many of you have done this? I’ll admit that I used to do this. And most of the Christians who trust marginal and study notes will do so if a particular translation is used by the pastor or someone they respect. Very few Christians model the behavior of the believers in Acts 17:11.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Ladies and gentlemen, what I’m about to say is critical: If we are to truly understand what is being taught in Romans 7, we must keep the chapter in the context of the entire book of Romans. And, not only that, we must pay particular attention to the chapter that precedes it and the chapter that follows it. So chapters 6 and 8 are crucial in our understanding of Romans 7. This is the only way the truth will be clearly captured and understood.

But there’s one thing we must establish before we dive into Romans – what happens to us when are born again. Most Christians believe they still have a sin nature because they find themselves committing sin. But if words mean anything, then what the Bible says disagrees with this belief.

Turn with me to Second Corinthians 5:17. "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

The word “new” in the Greek means “something that has never existed before.” When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we received a nature that we previously didn’t have, a life that did not contain any sin. When we received that life the sin nature that we had before was removed. Now, no longer have a sin nature. It’s not there!

Now, Paul drives home this point with the phrase “passed away”. When a person “passes away” we know that person no longer has life. This is what the Greek communicates. The person ceases to exist, except in our minds. The same can be said of sin.

You see, the born again experience does not affect our minds. And this is important to understand. That’s why Romans 12:1 and 2 tells us to renew our minds and passages like Ephesians 4:24 and Colossians 3:10 tell us to live by our new man – to live by the new spirit that we have received from God.

You see, spiritually we are just like Jesus! And we know He did not sin. So, why do we sin? Bear with me. We’ll see the answer clearly when we take a somewhat detailed look at Romans 6 next month. But for now let’s see the context of Romans 7.