--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: \"Sinner\" is a present-tense description…" description: "\"\"Sinner\" is a present-tense description of everyone, including those who have put their faith in Christ. Of course, those who have called Jesus \"Lord\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/edward-t-welch-2-38236_christ_sinner-is-a-present-tense-description-of_3178993.jpg" --- # "Sinner" is a present-tense description of everyone… ![“"Sinner" is a present-tense description of everyone, including those who have put their faith in Christ. Of course, those who have called Jesus "Lord" are justified, meaning that they are no longer guilty. Also, they have been given the Spirit, which makes them slaves to Christ rather than to sin…” quote by Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/edward-t-welch-2-38236_christ_sinner-is-a-present-tense-description-of_3178993.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/edward-t-welch-2-38236_christ_sinner-is-a-present-tense-description-of_3178993.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/edward-t-welch-2-38236_christ_sinner-is-a-present-tense-description-of_3178993.jpg) > “"Sinner" is a present-tense description of everyone, including those who have put their faith in Christ. Of course, those who have called Jesus "Lord" are justified, meaning that they are no longer guilty. Also, they have been given the Spirit, which makes them slaves to Christ rather than to sin. But we all are sinners. Perfection awaits eternity.” [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. All humans are sinful; believers are justified and freed from sin's power by the Spirit, yet remain sinners until perfection in eternity. **In simple terms:** Everyone sins, but faith frees believers from guilt. Key Takeaway Live in humility, rely on the Spirit. Themes sin faith justification eternity spiritual growth Mood reflective hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - church life - personal reflection - teaching - preaching Key Concepts theology redemption sanctification Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing ongoing sin shape your spiritual practice? - What does “perfection awaits eternity” mean for daily living? A Different Perspective Even justified believers may still struggle with sin. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Description](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/description/) [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Including](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/including/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Justified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justified/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Present tense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-tense/) [Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness/) [Self righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-righteous/) [Self righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-righteousness/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sin Sinners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-sinners-2376393/) [Sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinner/) [Sinner Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinner-present-5817071/) [Sinners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinners/) [Sinners Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinners-perfection-5817072/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Tense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tense/) ## Related quotes > [If our failure to consistently worship the true God is the key feature of sin, we are sinners all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/if-our-failure-to-consistently-worship-the-true-god-is-the-key/) [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) > [If we think we are usually good, then God is usually irrelevant... Such thinking ignores the depths of sin in my own heart, and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/if-we-think-we-are-usually-good-then-god-is-usually-irrelevant-such/) [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) > [We are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-not-sinners-because-we-sin-we-sin-because-we-are-sinners/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Interestingly, we know how well we do not participate in sin, we become sinners for loved ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/interestingly-we-know-how-well-we-do-not-participate-in-sin-we-become/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [The Inquisition confused sin with sinners and judged both. Modern Americans make the same mistake but judge neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/the-inquisition-confused-sin-with-sinners-and-judged-both-modern/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Like Muslims we assume that God will judge us "on balance." If our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds, we will arrive safely in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/like-muslims-we-assume-that-god-will-judge-us-on-balance-if-our-good/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Ah, there is nothing more beautiful than the difference between the thought about sinful creatures which is natural to a holy being, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/ah-there-is-nothing-more-beautiful-than-the-difference-between-the/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [“Yet what moved Our Blessed Lord to invective was not badness but just such self-righteousness as this…He said that the harlots and the Quislings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/yet-what-moved-our-blessed-lord-to-invective-was-not-badness-but-just/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Self-righteousness is the most shameless slut of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/self-righteousness-is-the-most-shameless-slut-of-all/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/but-to-be-fully-known-and-truly-loved-is-well-a-lot-like-being-loved/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The saints are sinners still. Our best tears need to be wept over, the strongest faith is mixed with unbelief, our most flaming love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-saints-are-sinners-still-our-best-tears-need-to-be-wept-over-the/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“You will never overcome your self righteousness if you continue to believe that God prefers you over other people. The moment you feel entitled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/you-will-never-overcome-your-self-righteousness-if-you-continue-to/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Our sin is what separates us from God, but it's our self righteousness that keeps us from running to Him for the grace He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/our-sin-is-what-separates-us-from-god-but-it-s-our-self-righteousness/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [So