Are We Still Sinners?

Here comes the debate on the touchy subject of whether or not believers are still sinners.  I've heard many preachers say things like, "I am a wretched sinner, saved by grace," or "we are all sinners, continually missing the mark." I understand that they are trying to identify with the Apostle Paul when he proclaims himself "the chief of sinners," or "the worst of them all,"  though he was simply holding himself up as an example of us all, in order to prove that no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands.  The law is a picture of the perfect and holy character of God, a standard none could meet.

In Romans 5:6-11, as Paul describes sinners, the literal translation is the ungodly.  In my early education I recall learning that putting the letters "un" in front of an adjective turns it into the opposite of the original word, i.e., true/untrue and happy/unhappy; now you know where I am going with this.  We were once the ungodly, enemies of God; but when we were saved, we became friends of God.

"But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God's condemnation... our friendship with God was restored... we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God... " (Romans 5:8-11)

In no way am I discounting the seriousness of the plight of the sinner I know I once was; however, the Spirit of God bears witness in me through the scripture that I am now the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus.  He took my sin and gave me His righteousness in return—such undeserved kindness! Righteousness is then not what I do, but how I am perceived by God due to the blood of Christ.

Are we still sinners then?  I don't see myself that way anymore, because I have a new relationship with God.  If I were continually sin-conscious, noting every single failure and infraction throughout the day and constantly uttering, "Forgive me, forgive me, I'm sorry," I'm afraid I would feel hopeless.  Instead, I look to the cross and thank God that all of my sins have already been punished—past, present and future—and thanks be to God, there is no condemnation left for me.

So there is the place of peace; the cross upon which the Savior died in my place... the very spot where the guilty conscience can be set free to find Peace With God.