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Are Christians Still Sinners, But Saved By Grace – Part 4
(Rev. Barry Johnson and Rev. Rodney Johnson)
Introduction
This is the fourth lesson in this series “Are Christians Still Sinners Saved by Grace?” In lesson one we opened with a statement that is very popular in the Church today: “I am a sinner saved by grace!” In the first three lessons we looked at scriptures that identified the biblically accurate description of who we are as sons and daughters of God: “I was a sinner who was saved by grace! Now I am a righteous, blameless holy child of God!”
In the last lesson, we identified what we see as the lack of sound biblical knowledge and understanding by the Body of Christ concerning the truth that all of us have a spirit with a soul that is housed in a body. And, by all us, we mean those who have Jesus on the inside of them and those who do not have Jesus on the inside of them. Everyone who is born into this world is born a triune being. All of us have a spirit, a soul, and a body. This is critical to understanding why Christians may occasionally commit sin, and while others choose to commit sin more often.
In First Thessalonians chapter five, we see a reference to our triune existence in Paul’s prayer for the church at Thessalonica. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (First Thessalonians 5:23)
In the last lesson, we also looked at Genesis 2:7 which says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” What God breathed into man was His essence, who He is – a spirit. And we see this in John 4:24 – “God is Spirit: and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” We also see in Genesis 2:7 that when God breathed His spirit into the dust of the ground, man became a living being. The King James Version says man “became a living soul.”
In the lesson, we saw that the soul is not the same as the spirit. While the soul makes you who you are, makes you different from any other soul, the spirit is what gives the body life and we see this eloquently stated in James 2:26. The verse says, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” We closed the last lesson with a brief look at the body and learned that it “drives” our emotions, passions, and desires through what it sees, hears, and feels and we see this in Galatians 5:16-17: “(16) I say then: Walk in the spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust (desire) of the flesh (body). (17) For the flesh (body) lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh (body); and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
If you look closely at what is recorded at the end of verse 17, it tells us that our spirit wars against our flesh and vice versa. Why is this war happening? The flesh is trying to do something it shouldn’t be doing, and the spirit is fighting against it to stop it. Likewise, because the spirit is trying to do something that the flesh does not enjoy, the flesh is warring against it to get its way. This is why Christians sometimes sin. The flesh wins the battle, but this my friend should be the exception and not the rule.
In the first three lessons, we provided the foundation for what we are going to cover in this lesson and in the next two lessons. So, again we ask the question: “Why do most Christians believe that they are sinners saved by grace?” But an even more important question is this: “What have they seen in scripture that appears to support this belief?” As we said earlier, one of the reasons for this belief is how the body of Christ has been taught to read Romans chapter seven. Most believe the chapter is describing a born again person who is still struggling with the sin nature, hence the phrase “a sinner saved by grace.” But is that the truth we see in Romans chapter seven?
Very few Christians model the behavior of the believers in Berea as seen in Acts 17:11, which states, “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” If we are to truly understand what is being taught in Romans chapter seven, we must keep the chapter in the context of the entire book of Romans and we must pay particular attention to chapters six and eight. This is the only way the truth in Romans chapter seven will be clearly captured and understood.
Throughout this study, we have come back to this common belief: most Christians believe they still have a sin nature because they find themselves committing sin. If words mean anything, then what the Bible says disagrees with this belief. Second Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” The word new means “something that has never existed before.” The sin nature we had before we were born again no longer lives inside of us. It’s not there! Paul drives home this point with the words “passed away.” When a person “passes away” we know the person is no longer alive. The person ceases to exist in this world, except in our hearts and minds. This is what the Greek communicates about sin as it relates to our born again spirits. The born again experience affects our spirits but it does not affect our minds. This is important to understand and why we are told to renew our minds in Romans 12:1, 2 and to live by our new man in Romans 13:14, Ephesians 4:24, and Colossians 3:10. Let’s look at these verses.
When he appealed to the Church at Rome to renew its minds in Romans 12:1-2, the Apostle Paul also begged them to do it. He wrote: “(1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect, will of God.” In the same way that Paul appealed and begged the Church in Rome to renew its mind, he is doing the same with us today. These verses paint an image of Paul on his knees with his hands clasped in front of him, tears flowing down his face appealing and begging us to do the same.
In the books of Romans, Ephesians and Colossians, Paul instructs the Christians in Rome, Ephesus and Colossae to live by their new nature, their born again spirits. Paul writes the following in Romans 13:14: “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” The word provision means “to know ahead.” The verse says, “make no provision for the flesh.” In other words, you have predetermined that the flesh (body) will not influence you to sin because you are living by who you have become in Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 4:24, Paul writes, “And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” And, finally, in Colossians 3:10 we read the following: “And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” Before we move on, we want you to see the common thread that binds these verses: we must choose to keep our thoughts, emotions and bodies in check and follow our born again spirits that we received from Jesus – and it’s a decision that we make beforehand. We go into every situation knowing how we are going to respond.
