The Fear of God (Two Ways)

Job 28:28

To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’”

The bible speaks of fearing God in two ways. It's the exact same word used in both cases but the meanings are different based on the contexts. It depends on who is being referred to and what is that person's standing with God at the time (either being obedient or disobedient).

Matthew 10:28

And do not fear them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather 👉 fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

That is the fear you should always have (2nd part of the verse),  not the fear of man (1st part of the verse). You should have this fear of God not because you think Jesus could return for you any minute and then get you thrown into the lake of fire. But because (hopefully), you understand the way that you should be walking with God — in obedience to Him, which shows your love for Him (John 14:15). So, you are walking that way precisely and your heart does not condemn you (1 John 3:20-21). You are not double-minded (James 4:8), following the crowd and confused about which road you're walking on. Whether you are asleep or awake, you are ready for Jesus' return. You are remaining in his love (John 15:9-10; Hebrews 12:28; 2 Corinthians 7:1).

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has to do with punishment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.

Here John is speaking to people who are actually born again in this part of his letter (1 John 5:13). And here that fear is the one you should have whenever you have purposed to go outside of the will of God (sin willfully). God never gave you a pass to sin after He has saved you/set you free from sin on the merit of Jesus' precious blood that was shed for the forgiveness of sins (cf. John 8:11). So, you should be diligent to make things right with God if you are his servant and have sinned. But you should not be having that fear if you are walking in perfect love/obedience to God. If you are abiding in that love, you cannot sin presumptuously (John 15:9-10, 1 John 3:6, 9).

In summary:

The first fear is wisdom and you should always have it. It is akin to reverence (cf. Hebrews 12:28) and it is a deterrent that will keep you from thinking sinning is a joke or that just going and having some sinful pleasure occasionally is alright (that's like cheating occasionally on your spouse). And can we even speak of having a true relationship based on love and trust then? That fear keeps you from trouble. It should be in you to check you but it's love that should lead you (not fear that should "drive" you or direct your daily conduct). And the second fear is one to have because you have already crossed the line and are actually in trouble because you have disobeyed God. So, you should fear the punishment if you don't have it in your mind to make things right with God right away (because they aren't). If you have sinned presumptuously, you have disregarded the power God has given you to walk in his ways and keep yourself from sin. That power is his grace (Titus 2:11-14). It's an insult to God's Spirit of grace to sin willfully after having come to the knowledge of the truth - Jesus (Hebrews 10:26-27).

We can consider a final illustration of the two:

1) A worker who never takes breaks longer than what he is expected to. 
He is doing what is right, so, he is not terrified about being caught or fired for taking long breaks. But you can say he has a fear of his boss and, by implication, a fear of doing what his boss would not be finding acceptable (while other people may care less). It can be said otherwise that he respects his boss, his workplace, his job and himself, too. He is working "as unto the Lord" (Colossians 3:23-24); there is no terror in him about doing that because he is remaining committed to doing what is right.

2) A worker comes to her workplace early and sprays graffiti all over the place in her boss' office, then goes to sit at her desk. 
Did anyone see her go in? Were any cameras running? Will the police show up? These are questions that can keep running in her head while she still has not been caught or suffered any consequences for her actions. But she knows that what she did was wrong and her time may be running out. If caught, she knows she would have no excuse; so, she fears the punishment she may get.

In both cases then, one who fears God is in a better place than one who does not fear Him and does evil (sins) and does not care. That is foolishness, not wisdom. A person may find forgiveness from God for coming clean with Him and desiring to mend the relationship, but He looks at the heart and can't be fooled. There is nothing hidden to people that will not be revealed (Luke 8:17), and there is nothing that is hidden from God who "will pay back to everyone according to their works" (Romans 2:6-8; Hebrews 4:12-13).

And when it is too late for anyone to repent and get right with God, the Bible says this:

Revelation 22:11-12

11 He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.” 12 “Look, I am coming quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.


See also:
Freedom From Sin

Call To Repentance

Are We All Sinners?

Exercise: use a bible app to look for all the verses in the bible that mention 'sinner' (or 'sinners') and see what the word is saying. Then look for all the verses in the bible that mention the 'righteous' and see what the word is saying. Pray before you begin. Read whole passages to get their context (as opposed to reading isolated verses and risk taking them out of context). 

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.

+++

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. 

