♱ 𝓛𝓲𝓷 ♱ :
Guys hes basically saying that sin isnt our identity. It holds no power over us with Christ. Romans 8:2. The “er” on sinner makes it an identity statement. Yes we still sin. But we aren’t a sinner. Sins are our reputation, but Christ is our character, our identity. Christ is righteous. Romans 1 says we are righteous by faith. Reputations dont define a person. Character does. So we cant be both a sinner but also righteous. Its like saying ur stupid for failing one test throughout all of your school life but passing the hundreds of others. It doesnt make sense. God literally lives inside of us when we decide to let Him in. That is the new creation. The new character. Hes not saying to disregard your sin and to practice sin, hes saying to understand this concept and then the same creation that lives in us will bring forth power and ability to overcome sin and all. Its not our striving that gives us the ability to overcome sin, its God. We cant have power, thru God, to overcome. Thats why Jesus says greater is He who lives in us. Thats why Paul says we can do all things with Christ. Why Paul says that Christ will finish the work He started. We have power, we have ability, thru Christ, not from any kind of striving or endurance or works. If God brung His kingdom down to earth, then how can sinners experience the kingdom? Only righteous people can experience the kingdom. Thats why it says our faith makes us righteous. And yeah, 1 Tim 1:13-16 sounds contradictory to this, but the verse describes Paul as a sinner in reference to his “former” life before Christ. His past life. His past identity. Paul is looking back at his history as a persecutor and unbeliever. As a sinner. Thats why in the verses, he uses terms like “used to” or “formerly”. v16 says Christ “had” mercy on when he “was” the worst of all sinners. Not that Christ’s mercy ran out or was inactive at the point of writing v16, but to distinguish the specific time mercy was given. And if we take the verse literally, then that means theres a hierarchy of the state of righteousness and the state of sinners. Paul was just showing the extreme of his sinful nature, not his level of standing.
2026-09-02 04:14:17