You see, spiritually we are just like Jesus! We just put this in print! You don’t need to clean your glasses. And we know that Jesus did not sin even though He could have chosen to do so. Remember, when Jesus was on earth, He was a man who could be and was tempted and we see this in Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” So why do we sin? Bear with us because we are going to answer that question clearly and thoroughly when we take a somewhat detailed look at Romans chapter six next month.
But for now, leading up to chapter six, let’s see the context of chapter seven, one of the most misunderstood and wrongly taught chapters in the entire Bible. It is used to teach that Christians have a sin nature which is not true. So, what’s the problem? Romans chapter seven is taught separately from chapters one through chapter six and chapter eight. If we want to truly understand what chapter seven is teaching us, then we cannot separate it from the chapters before it and the chapter that follows it, Romans chapter seven can only be understood when we consider what we read in chapters one through six. And there’s a catch: We must accept and believe what we read in these chapters. From this point on, we are going to briefly highlight what we see in the first five chapters of the book of Romans.
Romans Chapter One
In this chapter, Paul contrasts what it means to live by faith and what it means to live by the Law. Put another way: what it means to live by the born again spirit that is on the inside of us and what it means to live by the old sin nature that is no longer inside of us. For example, in the latter part of verse 17 Paul writes, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17) The implication is clear: a person cannot earn justification through performing the works of the Law. Paul is quoting from Habakkuk 2:4. “Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” The phrase “the just shall live by faith” is repeated three additional times in the New Testament: Galatians 2:20, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38.
Why is this critical for Christians to understand? The person who confesses Jesus as Lord is the only one who is just in God’s sight and can live by faith. These would have been “fighting words” for the Jews because the Law, not faith, is what they believed separated them from everyone else. We see in the very first chapter that Paul has planted his feet squarely on the side of faith. His insistence on faith rather than the works of the Law is the “red thread” that is seen throughout this entire epistle. A key point to remember from Romans 1: A person cannot live by faith and live by the Law at the same time. It is impossible.
Romans Chapter Two
Paul continues his examination of what it means to live by faith rather than by the works of the Law in this chapter. Look at what he says in verse 13-15. “(13) For not the hearers of the Law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the Law will be justified; (14) for when Gentiles, who do not have the Law, by nature do the things in the Law, these, although not having the Law, are a Law to themselves, (15) who show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them.” (Romans 2:13-14)
Speaking to the Jews, Paul says “The Gentiles, whom you consider dogs, are doing by nature what you’re trying to do by works.” The apostle, in verse 13 states a general principle that the doers of the Law can only be justified, if justification is attempted by the Law. Then, in this verse and the next one he proceeds to show that the same principle is applicable to the pagans – the Gentiles. Even though they do not have the written Law of God, yet they have sufficient knowledge of His will to take away every excuse for sin and consequently, for this reason, he reaches the conclusion that they were guilty. Paul said they did by nature those things that were contained in the Law. This means that while they did not have the revealed will of God told to them, some of the things required by the Law (His will) they did by nature. For example, respect for parents, telling the truth, justice, honesty, chastity.
So as far as they did any of those things, they showed that they had a Law on the inside of themselves. And wherein they failed in these things they showed that they were justly condemned. Paul said in that they did these things they were “a Law unto themselves.” It means that their own reason and conscience constituted, in these things, a Law, or prescribed that for them which the revealed Law did to the Jews. They did not need the Law to tell them what’s right and what’s wrong. And he drives the point home in verse 29: “but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” (Romans 2:29) A key point to remember from Romans 2: Only a human spirit that has the life of God within it can live by faith.
Romans Chapter Three
This chapter doesn’t get any easier for the Jews who insist on holding on to the Law and, as a result, reject the gospel of Christ. Paul opens chapter three with a question pertaining to whether there was an advantage to being a Jew. He asks are Jews better than the Gentiles? Or rather, have they an advantage as to character and prospects of going to heaven over the Gentiles? The question only refers to the great point in the debate about being just before God. In verse two he admitted that the Jews had important advantages in some respects, but he now affirms that those advantages did not make a difference between them and the Gentiles in terms of justification. So he tells them that the Jews have no preference or advantage over the Gentiles in regard to the subject of justification before God. In fact, he tells them that they have failed to keep the Law; they are sinners; and if they are justified, it must be in the same way as the rest of the world.
Now look at what he says in verses 19-21. Romans 3:19-21: “(19) Now we know that whatever the Law says, it says to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (20) Therefore by the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the Law is the knowledge of sin. (21) But now the righteousness of God apart from the Law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.” (Romans 3:19-21)
Jewish males are raised to believe that keeping the Mosaic Law is what gives them right standing before God. But Paul, in three verses, dismantles this belief. Notice that he uses the phrase “under the Law” (verse 19) and “deeds of the Law” (verse 20) to show that the Jew and the person who is not born again, is not considered justified or righteous in God’s sight because His righteousness can only be known “apart from the Law” (verse 21). Paul says that even the Law itself testifies to a time when people will not need it to be justified. And just to make sure the reader doesn’t miss the key point of this chapter, he writes in verse 28, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the Law.” Paul makes it clear that no righteousness of their own by following the Law will be the grounds of their justification. They are sinners and, as such, can have no claim to be treated as righteous solely based on their following the Law. God has devised a plan by which they may be pardoned and saved and that is by faith alone.
