Am I a Sinner?

QUESTION:

ANSWER:

Everyone is a sinner, not simply because of wrong actions, but because of a heart that rejects God — yet through Jesus Christ, forgiveness and eternal life are freely offered.

Sin is man’s greatest menace.

When God created the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them — including mankind — the Word of God declares,

“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” — Genesis 1:31

Everything was perfect. There was peace. There was purpose. There was paradise. But everything changed.

In the Garden of Eden, the serpent deceived Eve, and Adam — with full knowledge — disobeyed God. In that moment, sin entered the world. And with sin came devastation.

Man, who was created to enjoy life, was now cursed with hardship.
Man, who was designed to live forever, was now bound to die.
Man, who once walked in fellowship with his Creator, was now cast out — separated, not just from Eden, but from the presence of God Himself.

And not just for a moment — but forever.

You see how sin destroyed man?
It didn’t just stain him — it ruined him.
It separated him from God, from life, and from purpose.

This is why we must ask the question seriously: “Am I a sinner?”
Because the answer to that question determines not only how we see ourselves — but what kind of rescue we need.

1. Definition of Sin

Sin is the exercise of one’s free will in rejection of God.

God gave us a wonderful gift — the gift of free will. Because He is a God of love, He did not create us as robots. He gave us the capacity to act by our own volition, to choose whether to love Him, obey Him, and walk with Him.

But with that freedom, God also requires what He alone deserves: submission, obedience, and devotion.

Let us be reminded of this sobering truth:
God has existed before man, and He will continue to exist in all His glory even without us.
But you — man — will you exist without God?

He is the source of life. He is your Creator. He is your Sustainer.

“For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’” — Acts 17:28

Even the thought of Him should move us to reverence, surrender, and wholehearted obedience.

Adam, after being deceived in the Garden, exercised his free will — but not to follow God. He rejected God’s authority, His will, and His command. Take note of this:
Adam did not sin because he ate the fruit.
He sinned when he chose to reject God and follow his own will instead of God’s command.

We see this same principle in Psalm 14:1–4:

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.
The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.
Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call on the Lord?” — Psalm 14:1–4

The reason man sins is because man rejects God. No one seeks Him. No one calls upon Him. That is the true root of sin.

Many critics today cry out, “Why would God punish me for such small sins for all eternity? That’s not fair!”
But listen carefully:

God will not punish us for a few small sins — He will judge us for our ongoing, willful rejection of Him.

Our sins and our unrepentant hearts are the evidence of that rejection. This is why, when the Lord Jesus began His ministry, His very first sermon was:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” — Matthew 4:17

Repentance is not merely changing behavior — it is making a firm decision to return to God and stop rejecting Him in your life. It is a full surrender. It is saying, “God, You are my God. Jesus, You are my Lord.” That is repentance.
(See also: “What Is True Repentance?”)

Disobedience is just the outward manifestation of something deeper: the inner rejection of God.

So let me ask you: Where is God in your life right now?
Is God your God — or have you made your own desires your god?
Is Jesus truly your Lord and Master — or are you still on the throne?

2. How We Commit Sin

If sin is the rejection of God, then how do we — as individuals — commit sin in our daily lives? The Bible shows us that sin enters and operates in the human experience in several distinct ways. Let us walk through them one by one.

a. We Inherit Sin (Original Sin)

From the very beginning, sin entered the world through the choice of one man — Adam.

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” — Romans 5:12

When Adam rejected God in the Garden, the entire human race fell with him. We did not inherit guilt for his specific act, but we inherited a sinful nature — a natural tendency to reject God, to disobey Him, and to seek our own way.

This is why we don’t have to teach children how to lie, rebel, or be selfish. These things are deeply rooted in our fallen nature — we were born sinners, and we sin because we are sinners.

Before we ever commit a sinful act, the seed of sin is already within us.

b. By Doing What Is Wrong (Sins of Commission)

Sin shows up when we knowingly break God’s commands.

“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” — 1 John 3:4

When we lie, steal, curse, hate, lust, or rebel — we are not just breaking rules. We are rejecting God’s holiness and choosing corruption instead of righteousness. These outward actions are the visible fruit of a heart that is not surrendered to God.

c. By Failing to Do What Is Right (Sins of Omission)

Sin isn’t only about what we do — it’s also about what we refuse to do.

“To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” — James 4:17

When we ignore someone in need, remain silent when we should speak the truth, or avoid the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we commit sin by omission. We reject God’s call to do good — and that rejection is sin in His eyes.

d. By Acting Without Faith (Sin Against Conscience)

Even if an act seems “okay” on the surface, it can still be sin if we do it without faith or against our conscience.

“…for whatever is not from faith is sin.” — Romans 14:23

When we doubt and act anyway, or when we conform to pressure while knowing better, we are not trusting in God — we are following our fears, our doubts, or the approval of others. When we do things against the conviction of God, we sin. This, too, is rejection of God’s lordship.

e. By Harboring Sinful Thoughts and Desires

Jesus taught that sin begins not with the hand, but with the heart.

“Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” — Matthew 5:28

Sinful desires, though unseen by others, are fully visible to God. Pride, bitterness, jealousy, and lust are not just temptations — when entertained and cherished, they are sin.

Before we move on, let’s pause and reflect.

These are not abstract theological categories — these are real, practical expressions of sin that reveal our rejection of God:

Do you knowingly disobey His commands?
Do you often neglect the good you know you should do?
Do you act out of fear, guilt, doubt or peer pressure instead of faith?
Do you harbor sinful desires that no one else sees, but you know are there?
Have you ever felt the pull of sin — not just once, but again and again?

Take a moment to honestly examine your heart and life.
Do any of these describe you?

What do you think… Are you a sinner?

