We have all sinned and been sinners in our life (1 John 1:8). But the Good News is that we are called to repent and be converted into whom the Bible calls the righteous (ex-sinners who have been made right with God by the blood of Jesus and remain faithful to Him and his ways till the end.) Consider what the apostle Peter must have understood when He wrote this:
“If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4:18).
Sharing the truth from the bible that has a lot to say about the righteous (not "self-righteous") vs. the sinners. These are a few scriptures:
1 John 3:7
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
Luke 5:31-32
31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Luke 15:7
I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Proverbs 11:30-31
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that wins souls is wise. 31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
Galatians 2:17
But if, while we seek to be justified [declared righteous] by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Matthew 13:43
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
There are many more.
A sinner who receives this message and obeys it becomes righteous.
A conversion happens:
(from) sinner ➡️ (to) righteous
Has that conversion happened for you?
If we are all sinners and can only be called sinners at all points in our lives, who is Jesus talking to here, making a contrast with sinners?
Luke 6:32-35
32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.
John 15:3
Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you.
Acts 10:15
... “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.”
1 Corinthians 9:11
Such were some of you [unrighteous/sinners], but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God.
Titus 3:3-7
3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of rebirth and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; 7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of everlasting life.
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Malachi 3:16-18
16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke one with another; and the LORD listened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for those who feared the LORD, and who honored his name. 17 They shall be mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18 Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn’t serve him.
Study diligently. May God be with you!
See also:
Are You an Ex-Sinner Calling yourself a Sinner?
Distinction Between the Righteous (Saints) and the Wicked (Sinners)
Is There No One Righteous (Romans 3:10)?
Salvation From What?
Repentance According to the Bible
Crucify the Flesh (YouTube playlist)
Problem in the Church: Isaiah 64:6
Problem in the Church: 1 John 1:8
Problem in the Church: Romans 7
ADDENDUM
Luke 18:13 may show a sinner's prayer, but it's not what you are likely to find practiced today in churches. That man was repentant, which is key. And no one led him to repeat any words. He spoke to God from his heart as the weight of his sin was heavy upon his heart. He understood that he wasn't right with God and needed to be forgiven / saved / made right with God. Anyone who is truly repenting speaks to God, pleading for his forgiveness (ex: David in Psalm 51). So, whatever is said could be called a sinner's prayer. But no one should assume there is a formula for a sinner's prayer that works for all and leading people to say the prayer is the way to get them saved (that's certainly not taught from the Bible). Also, what would follow a sinner's prayer made from the heart is someone who is justified/made right with God/reconciled to God (on account of Jesus' sacrifice), so not a sinner still (cf. Galatians 2:17, Romans 5:6-11). Anywhere the generic sinner's prayer is being practiced, the people are likely to also embrace false teachings like "we are all sinners," before and after salvation, which begs to question the salvation they would speak of. Many are being forced to believe they are saved when that's not reality because teachings of men have been preferred to Jesus' teachings.
Call to Repentance
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