The Pharisees were correct with their rhetorical question…
Luke 5:21b (HCSB)
“…Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Jesus Christ (who is God) came in the flesh 2,000 years ago in Palestine to be executed on the cross, where He suffered the deserved wrath for those sinners who repent and trust in Him. Three days later He rose from the dead gaining their salvation…
John 3:17-18 (HCSB)
“For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.”
The question we (Christians) must challenge the world with is…
Are you righteous, or are you a sinner?
Luke 5:32 (HCSB)
“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
I urge you to share Peter’s proclamation with everyone…
Acts 8:22 (HCSB)
“…repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.”
Godspeed, to the brethren!
FOLLOW theidolbabbler.com ON TWITTER!!
Follow @theidolbabbler
theidolbabbler.com 
Yes, which also means Christians need to stop referring to be themselves as old sinners saved by grace – you are either one or the other.
LikeLike
matthewcailes – you might like this recent blog that I wrote. It touches on your point…
The “Total Depravity Excuse” (Indirectly Debunked by Dr. James White) – theidolbabbler’s Blog
https://theidolbabbler.com/2016/06/02/the-total-depravity-excuse-indirectly-debunked-by-dr-james-white/
LikeLike
Thanks, I read the post & left a comment.
LikeLike
I came as a sinner and have been made Righteous with the Righteousness of Christ. I am reminded of what Paul said in (1 Cor. 6:9-11):
9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to nor perform homosexual acts, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
LikeLike
Amen, Curtis. Thank you for sharing…
LikeLike