3. The General Types of Sin

The Bible does not just talk about what we do but what drives what we do — the cravings and patterns within our hearts. In 1 John 2:16, the apostle John identifies the three general types of sin that fuel all other sinful behavior:

“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” — 1 John 2:16

Let us look briefly at each of these.

a. The Lust of the Flesh

This refers to the desires of the sinful nature — cravings that seek pleasure, comfort, or gratification outside of God’s will.
This includes sins like sexual immorality, gluttony, laziness, rage, and substance abuse.

These are sins that say, “If it feels good, do it.” But God says,

“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16

b. The Lust of the Eyes

This is the craving for what we see — envy, greed, materialism, and coveting what does not belong to us.
This type of sin often begins with comparison and leads to dissatisfaction, jealousy, and even dishonesty or exploitation.

It is the constant looking outward, wanting more — never content, never thankful.

c. The Pride of Life

This is the arrogant desire to exalt oneself — to be admired, envied, or worshiped.
It is the boastful confidence in personal success, intelligence, popularity, achievements, or religious works.

This is the sin that says, “I want to be in control. I want the glory. I want to be my own god.”

Pride is at the very root of Satan’s rebellion — and it is often the most deceptive sin, because it hides behind religious activity and external righteousness.

These three — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — are not isolated sins. They are the root categories from which all sinful actions and attitudes grow. Every temptation you’ve ever faced likely traces back to one of these.

Be warned: these patterns are not just “bad habits” — they are evidence of a deeper issue:
The rejection of God in favor of the world, the self, and Satan’s lies.

4. The Penalties of Sin

Sin is not just a theological term — it has real, devastating consequences. The Bible reveals that sin carries penalties both in this life and in the life to come.

1. A Messed-Up Life

Sin ruined what God originally designed to be beautiful and good. Life, which was meant to be lived in peace and purpose, became filled with struggle and sorrow.

Instead of simply enjoying God’s presence and provision, we now work hard just to survive.

We toil, we sweat, and we still often come up short.
Life feels unfair.
People betray.
Bodies break down.
Families fall apart.
Anxiety, loneliness, depression — all are marks of a life stained by sin.

This isn’t how it was meant to be. Sin messes everything up.

2. Physical Death and Its Precursors

“The soul who sins shall die.” — Ezekiel 18:4

Because of sin, we all face physical death. The human body, once created for eternal life, now weakens, ages, and decays.

Pain, fatigue, disease, arthritis, and countless other afflictions are not just medical conditions — they are precursors of death, reminders that this world is broken by sin. Every ache is a whisper that our bodies are returning to the dust.

3. The Second Death — Eternal Separation from God

The most fearful of all is not physical death, but what comes after.

“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” — Revelation 20:14

The second death is eternal punishment — separation from God in the lake of fire (See also: “Is Hell an Eternal Punishment?”) This judgment is reserved for those whose sins are not forgiven. And it is final. But your answer to this question makes the difference: “Are You Forgiven?” (See Also: “How Can I be Forgiven of my Sins?”)

5. Two Types of Sinners

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” — Romans 3:23

All have sinned. But not all respond the same. The Bible draws a clear distinction between two kinds of sinners:

a. Unrepentant Sinners

These are those who continue to reject God — knowingly or unknowingly. They live without regard for Him. They do not seek Him. They do not call on Him.

“There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.” — Romans 3:11

Unrepentant sinners may be moral, religious, successful, or kind — but if they persist in ignoring or rejecting God, they remain lost. Their sins remain unforgiven, and they are headed toward the second death — unless they turn to God in repentance and faith.

b. Repentant Sinners

These are the ones who recognize their sin, acknowledge their guilt, and decide to stop rejecting God. They make the choice to return to God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Repentant sinners are not perfect — but they are forgiven. They are the ones who respond to Jesus’ call:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” — Matthew 4:17

Repentance is not about rituals — it’s a decision to surrender your life to God and stop living in rejection of Him. (Read also: “What Is True Repentance?”) They are the ones who will be restored, redeemed, and received into eternal life.

Going to heaven and escaping the second death is not complicated. You don’t need to earn it. You don’t need to be good enough. You only need to repent — to make the decision to return to God, to leave behind your rejection of Him, and to surrender your life to the Lord Jesus, who died on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins.

Take note of this:

Heaven is not a place for perfect people — it is for repentant and forgiven sinners.

The lake of fire is reserved for the unrepentant and unforgiven — those who chose to reject God until the end.

Final Thought: Will You Come Back to God Today?

Are you a sinner? Absolutely, yes! But what truly matters is this: Have your sins been forgiven because you have returned to God through the Lord Jesus Christ?

God is calling you — not to religion, but to relationship. Not to rituals, but to repentance.

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.” — Acts 17:30–31

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” — 2 Corinthians 6:2

If God is calling you right now — don’t delay. Repent. Believe. Come home. Forgiveness of sins is possible in Jesus!

If you are ready to return to God, if you want your sins forgiven, you can start by praying this prayer from the bottom of your heart:

Father God, I come before You, admitting that I have sinned against You. I am sorry for the life I lived away from and in rejection of You. I need You, Lord. Today, I make this decision to return to You. I also believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again because He is the Messiah. I now surrender my life to You, Lord Jesus. Come into my life, be my Lord and Savior, and change me through Your Spirit. I receive Your forgiveness and Your gift of eternal life. Thank You for saving me. Amen.

Welcome to New Life With Jesus!

If you just prayed that prayer with faith, congratulations! You are now a child of God, forgiven, redeemed, and born again. You have crossed from death to life, from darkness to light, and from guilt to grace.

The journey of following Jesus begins today. Seek Him through His Word, connect with other believers, and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Next Step: “I Just Accepted Jesus Christ. What Should I Do Next?”