Many today who believe in God and Jesus as His son are living in a false sense of safety. Because they have adopted the prevalent thinking that we as Christians are not perfect and will never be able to overcome our sinful nature. While this is in some ways true many take it to this thinking too far. It is true that at times on our walk with God we may fall to the temptations of sin. And God is just to forgive us if we repent for our transgressions. But this does not mean we can hold to our failed nature and use it as an excuse to keep on sinning lake we did before receiving salvation.
The Bible is extremely clear on this fact and speaks on the issues of sinning after salvation all through the New Testament. In his letters to both the Corinthians and the Galatians Paul lists various sinful lifestyles and makes it clear that people who live such live styles will not enter Heaven.
1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (ESV)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19–21 (ESV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
In the book of Romans, we read how Christians who place their faith and trust in Christ are no longer bound to the law. But Paul again speaks up and makes sure that we all understand that this does not mean we can continue to sin. Because serving sin does not lead to the life God offers but to death and destruction.
Romans 6:15–16 (ESV)
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Both Peter and Paul point out that we have been given freedom through our faith. But that we must not use this freedom to serve sin and do wicked things. Instead, we need to use this freedom to live our lives fully for God.
1 Peter 2:16 (ESV)
16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
Galatians 5:13 (ESV)
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
John also makes sure that all those who read his letter understand that christians can not keep sinning after salvation and truly be saved. As he reinforces this serial times in his short letter. Pointing to the fact that Jesus came to take away sin and their was no sin in Him. John tells us that those who live in Christ do not keep sinning and that those who do continue to sin do not even know Christ.
1 John 3:4–6 (ESV)
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
It is almost as though John was writing to the very situation that we are facing today. Telling his readers not to be deceived about being able to live in sin and serve God. Stating that those who make a practice of sin are not of God but of the devil.
1 John 3:7–8 (ESV)
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
John finishes his teaching on sin and the fact that Christians cannot continue to live a sinful lifestyle by making it clear that those born of God do not make a practice of sinning. In fact, this point is so important he reinforces the statement in the closing of his letter.
1 John 3:9–10 (ESV)
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
1 John 5:18 (ESV)
18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
The truth of the matter is there is a false doctrine prevalent in the church today. That says it is okay to keep on sinning after receiving salvation because you believe in God and nobody is perfect. This could not be any farther from the truth and sadly is leading many people blindly away from God.
As you have already seen scripture is clear that you cannot live a sinful lifestyle and still be saved. Scripture does not say you can never fall and rise again. But that sin can not remain a regular part of your life.
That is the Bible’s message on sin. It is written to instruct you to go forth and sin no more, but it is clear that if you do slip and fall you can be forgiven. Just be sure you get back up and run as far as you can from that sin. Be sure that you do not live the sinful lifestyle that disqualifies you from entering Heaven.
1 John 2:1 (ESV)
2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Don’t fall into this trap and believe you can keep on sinning purposefully and still be saved. This will only lead to a false sense of safety and take you further away from God. Instead, live the life of righteous we see described in scripture and keep your sin where it belongs. In the past.
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