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This guy clearly never read past his shiny bookmark in his Bible. Saying Christians aren’t sinners anymore isn’t just bad theology, it’s straight-up heresy.

Paul literally calls himself the chief of sinners after becoming an apostle. John says if you claim to be without sin, you’re a liar and the truth isn’t in you (1 John 1:8). Romans 7 is Paul, already a Christian, groaning over his battle with sin.

The Reformers had a phrase for this: simul justus et peccator, at the same time righteous and sinner. We’re clothed in Christ’s righteousness, adopted as sons and daughters, yes. But until we’re glorified, we still sin every day and depend on grace every hour.

So no, you’re not just ‘the will of God, His son or daughter.’ You’re also a sinner who Christ bled for. Deny that, and you’re preaching a different gospel. And the New Testament has a word for that: anathema.

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berean jones 4mo ago

Yes. Both are true since we live in the already not yet tension, where Christ is reigning but the kingdom has not yet been delivered back to God. Where we are redeemed from the penalty of sin, and find victory over the power of sin, but not yet removed from the presence of sin. Where the life of God in us is sinless but in tension with the flesh that is clearly still capable of sin.

Clustering verses around one or other of these polarities doesn't prove the point, it just highlights the polarity. There is a day when that tension will be removed. Meanwhile, we groan inwardly for it and continue to strive against sin.

God sees me sinless in Christ because He sees me outside of time, with the completed redemption already applied. It's as good as done for me to be eternally in his presence in the new creation. However, I'm not able to see from that perspective. I'm firmly bound within time, and therefore limited to the present moment where my struggle with sin is real. What to God is a momentary detail that's already been dealt with, is to me my present reality in which I struggle so that Christ may be formed in me.

With a little humility, these polarities become occasions to glorify God rather than strive over incomplete positions. Which I think is the point of Sola Dei Gloria.

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Discussion

Contra 4mo ago

I agree with you. My earlier response was intended primarily to correct a false theology (again from nostr:nprofile1qqsfepkhw5m6vwqvudc78fyxp0r7r7e2mwegyxl34rcu6n5vuq3ypjgpzemhxue69uhkyetkduhxummnw3erztnrdakj7qgmwaehxw309aex2mrp0yhxummnw3exjcmgv4ejummjvuhsmknyvs ) that often arises in younger, immature, or heterodox circles where the distinction between Justification and Sanctification is blurred or misunderstood. While your description rightly frames the already/not yet tension of the redeemed life, many “churches” or teachings conflate our legal standing in Christ with our progressive holiness, leading to confusion about the believer’s position before God versus their present experiential reality.

I affirm: Justification is the declaration of righteousness before God, imputed through Christ and received by faith alone; Sanctification is the ongoing work of God in the believer, progressively conforming us to Christ’s image. These realities coexist in the believer’s life: we are perfect in Christ legally, yet imperfect in our daily walk, and both truths glorify God when rightly understood. 🫡🙏⚡️