At a recent dinner with friends, a lively conversation broke out after someone mentioned a pastor who had fallen morally. One person immediately said, “Well, we’re all sinners,” while another responded, “No—we’re redeemed! We’re not sinners anymore.”
Both statements sounded biblical. Both carried conviction. Yet the more everyone talked, the clearer it became: these two viewpoints sit in tension with each other, and most Christians lean heavily toward one side or the other. But the New Testament actually holds both together.
This matters—not just for theological clarity, but for how we view ourselves, how we treat others, and how we respond when Christian leaders fail.
Let’s unpack it.
1. “We Are All Sinners” — True, but Incomplete if Taken Alone
Scripture is unambiguous: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Even the most mature believers still stumble (1 John 1:8–10). Paul’s struggle in Romans 7—wanting to do right but doing wrong—resonates deeply with the honest Christian experience.
And yes, he famously called himself “the worst of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).
But notice the context: Paul is reflecting on his past life as a persecutor. He is highlighting the greatness of God’s mercy in saving him. He is not proclaiming that his core identity as an apostle is “chief sinner” forever.
So yes—we still sin. We still battle the flesh. We still need God’s mercy daily.
But that is not the whole story.
2. “We Are Redeemed, Not Sinners” — Also True, but Incomplete if Taken Alone
While the Bible acknowledges our ongoing struggle with sin, the dominant New Testament language for believers is not “sinner”—it is saint, holy, redeemed, new creation, child of God.
- “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17).
- “Holy and blameless in His sight” (Eph. 1:4).
- “We are God’s children now” (1 John 3:2).
- “The righteousness of God in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:21).
This is identity language.
This is who you are now in Christ.
Being redeemed doesn’t mean you never sin again—it means your failures no longer define you.
3. So Which Is Right? Both—Depending on What You Mean
Here’s the simplest way to hold the tension together:
Positionally
In Christ, your identity is redeemed, holy, and accepted. You are not “a sinner.” You are a saint who belongs to Jesus.
Practically
In daily life, you still battle sin. You stumble. You need forgiveness and grace. You are being sanctified—but you are not perfected yet.
A Christian is a redeemed saint who still sins, but is no longer defined by sin.
4. Understanding Paul’s Language
Paul’s writings make sense once you see the distinction between:
Identity Language (who you are)
Romans 8, Ephesians 1–2, Colossians 3
“Set your mind on things above… you have been raised with Christ.”
Experience Language (what you struggle with)
Romans 7
“What I want to do, I do not do…”
Paul uses “sinner” language to magnify grace.
He uses “saint” language to describe our new identity.
You need both chapters—or you misread the Christian life.
5. What This Means When a Pastor Falls
This is where the dinner conversation started, and it’s where the tension really matters.
The ‘we’re all sinners’ side reminds us:
- No leader is above temptation.
- Pride is deadly.
- We must deal honestly with sin.
The ‘we’re redeemed’ side reminds us:
- God restores.
- Identity isn’t erased by failure.
- Grace is real and powerful.
You don’t respond to a moral failure with shame alone, and you don’t respond with grace alone. Wisdom holds both realities together.
6. A Better Way to Say It
A Christian is not “a sinner trying to be holy.”
A Christian is a holy, redeemed child of God who still battles sin as they grow into who they truly are in Christ.
That balance keeps us humble, hopeful, and anchored in grace.
