Are you a Sinner?

America is a nation that still knows the word “sin,” but does not know what it means, or the consequences of sin.

• According to Pew Research, 62% of American adults still identify as Christian, yet almost 29% now claim no religion at all — atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular.”

• Among those “nones,” 32% say there is no such thing as sin. If there is no God, there is no guilt; if there is no law, there is no transgression. This is not surprising — a man without a lawgiver will never admit he is a lawbreaker.

But the deception goes deeper.

• A LifeWay survey found that while 90% believe sin exists, 8% do not believe they themselves are sinners.

• Satan is thrilled with this number, because only sinners can be saved. Jesus said He came “to call sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). If a man refuses the diagnosis, he rejects the cure.

• And 15% will not admit personal guilt, because to admit sin is to admit three truths the carnal mind hates: there is a God, His law has been broken, and we must answer to God for it.

Even among those who admit they are sinners, many believe sin is not a serious problem. In one survey, 5% of Americans said they were “fine” with being sinners.

At the same time, belief in Hell keeps falling. Gallup reports that only 59% believe in hell and just 58% believe in the devil. A “loving God” — in the imagination of the modern mind, God is a helpless grandfather, not a holy Judge. They believe they are good by nature, and that God would never punish them. When Hell is denied, sin becomes a joke

A quarter of Americans believe they can save themselves — by kindness, charity, religious activity, or an imagined personal goodness. Redemption is replaced with repayment:

• “I have sinned,” they say — “but I will make it right.”

• And they will apologize, make restitution, and promise never to do it again, and that is good, but not good enough. Because the person you offended can forgive what you did to him, but he cannot forgive what you did to God.

• And shockingly, the confusion is not only on the street — it’s in the pew.

• A recent Christian news report shows that 95% of self-identified Christians believe sin exists, but only 60% believe they themselves are sinners, and 72% believe people are basically good at heart. They repeat “all have sinned,” but do not consider themselves part of the “all.”

• Men confess sin in theory, but deny sin in practice.

• Anybody who believe they can save themselves does not understand how bad sin really is

Others shift the blame to God Himself — teaching that man is predestined to sin, and God is the cause of every evil thought, word, and deed. That is not biblical predestination — that is blasphemy. It removes accountability and places guilt on God.

John Piper said: God decrees all things, even all sins.

If God decrees rape, murder, lies, and theft, sin is not rebellion — it is obedience. Man is no longer guilty, only a puppet. And God is no longer holy — only cruel.

Others preach the opposite error — that a man can reach sinless perfection. Scripture smashes that lie with one hammer-blow:

1 John 1:8–10
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.
If we confess… He is faithful and just to forgive.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar.

Either God is lying — or man is.

Some believe God will overlook sin and let people into heaven anyway. Others believe He will overlook their sin because they are sincere.

• Listen every lost person is sincerely rebellious. Why? Because he will not take God seriously.

• He will not take the conviction of the Spirit seriously, the Bible seriously, church seriously, the brevity of life seriously, or eternity seriously.