Salvation From Sin

 
Call to Repentance

The Goal of Repentance

Struggle with Sin and Double-Mindedness

Submit yourselves therefore to God. #ToDo Resist the devil, #ToDo and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, #ToDo and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, #ToDo you sinners; and purify your hearts, #ToDo you double-minded. (James 4:7-8)

Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness [that's repentance], receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word [that's faith], and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. (James 1:21-22)

No Israelite God had taken out of Egypt was still under the orders of an Egyptian master as a slave, but some kept the ways of Egypt in their hearts, even desiring to go back at some point (Numbers 14:4) and that displeased God. They had been set free to serve Him (ex: Exodus 7:16). Christians today who perpetually struggle with sin struggle with hating sin and loving God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength as Jesus has commanded. It's a sad double-mindedness because no one can serve two masters as Jesus taught (Matthew 6:24). Either God is one's master or sin is. Either one is a servant of God or the servant of sin. Either one has wholly surrendered his/her heart to God or he/she has not. Double-mindedness is at the root of constant struggles with sin.

The relationship believers have with Jesus is likened to a marriage. "I do" to Jesus means "I die" to my (old) self and "no more" to sin (but faithfulness to Jesus).

Mark 8:34-35
34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 

The old, defeated life "sold under sin" (Romans 7:14) is lost because of the cross that destroys it. The born again Christian is not the "wretched man" of  Romans 7:24. Note that readings of Romans 7 must continue until at least Romans 8:2 for the conclusion! It's the law of sin and death that had Paul bound (Romans 7:23) before he came to be "in Christ Jesus" and under no condemnation, no longer walking according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1-2). That struggle in Romans 7 wasn't the pattern of his entire life. And Romans 6 shows his foundation as a Christian (follower of Jesus Christ).

Romans 6:4-7
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.  

The apostle says "if" (v. 5), so it's a way to check what is and what should be and not have doubts needlessly. That is the devil's plan. The world is a mess and the word is a means of troubleshooting one's walk to ensure one is doing the will of God. And what is described in the above passage must happen for one to have the freedom and the hope that comes in Christ, and have true fellowship with Him in the light:

1 John 1:5-7
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 

Jesus gives instructions to his followers when He forgives their past sins as they come to Him with a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17, Psalm 34:18), totally tired with sin and helpless (fully understanding their need of a Savior). No one can condemn them once Jesus wipes their slate clean and says, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:11). It's a command, so the reality is that a struggle to "sin no more" is a struggle to love Jesus, and it's a struggle to trust that his ways of righteousness and holiness are good and better than any way of sin; and therefore it's a lack of faith in being delivered from sin by taking up one's cross to follow Jesus. If one does not hate his/her sin like God hates sin, that person is not in agreement with God and is possibly double-minded about approaching God for his deliverance (salvation by faith in Jesus). The Good News of salvation from sin that Jesus brought to the world must indeed be a "good news" to anyone who will call upon the name of the Lord to be saved (Romans 10:9). God sees the hearts of all. Any remaining love for sinful pleasures must be understood for the evil that it is and forsaken as God commands to those who will call upon his name to be saved (2 Timothy 2:19). It may feel like "dying" to never again indulge in some sin, but God rewards those who will give up sin to live for Him. That's giving one's life to Him and not trying to "save" it. Jesus says it like this: "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it" (Mark 8:35). When such cry out to Him in their brokenness, seeking his forgiveness for their past sins and a new life, He will hear and heal them.

John 14:15, 21 
15 If you love me, keep my commandments. (Jesus says)
21 He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.

How do we know that we love God? 

James 4:8 
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

If sinners do not believe who Jesus said He is, the Savior of the world who came out of heaven to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Him (Acts 26:18), then they can be complacent in sin and darkness and call it the (or their) Christian life. They have not believed the Good News actually. The grace of God is power to walk in the will of God, loving God and neighbor out of a pure heart (1 Timothy 1:5; James 4:8). That is what Jesus calls us to.

Jesus responds to the heart that is ready for that walk with Him with his saving grace:

Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying (saying 'No' to) ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

And God's word must be in a believer's heart to produce the transformation promised in the Good News. 

John 8:31-36
31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32  You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33  They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free?’” 34  Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35  A slave does not live in the house forever. A son remains forever. 36  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Romans 6:16-18
16  Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, whether of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17  But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were servants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18  Being made free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19  I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.

