The Sinner and The Self-Righteous: What the Bible Teaches Us About Sinners
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The main difference between a sinner and a self-righteous person is that they are both sinners, and only one of them has the courage to acknowledge their sin. How often do we find ourselves comparing our lives to the moral paths of others? Whether consciously or unconsciously, there’s a tendency within mankind to classify people into two categories: sinners and the self-righteous (holier than thou). So, what does the Bible say about sinners, and what lessons can we glean about God’s approach to grace, judgment, and redemption?
This biblical blog post explores biblical insights on the topic of sinners, offering reflections that encourage humility, compassion, and a closer walk with faith.
Who Are Sinners?
The Bible is clear about one fundamental truth: everyone has sinned. Romans 3:23 emphasizes this by stating, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Sinners aren’t a select group of people but rather encompass all of mankind.
Originally, man was made perfect, whole, and righteous. Through one man’s sin (the first Adam), we all became broken, imperfect, and born into sin to become sinners. Through one Man’s obedience (the Second Adam), we can become whole, perfect, and righteous. In Scripture, the “sinner” is described as broken, flawed, sick and imperfect.
In contrast, the redeemed are unbroken, portrayed as righteous and perfect, capable of resisting sin from which they have been delivered — the same sin that originally corrupted mankind. The panoptic message is one of the same —we all share in the need for God’s mercy and His grace.
The Sinners Sickness
A consistent mission in the life of Jesus was His profound love and compassion for sinners. Jesus recognized that all sinners are sick, in need of healing from their sin illness. Jesus was often described as a physician, as shown in His own words: “Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick” (Matthew 9:12). The Gospels are replete with moments when Jesus reached out to those considered outcasts or failures by society. Tax collectors, a prostitute, the lame, all who were bound to sin, and the disenfranchised were all candidates for His ministry.
Take, for example, Luke 19 and the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector. Jesus invites Himself to Zacchaeus’ home, showing an incredible act of grace to someone in need of healing from the sickness of sin. Surprised onlookers said, “And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man” (Luke 19:7).
“Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold” (Luke 19:8). “Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 10:9-10). Jesus led Zacchaeus to repentance and restitution for sin, which brought His salvation.
Consider Mark 2:17, where Jesus says, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” This statement serves as a prime theme in Jesus’ ministry, revealing that His focus is was condemning sinners but offering them a path to redemption and healing from their sin sickness.
The Self-Righteous Dilemma
While it’s tempting to frame this discussion as just about sinners, the Bible also warns against self-righteousness. Those who judge others harshly or think their moral standing elevates them above others are also sinners who are still missing the mark.
One of Jesus’ most famous bible stories, the “Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector” (Luke 18:9-14), illustrates the contrast between self-righteousness and humility. A self-righteous Pharisee boasts in prayer about his moral superiority, while a tax collector humbly pleads for God’s mercy. Jesus concludes the parable by stating that the tax collector, who recognized his sin and sought forgiveness, was the one justified before God Almighty.
The message is clear: being self-righteous blinds us to our own flaws and diminishes our ability to experience God’s grace. Proverbs 16:18 backs this up with the stern warning, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
God’s Grace Is Possible For Sinners
While the Bible acknowledges man’s sinfulness, the heart of the message is hope, redemption, and freedom from the bondage of sin. God’s love for mankind was and is not contingent upon a person’s past or present sins. Romans 5:8 beautifully reminds us, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God’s love for those redeemed and set free from sin calls for them to remain in His love through obedience to His commandments. (John 15:9-10, 1 John 3:24)
“Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us” I John 3:24
“As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.” John 15:9-10
Jesus, who is the begotten, obedient Son of God, is the firstborn of the dead and to the redeemed, He is our elder brother. Through the power of God Almighty, Jesus has triumphed over death, hell, and the grave, paving a way for us to enter through the narrow gate into covenant with our creator, God the Father.
The death and resurrection of Jesus is described as the ultimate act of atonement, bridging the gap between God Almighty and sinful mankind. Through faith, the Bible teaches that anyone can experience forgiveness and a new relationship with God by being born-again.
1 John 1:9 provides this reassurance to the sinner, saying, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” This verse highlights both the accessibility of forgiveness and the transformation that follows it.
Walking the Balance Between Grace and Conviction
One of the most profound challenges for believers is learning how to respond to sin, both in themselves and in others. Here are a few principles the Bible teaches about addressing sin with humility, compassion, and truth:
- Judge Not, Lest You Be Judged (Matthew 7:1-5): If we are still in sin, then we have no authority to point out others’ sins. Jesus calls us to remove the “plank” in our own eyes before pointing out the “speck” in another person’s eye. This speaks to the importance of self-reflection and humility before addressing the flaws of others.
- Speak Truth in Love (Ephesians 4:15): While confronting sin may sometimes be necessary, it must always come from love and concern rather than condemnation. Love should guide every action and word.
- Extend Forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22): Jesus teaches us the necessity of forgiving others as a reflection of God’s forgiveness toward us. This is a warning that we must forgive others for us to continue to be forgiven. Withholding forgiveness is something that we should never consider.
- Judge righteously (Ephesians 5:11) “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them”
So, What’s the Takeaway Here?
Jesus came to break the power of the devil’s work (1 John 3:8) and set sinners free from the bondage of sin, healing their minds from their sin sickness. Peter described sin as being like a dog going back to its own vomit to eat it again (2 Peter 2:22).
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The self-righteous, always living in sin, only boost their pride, believing that there is no judgment for them. “But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:16-17).
Those who commit sins engage in unfruitful works of darkness, casting a shadow over their lives and ultimately leading to eternal death.
We reap what we sow: by living in obedience to God’s commands, we sow into life, while sinning against His commands, we sow into death. Those who are born again (born from above) have been healed from their sin sickness, truly set free from the bondage of sin to go and sin no more, as Jesus commanded.
Instead of focusing on others’ shortcomings, we should consider focusing on our obedience to God Almighty, self-examine our hearts, seek holiness, and renewing our minds toward God Almighty.
Let’s consider reaping and sowing along with the wrath that awaits all sinners: The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness” (Romans 1:18)
Hopeful Thoughts
The Bible’s teachings on sin and self-righteousness challenge us to think differently about faith, mankind, and relationships. It calls all sinners to repentance to be reborn, and for the reborn to walk perfect before God Almighty, doing the Father’s will, rejecting pride, approaching others with compassion, and recognizing our collective need for grace.
Whether you’re exploring faith, questioning, or reconnecting with God Almighty, the Bible’s message is still as meaningful as ever. Thanks be to God Almighty for His immense grace that has set us free. For those who are still bound to sin, you have an amazing opportunity to be set free from the bondage of sin, find hope, and eternal life.
We are here for you!
We commit our lives to God the Father and His Son – the Lord Jesus Christ! We are in the business of spreading the good news, to inspire hope, share the message of deliverance, and ultimately plant the seed of saving faith.
Our desire is to extend and share with others the love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness of God, which are available to all through faith in Him. Our goal is to encourage others to hold on to this message, enjoy the peace that comes from His promises, and find the pathway to life as we learn the Father’s ways and live by them.
If you need prayer, encouragement, or assistance of any kind, please contact us. It would be our pleasure to help and bless you in any way we can!
Let us close in prayer:
After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)
