Answer: Before exploring whether or not Christians sin,
let’s define a couple of terms. Regardless of how
tattered the word Christian has become throughout
history, the biblical definition of a “ Christian ” is one who
is a Christ-follower, a disciple of Jesus (Acts 11:26). A
Christian is NOT someone who has ascribed to a
particular set of religious beliefs or practices, joined a
church, prayed a prayer, or participated in certain
sacraments or rituals. A Christian is a person who has
responded to the conviction of the Holy Spirit (John
6:44) by putting his or her whole faith in the finished
work of Christ for salvation (Ephesians 2:8–9; John
3:15–18). Christians are those who have repented of
their sin and have made Jesus Lord of their lives
(Romans 10:9–10; Acts 2:38). They are born again by
the power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:6–7).
“ Sin ” is any thought, word, or action that is contrary to
the character or law of God. We all sin (Romans 3:23),
and even what we consider good deeds are often
tainted by selfish motives or pride (Isaiah 64:6). Left to
ourselves, it is impossible to please God or to be
completely free from sin (Romans 3:10; Ecclesiastes
7:10).
When we come to Christ by faith and trust Him to
forgive and cleanse us of all our sin, we are in that
moment born again (John 3:3). That new birth of the
spirit results in a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). God
gives the repentant sinner a new heart that is now
turned toward obeying and pleasing Him rather than
self (2 Corinthians 5:9; Romans 8:5–6). Whereas we
were formerly slaves to sin, we are now “slaves to
righteousness” (Romans 6:16). Sin’s control has been
broken by the power of Jesus (Romans 6:6; Titus 2:14).
However, we still live in the flesh, and the flesh is prone
to want what it wants. In Romans 7:21–23, Paul
admits the battle between flesh and spirit in his own
life: “So I find this law at work: Although I want to do
good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I
delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in
me, waging war against the law of my mind and making
me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.” Each
battle with temptation is won or lost based upon how
fully we are surrendered to the control of the Holy Spirit
(Galatians 5:16–17).
The book of 1 John was written to Christians. The
apostle says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive
ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8–9).
It is clear from this passage that even those who have
been born again and redeemed by the blood of Jesus
will still sin. Through thought, attitude, or action, we will
“grieve” (Ephesians 4:30) and “quench” (1
Thessalonians 5:19) the Holy Spirit at times. But this
passage also reassures us that God offers continual,
ongoing grace whenever we agree with Him about our
sin and ask for His cleansing.
However, other passages clarify the boundaries of this
ocean of grace. First John 3:6 says, “No one who lives
in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin
has either seen him or known him.” Verse 9 says that
those who have been “born of God” will not continue to
live sinfully. The implication is that this is not a matter
of trying harder. Rather, it is the equivalent of saying,
“A fish cannot remain on land for long because its
nature is to seek water.” A fish could flop onto the
shore and survive for a short time. But it was not made
for land and cannot continue there. When we are born
again, our natures change, and we cannot continue in
sin. Christ not only erases our past sin; He also
transforms our hearts so that we no longer desire it
(Colossians 2:13–14).
Paul asked, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on
sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We
are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it
any longer?” (Romans 6:1–2). Although Christians will
still sin after being saved, the heart change that the
Holy Spirit brings will result in a new attitude toward
sin. Sin cannot continue being a lifestyle choice if we
have surrendered our lives to Jesus. That’s what it
means to say that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9;
Colossians 2:6). We have a new boss. We cannot be
followers of Christ and followers of sin at the same
time. They are going in opposite directions (Luke 9:23;
14:33). Romans 12:2 instructs, “Be transformed by the
renewing of your mind .” Renewal can take some time,
but it is a process that produces a change of behavior.
When a true child of God goes astray, our Father
administers discipline to bring him back into obedience.
Hebrews 12:7–8 says, “It is for discipline that you have
to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is
there whom his father does not discipline? If you are
left without discipline, in which all have participated,
then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” If a
professing Christian can choose a lifestyle of sin
without experiencing enough discipline to bring him to
repentance, then according to this Scripture, it is highly
unlikely that that person is a child of God.
Do Christians sin? Yes. Do they willfully continue in sin?
No. Scripture indicates that, while we will always “fall
short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), we have the
hope that the power of God is at work in us to “make us
more and more like him as we are changed into his
glorious image” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NLT).
CREDIT: CHRISPINE OSEI KUFFOUR
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