I am NOT a sinner saved by grace.

“But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:20–24 ESV

You cannot stop sinning by trying to stop sinning (Colossians 2:23), and you cannot do the work of God in the power of man (Galatians 3:3). Truly living out our lives in Jesus Christ doesn't come from fighting something bad and trying as hard as we can to do good. It comes from embracing the truth of God.

The truth is, when we are born of the Spirit, holiness and purity is our new reality. Even if we sin, we are no longer sinners. God says we are perfect. We may feel like sinners...We may feel dirty, but we are pure. This reality must flow out of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, and into our heart and mind, transforming our feelings. 

Paul prayed for believers, that Christ would be formed in their hearts (Galatians 4:19). Our new identity is...Christ in us. The old sinner is dead, and we are a new creation in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:4-6; 2 Corinthians 5:17). When we put on our true identity in Christ, it removes all place for the devil (Ephesians 4:27), and this is the way that we make no provision for the flesh (Romans 13:14). As one teacher put it, "It is the first step to learning how to walk in the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-17; Galatians 5:16) And when we are walking in the Spirit, nothing is impossible (Matthew 17:20)​.

No, I am NOT a sinner saved by grace. I WAS a sinner, and now I AM A SAINT by God's grace.

In Christ,
Mikey