Here in the first three chapters of the book of Romans, Paul repeatedly confronts the Jews with the truth that dependence on the works of the Law to earn justification (righteousness) is futile. It’s only through the simple act of faith in the gospel of Christ that men and women can enter the Father’s throne room of grace. A key point to remember from Romans 3: A person cannot be justified by keeping the Law. A person can only be justified by faith.
Romans Chapter Four
Paul brings out the big gun in chapter four – Abraham. The Jews boast about being Abraham’s offspring in John 8:31-59. While the passage is too long to include in this study, we want to highlight verses 31-36. “(31) Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. (32) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ (33) They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?’ (34) Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. (35) And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. (36) Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:31-36) Jesus made it clear that the one who commits sin is a slave to sin and only those who accept Him can be free from it. Their relationship with Abraham did not free them or justify them. As a matter of fact, it caused them more condemnation because they did not walk as Abraham did.
Jesus tried to teach them this truth because the Jews put unwavering and unapologetic confidence in two things: being the seed of Abraham, including having his covenant, and the Law of Moses. Now comes Paul who says there is a difference between living as Abraham lived (which they didn’t attempt to do) and living under the Law (which they were failing miserably at doing). We read the following in Romans 4:2-3: “(2) For if Abraham were justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. (3) For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.’”
The Jews recognize Abraham’s special standing with God and believed he had it because of what he had done. Abraham’s “special standing” was not based on what he had done, but on Who he had believed. Paul emphasizes this by using the words “counted”, “reckoned”, and “imputed” throughout the chapter. Now we want you to see how Paul talks about faith and the Law as it related to Abraham receiving God’s promise to him. We are going to read verses 13 and 14. “(13) For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. (14) For if they which are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect.” (Romans 4:13-14) These two verses show us that the promise God made to Abraham had nothing whatsoever to do with the Law. But it had everything to do with his faith. Here’s the harsh truth and reality that we read in these verses: if a person is “of the Law” that person is not born again and is not part of God’s promise to Abraham. That person is not going to heaven.
“Abraham’s life,” Paul says, “is one that was lived by faith in God’s Word and in the promise God had made to him. And what he received was not earned through works ‘but through the righteousness of faith’. He simply believed that God would keep His Word.” Isn’t that something? Abraham simply believed that what God said He would do He would do. A key point to remember from Romans 4: Faith is believing and trusting God knowing that He will keep His Word.
Romans Chapter Five
Now that he has shown the Jews that Abraham’s righteousness was imputed to him through unwavering faith in what God had spoken and not through the works of the Law, Paul emphasizes this point in the first two verses of chapter five. “(1) Therefore, having been justified by faith [just like Abraham], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2)
What Paul is saying is nothing short of astounding to the Jewish mind. “We are justified through our faith in Jesus Christ and nothing else. And this same faith is the reason why we are no longer at war with God. We now live in peace with Him. But you have rejected Jesus, and you are still His enemy. You think you are living in harmony with God because you perform the works of the Law. But you are no more in harmony with God than the Gentiles!”
In verse 10 Paul says Jesus reconciled us to God through His death. The Law could not then and cannot now perform this reconciliation. Now pay attention to what Paul says next in verse 11. It is through our faith in the completed works of Jesus that “through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (Romans 5:11) Notice Paul doesn’t say “a reconciliation” but “the reconciliation”. Ladies and gentlemen, only Jesus can reconcile us to God!
In verses 12-21, Paul shows how every man, woman and child has been condemned (sentenced to spiritual death) because of Adam’s rebellion. Man is not a sinner because he sins. Man is a sinner because of the death nature operating in him and that is what causes him to sin. In the same way man became a sinner – through Adam’s spiritual death – man can also be made righteous – through Jesus’ spiritual death and resurrection. Thank God!
Summary & Close
What have we learned in the first five chapters of the letter to the Christians in Rome?
? Living by faith and not by the works of the Law is the “red thread” that runs throughout the entire book of Romans. [Romans 1]
? The only way to live by faith is to have God’s life operating inside of us. When we have God’s life, we have the capacity to live according to the righteousness of the Law. [Romans 2]
? The Law itself testified of a time when it would no longer be needed. [Romans 3]
? Abraham’s life was based on faith – simply believing God would do what He promised. [Romans 4]
? We are justified in God’s sight because of our faith in Jesus Christ. [Romans 5]
Next month we will be in Romans chapter six and we will answer the question: “Now that we are born again and have God’s life and nature, why do we sin?” All of this is a necessary foundation before we can turn our attention to Romans chapter seven. And here’s something we would like for you to consider: When you finish listening to or reading this Bible study and the ones to follow in December and January, read the book of Romans. Give the Holy Spirit, the Teacher, an opportunity to minister to you. As you read don’t be surprised if He “pulls back the curtains” on truth that, in the past, you have misunderstood. Yes, we are speaking from experience!