1 Peter 4:1-5
1 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; 2  that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for human desires, but for the will of God. 3  For enough time in the past has been spent doing the will of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries. 4  They think it is strange that you do not run with them into the same flood of debauchery, blaspheming: 5  who will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2  And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Galatians 5:24
Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

2 Timothy 2:23-26
23 Do not have anything to do with foolish and stupid discussions, because you know they breed arguments. 24 A servant of the Lord must not argue. Instead, he must be kind to everyone, teachable, willing to suffer wrong, 25 and gentle when refuting opponents. After all, maybe God will allow them to repent and to come to a full knowledge of the truth, 26 so that they might escape from the devil’s snare, even though they’ve been held captive by him to his will.

1 John 3:7-10
7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever does not do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who does not love his brother.

Ephesians 4:17-24
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts; 19 who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ that way; 21 if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old self, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit; 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.


“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46)

"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

  Image by Sabrina Eickhoff from Pixabay.

See also:
Struggling with Sin - YouTube playlist

Crucify the Flesh - YouTube playlist

Jonah called the city of Nineveh to repentance FF

Out of Egypt and Out of Sin

Repentance According to the Bible

Connecting with God through Jesus (Book)  

Who is the man struggling in Romans 7?

Romans 7: The Last Refuge for Sin Exposed - Brother Micah Armstrong

Suffer The Cross To Overcome Addictions

"Coming as you are" to God does imply a changed heart FF

Are we all sinners?

Are You an Ex-Sinner Calling yourself a Sinner?

The Bible speaks about the wicked (sinners) and the righteous (saints)

Sinners don't have a sinful nature but evil desires they act upon

By the word of their testimony... (Revelation 12:11) - YouTube playlist

Romans 10:9 Salvation

You Are Accountable to Repent - YouTube video

  

 

 

Resist Temptation & Break Free from Addiction

 

 

 

Call to Repentance

 

Having it both Ways, Serving two Masters

Nobody Can Judge?

When it comes to judging, Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:1-5 is about not judging hypocritically. For Jesus' teaching on not judging to be applicable in all cases, between all people and in all matters (like most believe), it would have to be that every one is an evil doer who should not speak against or "judge" what other evil doers are doing (because that would be hypocritical). Then it would be a case of total darkness. There is no way out of that because with such a belief that Jesus has absolutely forbidden all exercise of judgment, the plank can't come out of no one's eye and no one can love a brother or sister and remove the speck out of his or her eye either. Because light and truth are necessary to see the problems in the body and address them. And Jesus did come into the world, and He did say He is the light of the world and that those who follow Him will not walk in the darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12).

John 7:24
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Exercising righteous judgment is shedding light, and not everyone appreciates light. So Jesus also says:
John 3:19-21
19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”

Some do walk in the light, without a plank in their eye and are able to exercise a righteous judgment. It does not mean "hating" on someone or pretending to be perfect. But thank you Jesus! He died to allow all those who follow Him to walk in the light and be alert and vigilant because the world is full of deceivers. 



See also:
Who am I to Judge?
https://yestothetruth.blogspot.com/2017/07/who-am-i-to-judge.html
 
The Myth of Casting Stones
https://yestothetruth.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-myth-of-casting-stones.html 

"Only God can judge me!"
https://www.facebook.com/yestothetruth/posts/1342248582520728




 

Call to Repentance

 

Sinners don't have a sinful nature but evil desires they act upon

Sin is not the result of a birth defect aka "sinful nature" that God is responsible for. It's the result of corruption that happens in the world when people act upon their evil desires.

James 1:13-15 (NHEB)
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust (desire), and enticed. 15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.

James 1:13-15 (HCSB)
13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires.15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.

Here Jesus preaches to a crowd that even as they are "evil" in God's sight and need to follow Jesus and be saved, they know how to give good gifts to their children:

Matthew 7:11-12 (NHEB)
11  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him. 12  Therefore whatever you desire for people to do to you, do also to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus' observation shows that they are perfectly capable of doing good to their children and not harming them. So, they are perfectly capable of loving their neighbors as themselves, too, which is God's will (not a sin). They are not prevented from doing that by their (sinful) nature.

