If a person is still a sinner after being saved, then he is not a new creation, he is not born again, he is not walking in newness of life, he is not a saint, he is not created in the likeness of Jesus, he is not converted, he is not conformed to the image of God's Son, he is still in his sins, he is still in the crooked and broad-way, he is still of the world, he is still in darkness, he is still dead in sins and trespasses, he is still a slave of sin, he is still a child of Satan.
The change that God makes through our salvation is not simply legal, it is experiential. God not only saves us FROM something (Satan and sin), He saves us TO something (God and righteousness). If we are not saved from sin and sinning, then we are not actually saved. If we still sin (continue in sin after our salvation), then we are saved in name only. If the drowning man is saved from drowning in name only, then he is still drowning. Jesus does not save us in our sins, He saves us from our sins.
Jesus not only saves us from the penalty of sin, but He also saves us from the power of sin and the pollution of sin, and He saves us HERE AND NOW. If we are not saved from sin, then we are not saved.
Paul's claim to being, "chief of sinners," was about other believers who had then been saved from their sins. Paul admitted that he was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, injurious to others, but he testified to being delivered from his old self, his old ways. After his conversion, Paul was not a blasphemer, a persecutor, or injurious to other people. Contrary to false prophets we are not SINNING SAINTS. The very thought is abhorrent and insulting to God and His saving grace.
Paul confessed that he was the least of the apostles and less than the least of the saints. Neither of these comments should be interpreted to mean that he was still a sinner.
The New Testament does not refer to Sinning Saints. There are carnal Christians, who follow Jesus but struggle with the inner law of sin and death (the Old Man, Double-Mindedness, the Carnal Mind), which urges them to disobey God. However, those who truly believe and follow Jesus do not yield to those thoughts, or if they do falter, they confess, repent and return to active faith in Jesus. The Bible tells us that those who are born of God DO NOT COMMIT SIN.
Here is what the New Testament does say about being a saint, about being a Christian.
Romans 6:6-23
(6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
(7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.
(08) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
(9) Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
(10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
(11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
(13) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
(14) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
(15) What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
(16) Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
(17) But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
(18) Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
(19) I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
(20) For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
(21) What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
(22) But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
(23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In the seventh chapter of Romans (Romans Seven), Paul addresses the problem of inbred sin (aka sinful nature). This is where sinning religion stands on the sin issue. While Romans seven is accurate, it is not the complete or final word of God on the subject of the sinful nature (aka the law of sin and death).
Paul clearly said at the end of Romans seven that God provides deliverance from the sinful nature. In chapter eight (Romans Eight, Paul describes the victory of believers over their fleshly (carnally minded) nature and he tells us that "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets us free from the law of sin and death."
The victory spoke of in Romans six and 1 John two are made possible by the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Sadly, folk clings to the defeat they find in Romans 7 rather than move on to the victory found in Romans 8.
Romans 8:1-17
(1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
(3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
(4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
(6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
(7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
(08) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
(9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
(10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
(11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
(12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
(13) For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
(14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
(15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
(16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
(17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
1 John 2:3-8
(3) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
(4) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
(5) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
(6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
(7) Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
(08) Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