when we call pain a problem, we claim we do not deserve it. We are even prepared to scuttle God to maintain our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gerstner/so-when-we-call-pain-a-problem-we-claim-we-do-not-deserve-it-we-are/) [John Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gerstner/) > [Calamity, war, famine, plague, death, adversity, disease, injury do not necessarily produce repentance. We may become better in a calamity but it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/calamity-war-famine-plague-death-adversity-disease-injury-do-not/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## More by Edward T Welch > [If we think we are usually good, then God is usually irrelevant... Such thinking ignores the depths of sin in my own heart, and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/if-we-think-we-are-usually-good-then-god-is-usually-irrelevant-such/) [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) > [When you are in the grips of low self-esteem, it’s painful, and it certainly doesn’t feel like pride. But I believe that this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/when-you-are-in-the-grips-of-low-self-esteem-it-s-painful-and-it/) [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) > [Fear in the biblical sense... includes being afraid of someone, but it extends to holding someone in awe, being controlled or mastered by people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/fear-in-the-biblical-sense-includes-being-afraid-of-someone-but-it/) [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) > [God is God, He is not tame and domesticated like we sometimes (try to) make Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/god-is-god-he-is-not-tame-and-domesticated-like-we-sometimes-try-to/) [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) > [We are more concerned about looking stupid (fear of people) than we are about acting sinfully (fear of the Lord).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/we-are-more-concerned-about-looking-stupid-fear-of-people-than-we-are-2/) [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) > [Jesus did not die to increase our self-esteem. Rather, Jesus died to bring glory to the Father by redeeming people from the curse of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/jesus-did-not-die-to-increase-our-self-esteem-rather-jesus-died-to/) [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) > [There is a mean streak to authentic self-control. Underneath what seems to be the placid demeanor of those who are not ruled by their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/there-is-a-mean-streak-to-authentic-self-control-underneath-what/) [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) > [The rule of thumb is that if someone is able to be verbally or physically abusive, he or she is able to understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/the-rule-of-thumb-is-that-if-someone-is-able-to-be-verbally-or/) [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) > [As a counselor, I have spoken with many people who want to know their spiritual gifts. They come hoping for some sort of diagnostic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/as-a-counselor-i-have-spoken-with-many-people-who-want-to-know-their/) [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) > [Sanctification is like a clumsy, slow walk rather than a light switch that we turn from off to on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/sanctification-is-like-a-clumsy-slow-walk-rather-than-a-light-switch/) [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) > [If our failure to consistently worship the true God is the key feature of sin, we are sinners all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/if-our-failure-to-consistently-worship-the-true-god-is-the-key/) [Edward T Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) [Explore all 12 Edward T Welch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/) ## More Christ quotes > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“I would even go so far as to say that the mythical character of a life is just what expresses its universal human validity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-g-jung/i-would-even-go-so-far-as-to-say-that-the-mythical-character-of-a/) [C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-g-jung/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/may-nothing-entice-me-till-i-happily-make-my-way-to-jesus-christ-fire/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/whoever-does-not-seek-the-cross-of-christ-doesn-t-seek-the-glory-of/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [Christ never preached any funeral sermons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/christ-never-preached-any-funeral-sermons/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [One thing the young Christian should be taught as quickly as possible after his conversion is that Jesus Christ is all he needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/one-thing-the-young-christian-should-be-taught-as-quickly-as-possible/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) [Browse all 9,006 Christ quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "\"Sinner\" is a present-tense description of everyone, including those who have put their faith in Christ. Of course, those who have called Jesus \"Lord\" are justified, meaning that they are no longer guilty. Also, they have been given the Spirit, which makes them slaves to Christ rather than to sin. But we all are sinners. Perfection awaits eternity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward T Welch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/sinner-is-a-present-tense-description-of-everyone-including-those-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christ" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/sinner-is-a-present-tense-description-of-everyone-including-those-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/edward-t-welch-2-38236_christ_sinner-is-a-present-tense-description-of_3178993.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/edward-t-welch-2-38236_christ_sinner-is-a-present-tense-description-of_3178993.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e7/edward-t-welch-2-38236_christ_sinner-is-a-present-tense-description-of_3178993.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“\"Sinner\" is a present-tense description of everyone, including those who have put their faith in Christ. Of…” — Edward T Welch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edward T Welch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-t-welch-2/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "\"Sinner\" is a present-tense description of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/sinner-is-a-present-tense-description-of-everyone-including-those-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-t-welch-2/sinner-is-a-present-tense-description-of-everyone-including-those-who/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```