Jesus gave the parable of the "good Samaritan" that all the world knows, again to show the love of one's neighbor is nothing impossible because of a supposed sinful nature that would make people not regard and love someone as their neighbor. Being like the good Samaritan in Jesus' parable is not something for so-called "superheroes," but for anyone, in any circumstance. It's the attitude or disposition of the heart that determines how a person acts in a particular situation. Let's consider the message again:

Luke 10:25-37
25  And look, a certain Law scholar stood up and tested him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?” 26  He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27  He answered, “You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28  He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.” 29  But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” 30  Jesus answered, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31  By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32  In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33  But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, 34  came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35  On the next day, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’ 36  Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?” 37  He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Selfishness and indifference to the suffering of another person (lack of compassion), is not a birth defect. It is rather a corruption or "damage" in a person's character, even to regard evil as good and good as evil and that is sin. God would not warn sinners for no reason, if they could not help choosing to do evil all their lives because of their (sinful) nature:

Isaiah 5:20-23
20  Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. 21  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight. 22  Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and champions at mixing strong drink; 23  who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice for the innocent.

So, that corruption is what Jesus addresses in offering salvation to the world. It's a path for a person's soul to be restored (Psalm 23:3) and have that healing of the soul that the Gospel promises through Jesus' call to sinners to repent (Luke 5:31-32; Isaiah 53:5). Salvation is about escaping the corruption and power of sin that enslaves:

2 Peter 1:2-4 (NHEB)
2  Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3  seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue; 4  by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust [evil desires].

This letter of Peter is addressed to the saints, the righteous, not to sinners. They are ex-sinners who repented and were converted into new creatures in Christ led by his Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10). They have been saved by grace through faith and are "partakers of the divine nature." They are not sinners (still) who have a sinful nature.

Those who are saved are instructed on how to walk in the grace of God, led by the Spirit and not by their flesh and its evil passions that lead to sin:

Romans 8:1-2 (WEB)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

Galatians 5:24 (NHEB)
Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

Titus 2:11-14 (NHEB)
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.

Romans 6:1-2, 12-18 (NHEB)
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 May it never be. We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 Neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.  15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be. 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, whether of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 Being made free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

1 John 2:15-17 (NHEB)
15 Do not love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father's love is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not the Father's, but is the world's. 17 The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God's will remains forever.

Hebrews 9:13-14 (NHEB)
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh: 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

1 Peter 1:14-16 (NIV)
14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

2 Corinthians 13 (NHEB)
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. "At the mouth of two or three witnesses will every word be established." 2 I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare; 3 seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you. 4 For indeed he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you.  5 Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or do you not know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I hope that you will know that we are not disqualified. 7 Now we pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we are as reprobate. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting. 10 For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.  11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be perfected, be comforted, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you.  14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

So, people can do God's will if the disposition of their heart is to do well. Otherwise sin proceeds out of the corruption of their hearts (Mark 7:21-23) and it's rebellion to God's ways all day. And God who calls all people to repentance tells them to purify their hearts (James 4:8). 

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 

Finally, beware of what false prophets/teachers/ministers of God are preaching. Don't follow any.

2 Peter 2:19 (NKJV)
While they promise them (genuine believers) liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.



See also:
The Bible speaks about the wicked (sinners) and the righteous (saints) 

Struggle with sin and double-mindedness

Original Sin / Sinful Nature (playlist)
 
By the word of their testimony... (Revelation 12:11)

Call to Repentance

The Bible speaks about the wicked (sinners) and the righteous (saints)

Exercise: use a bible app to look for all the verses in the bible that mention 'sinner' (or 'sinners') and see what the word is saying. Then look for all the verses in the bible that mention the 'righteous' and see what the word is saying. Pray before you begin. Read whole passages to get their context (as opposed to reading isolated verses and risk taking them out of context).

The bible says nothing about "sinners saved by grace" as a class of sinners separated from other sinners or "lost sinners." Not being saved has everything to do with being in bondage to sin, so salvation has everything to do with being set free from sin and doing righteousness. And the one who does righteousness is righteous (1 John 3:7).

Jesus is the truth who came down from heaven to save sinners (Romans 5:6-8) and set them free to serve God, no longer serve sin! What Jesus addresses in salvation is bondage to sin first of all. That is, the fact of being taken captive by the devil to obey one's evil desires in agreement with him (the devil), and so to do his will (sin) rather than the will of God. There is a release from that bondage because of Jesus’ sacrifice. It comes through the knowledge of the truth (John 14:6; John 8:31-36; 1 Timothy 2:4). Then Jesus enables those He has so redeemed or made free from sin to progress to perfection (maturity), helped by his grace through the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:2) so as to be like Him in the end.

