Do You Know That You Are A Sinner?
Do you know that you are a sinner? We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). You and I are sinners. We have all rebelled against God. Each and every one of us at one time or another has said No to God and Yes to our ourselves. (Unbelievers say No to God all the time because they always do exactly what they want to do). But none of us have put God first all of our lives. None of us are righteous. We are all sinful creatures. Again, I ask the question, do you know that you are a sinner?
Typically what you see is true followers of Jesus admit that we are sinners. We recognize our rebellious heart. It grieves us when we sin against God. We don’t say we are sinners in a proud way. No, we humbly admit that we have sinned against God. We understand that there’s no righteousness in us except for the righteousness of Christ Jesus.
Hard Time Admitting They Are Sinners
Unrepentant sinners on the other hand, have a hard time admitting that they are sinners. When you ask people if they are a good person, most people say they are good. Then when you confront them with specific sins, generally they say things like “everyone lies” or “everyone sins”. In other words, they don’t own up to their sin. Instead of taking personal responsibility, they just lump themselves in with everyone else. They really don’t think they are bad or sinful.
So understanding and acknowledging that you are a sinner is very important. Do you know that you are a sinner? Do you understand that God is Holy, righteous and just and cannot tolerate sin? Your sin (even though you may not acknowledge it) separates you from God. Heaven is real. Hell is real. God must and He does punish sin. Why must He? Because God is good. If God let unrepentant go unpunished, He would not be good. A judge that let’s a murderer go free because the judge thinks that he’s a good judge, obviously isn’t a good one. No, he’d be just the opposite. A judge that let’s guilty criminals go free, is not good.
God is Good
But God is good, so He does punish sinners. Unrepentant sinners will suffer God’s righteous wrath for all eternity. It’s appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). One day you will die and face God on Judgment Day. Make no mistake, Judgment Day is coming. Revelation 20:11-15 states: And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Is Your Name Written In The Book Of Life?
Those whose names are not written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is everlasting punishment. Please listen to what Jesus says in Revelation 21:8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Please note the second death is not like the first death. The second death is never ending. It is everlasting destruction. Is your name written in the book of life?
At the beginning, I asked the question: Do you know that you are a sinner? You have to realize that you are lost before you are found. It’s crucial that you see that your sin is an affront to Almighty God. Remember, Jesus said that all liars will have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone. Jesus called (and still calls) sinners to repentance. Self-righteous people think that they are “good”, that somehow they can earn God’s favor.
God Doesn’t Weigh Your Good Against The Bad
Many people believe that God will overlook their sin and many believe that they have done more good than bad. But if Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, then your very best is as woman’s menstrual rag (Isaiah 64:6). You cannot work your way to Heaven. God doesn’t weigh your good and bad in a scale to see if you’ve done more good than bad. No, you cannot earn salvation. God doesn’t grade on a curve. It’s pass or fail and we all fail on our own.
That’s why we need a Savior and Salvation is found in Christ Jesus alone. A great example of a sinner recognizing their sinfulness and God’s Holiness is the thief on the cross. Jesus was crucified with two thieves, one on each side. Luke 23:39-43: And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, Today you shall be with me in paradise.
Pharisee And The Tax Collector
Another example is the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee. The tax collector recognized his wretchedness and God’s Holiness, but the Pharisee thought that he was holy of his own doing. The Pharisee was wrong. Luke 18:9-14: And he spoke this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican (tax collector).
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
Repentant Sinners Cry Out To God
Jesus is pointing out that repentant persons, those who recognize that they are sinners, cry out to God for salvation while self-righteous people are counting on their own works. I witnessed to an atheist one time who swore up and down that God isn’t real. Then as he walked away, he told me that even though he knows that God isn’t real, even if he’s wrong and there is a God, then God will accept him on Judgment Day because this atheist tries to live a good life. He tries to treat others right. So if there is a God, then that God will accept him. Do you see that this self-professing atheist is just as self-righteous as the Pharisee Jesus described?
None of us are righteous and as a side note, atheists may claim there is no God, but God says there are no atheists. God’s word in Romans 1:19 says that we know inside of each one of us that God is real and the next verse says that you can look around at creation and know that God is real. So there really are no atheists, only those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness because they love the darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.
Job Wanted A Hearing Before God
When Job lost is kids, his livestock, food and his health, Job said that he wished he could see God face to face and point out to God all the good things that he had done. Job was saying that he wasn’t a bad person and he didn’t deserve all of the bad things that happened to him. But God answered Job and asked Job where he was when God laid the foundations of the earth and where Job was when God made the universe.
What does the Bible say happened when Job recognized his sinfulness and God’s Holiness? In Job 42:6, he says: Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. By all accounts, Job was a decent guy. He helped the poor, widows and orphans and yet, his personal righteousness couldn’t save him. None of us are righteous. When confronted with God’s righteousness, Job said that he abhorred himself and repented in dust and ashes. That describes a repentant person!
Why Talk About Sin So Much?
Why do I talk about sin so much? I’m not trying to convince you to be a better person. I’m not preaching sinless perfectionism. No, I talk about sin so much because I’m hoping that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes so you can see that you have sinned against our Holy God. That you are not a righteous person. My hope is that you will truly see yourself as God sees you – as a sinner who needs to be saved.
Oh, tonight, do you see yourself as a sinner? If you don’t, then you are counting on your own self-righteousness to save you and you can’t save yourself. You don’t even have the power to wipe out a teeny, tiny little white lie, let alone wipe out all of your sins. Your sins can only be wiped out by true righteousness and the only true righteous one is Jesus Christ the Lord.
Jesus Is The Only Savior
Jesus Christ walked this earth 2,000 years ago and He did what you I could not do – Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life. The Lord always obeyed the will of God the Father. Jesus never sinned, not one time. Unlike you and I, Jesus never lusted, coveted, lied, stole anything and He never blasphemed God’s Holy name. Can you say the same? Can I say the same? Of course we can’t. Jesus was sinless, yet He willingly gave up His life as a ransom for many.
The Lord Jesus suffered, bled and died on a cruel cross in the place of guilty sinners. Three days later He rose victoriously from the grave, defeating sin, death, Hell and Satan. All who repent and surrender their lives to Jesus receive salvation. It is a free (but costly) gift from God, but you must receive it. Oh, I’m asking you tonight, do you know that you are a sinner? Do you see how your sin is rebellion against Almighty God? Do you understand that your sin separates you from God and will do so for all eternity if you die in your sins? If God is convicting you over your sins, do not reject such a great salvation. Come to Jesus and be saved.
Repent and believe the Gospel. This is the very first message Jesus preached during His earthly ministry and the same message still preaches today. Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:14-15). Repent of your sin and submit your life to King Jesus. He is the King of kings. He is the Lord of lords. Oh, willingly bow your knee to Jesus. Surrender your life fully and completely to the Lord. Repent and surrender your life to Jesus and be saved.
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, MO on June 12, 2020)