A New Righteousness: From Sinner to Saint

Introduction

"The moment you accept Jesus Christ as Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says 'All Things become new.'" Throughout Scripture, we find 30 distinct transformations that occur at the moment of salvation. This document explores the seventeenth of these transformations: receiving a new righteousness.

The Great Exchange

Before coming to Christ, Scripture describes us as sinners. However, when we accept Christ, a dramatic transformation occurs—we receive a new righteousness that comes from Jesus Himself.

2 Corinthians 5:21

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

This verse reveals one of the most profound aspects of salvation—the divine exchange that took place at the cross. Jesus, who was completely sinless, took our sin upon Himself so that we might receive His righteousness. This exchange transforms our very identity from "sinner" to "righteous."

Understanding the Term "Sinner"

The biblical term "sinner" carries a stronger meaning than simply "one who sometimes sins." According to Strong's Concordance, the word translated as "sinner" means "preeminently sinful, especially wicked." It describes not just actions but a state of being characterized by wickedness.

This understanding challenges the common phrase "sinners saved by grace," which many believers use to describe themselves. While this phrase attempts to emphasize God's grace, it inadvertently maintains an identity that Scripture says has been transformed.

What Christ Has Done for Us

When Christ redeems us, several profound changes occur:

1. Redemption: He purchases us from slavery to sin

2. Cleansing: He washes away our sin

3. Forgiveness: He releases us from the guilt and penalty of sin

4. Justification: He declares us righteous, as if we had never sinned

5. Reconciliation: He restores our relationship with God

These divine actions fundamentally change our relationship to sin and our identity before God.

No Longer Slaves to Sin

Romans 6

Romans chapter 6 provides several definitive statements about our new relationship to sin:

• Verse 6: "We are no longer slaves to sin"

• Verse 7: "We have been freed from sin"

• Verse 11: "We are dead to sin"

• Verse 14: "Sin is no longer our master"

• Verse 13: "Our bodies are instruments of righteousness"

• Verse 16: "We are slaves to righteousness"

• Verse 22: "We are enslaved to God"

These declarations reveal a complete transformation in our relationship to sin. We have moved from being dominated by sin to being freed from it, from being instruments of unrighteousness to instruments of righteousness.

The Misunderstanding of Romans 7

Many believers point to Romans 7 as evidence that Christians remain fundamentally sinful, citing Paul's lament:

"For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate... the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want... Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:15, 19, 24)

However, a careful reading of the context suggests that Paul is describing his experience before coming to Christ or, at minimum, the experience of someone trying to live under the law without the power of the Spirit.

Several indicators support this interpretation:

1. In Romans 6, Paul has already declared believers "free from sin" and "slaves to righteousness"

2. In Romans 7:5-6, he shifts to describe what life was like "while we were in the flesh" (past tense) and states that "now we have been released from the Law"

3. In Romans 8:1-2, he presents the solution to the Romans 7 dilemma: "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death"

Romans 7 describes the frustration of trying to live righteously without the power of the Holy Spirit—an impossibility. Romans 8 then reveals the solution: living by the Spirit, which enables believers to fulfill "the requirement of the law" (8:4).

The Dangers of Maintaining a "Sinner" Identity

When believers continue to identify themselves primarily as "sinners" rather than as "saints" or "the righteous," several negative consequences follow:

1. Denial of God's Word: We contradict clear scriptural statements about our freedom from sin

2. Disregard for the New Creation: We ignore the reality that we are new creations with new natures, hearts, and spirits

3. Belittling Christ's Sacrifice: We imply that Christ's blood was insufficient to truly cleanse us

4. Disregarding the Spirit's Power: We overlook the indwelling Holy Spirit who empowers righteous living

5. Loss of Confidence Before God: We approach God with fear and shame rather than boldness

6. Vulnerability to Enemy Accusations: We leave ourselves open to Satan's condemnation

The Reality of Our New Righteousness

Our righteousness in Christ is not merely a legal declaration that leaves us practically unchanged. It is a transformative reality that should affect how we see ourselves and how we live. This is why Scripture calls believers "saints" (holy ones) rather than "sinners."

The phrase "blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8) would be meaningless if purity of heart were unattainable. Yet through Christ, we can have pure hearts—not through our own efforts but through His cleansing work and the Spirit's ongoing transformation.

Walking in Freedom

Galatians 5:1 declares, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free." This freedom is not merely theoretical but practical and experiential. As we walk in the Spirit, we are empowered to live righteously and not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

Our righteous identity and righteous living are not opposed to grace—they are the result of grace. God's grace doesn't merely forgive sin; it transforms sinners into saints who are progressively empowered to live holy lives.

Conclusion

When we accept Christ, we receive a new righteousness that fundamentally changes our identity. We are no longer defined as sinners but as the righteousness of God in Christ. This transformation is not merely positional but practical, affecting both how we see ourselves and how we live.

Embracing our new righteous identity doesn't lead to pride or self-righteousness, but to genuine humility and gratitude for what Christ has done. It also empowers us to live in a way that reflects our true nature as children of God who have been freed from sin's dominion.

Rather than continuing to identify ourselves primarily as "sinners saved by grace," we can more accurately describe ourselves as "saints who sometimes sin but are being transformed by grace." This perspective honors Christ's finished work, acknowledges the Spirit's power, and positions us to experience the abundant life Christ promised.