1 John 1:6-7
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Note that 1 John 1:8 that comes right after the above passage can never be used as an excuse to sin, or to say that unless someone admits to be sinning all the time that person is a liar by claiming to be perfect like Jesus. It reads: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." The next verse from that, 1 John 1:9, reaffirms that cleansing from all sin is found in Christ: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." And the last verse of the chapter, verse 10, further clarifies 1 John 1:8: "If we say that we have not sinned (never sinned), we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." The apostle then exhorts believers to not sin in 1 John 2:1-2: "My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world." Finally, consider well the understanding of the apostle John about sin when he writes later in 1 John 5:18, "We know that whosoever is born of God does not sin; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one doesn't touch him."

Proverbs 28:13
He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whosoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.

Mistakes in judgment happen, thoughts must be guarded, attitudes must be checked, especially with pride that is a blinding agent masking one's flaws and abundant need of God's grace to be transformed according to his will. But these things are not one and the same in the Bible as issues of willful sin that should end once salvation in Jesus (freedom from sin) comes. Willful sin proceeds out of a rebellious, uncircumcised heart that has not been reconciled to God through brokenness in repentance (Psalm 51:17; Psalm 34:18; Luke 18:13). In terms of identity (who one is), things that do not pertain to willful sins of the flesh do not threaten believers’ standing with God as righteous and make them regarded as "sinners" or "workers of iniquity." Of course they need forgiveness once they realize how they have missed the mark and not truly represented Jesus in their action or way of thinking. But there is a clear difference between a rebel who does not care about God's ways and a saint (righteous person) who has stumbled in a way. The Bible says that that person will receive correction (Hebrews 12:3-11), get back up, and press on as a servant of God (Proverbs 24:16). That person will be on his/her guard to not stumble in the same manner ever again, empowered by God's grace.

Being righteous and doing righteousness is not about being perfect as Jesus (or there would not be a need for instruction and exhortations for believers), but it’s about putting on Christ (Galatians 3:27) and having severed ties with former ways as the "old man" is crucified, that is, put to death (Romans 6:6). Standing as righteous is a testimony that someone has been made right with God through repentance and faith in Jesus (Acts 20:20-21; Acts 26:19-20). And by God's grace (Titus 2:11-14) that person has been empowered to walk in his ways of righteousness and holiness as a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10). Sinning willfully after coming to the knowledge of the truth (Jesus) is an insult to the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:26-29). 

Remark also that "There is no one righteous; no, not one" (Romans 3:10) is not talking about born again believers comprising the body of Christ. It only suffices to read the verse in its context (e.g. Romans 3:10-18) to realize who it is talking about. That passage describes sinners doing all things contrary to how a Christian (follower of Jesus) is instructed to walk in the light by the grace of God.

Be on your guard, many false prophets / false teachers / false ministers of God / wolves in sheep's clothing have been preaching lies for hundreds of years (1 John 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1; Matthew 24:11). Remember in Elijah's time the ratio was 850 to 1 (1 Kings 18:19)! Imagine today. Know who you are or who you are supposed to be in Christ if you have been saved by grace through faith.

Also, being righteous is again about doing righteousness (1 John 3:7; Ezekiel 18:20-32), not being "self-righteous." So, if no one is doing righteousness, of course we can say, "we are all sinners," too. And that would mean no one got the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. But thankfully that is not the case!

1 John 2:29
If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone that does righteousness is born of Him.

The Gospel is preached to call all to repent and be made right with God and be accounted by Him as righteous. Now do we have repentance right? Do we have faith right? Let's make sure we are walking on the narrow/constricted road to eternal life that Jesus said few will find (Matthew 7:14). He said, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in and will not be able" (Luke 13:24).

Peter understood that when he asked:
1 Peter 4:1
If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Jesus is coming back for his servants, the righteous, not the sinners. He came for sinners the first time, to call them to repentance and save them from sin. So, a sinner who has been saved by grace is really an ex-sinner, an ex-evil doer, an ex-worker of iniquity, an ex-enemy of God. These things are synonymous! God does not call his servants sinners, evil doers, workers of iniquity, enemies. A saved person is called righteous by God because of Jesus' atoning sacrifice.

Matthew 13:41-43
41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear. 

May Jesus bless you!


See also:
Are we are all sinners?

Are You an Ex-Sinner Calling yourself a Sinner?

Saints or Sinners?

Struggle with sin and double-mindedness
 
Sinners don't have a sinful nature but evil desires they act upon

False Prophets Today

If I Say I have No Sin! WHO is the Liar?

Salvation From Sin

Call to Repentance

The Goal of Repentance