Sinning Frequently: When Does It Become A Practice?

There is a difference between sinning and practising sin. Committing a sin is not equivalent to living a life of sin. Everyone sins, but a child of God decides that is not the life they want to live. Children of God have decided not to turn sin into a way of life and a pattern of iniquity.

However, even children of God sin, but they should choose not to stay in sin as a way of life. They should not be content with these sins and keep doing them over and over again. If they do, they are living in rebellion against God.

A Christian may commit any sin, but they are not going to do so habitually. It will not be a pattern for their lives. Christians will hate their sin, be convicted of their sin, and be at war with their flesh and sin. They cannot walk in darkness, and they will practice righteousness, all because God’s seed abides in them.

Christians do not practice sin, but they do sin

The Bible makes a distinction between sinning and practising sin. While Christians do sin, they do not practise it.

Committing a sin is not equivalent to living a life of sin. Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Every person that lives to the age when they know right from wrong has done things that would be considered sin. But it is the child of God who decides that is not the life they want to live. Children of God have decided not to turn sin into a way of life and a pattern of iniquity. Jesus died on the cross so that we can be forgiven of our sins. He did not die so that we can continue to live however we want and be justified for living a sinful lifestyle.

When you decide to live a sinful lifestyle, you choose to be in rebellion against God. You are choosing to bring shame and disrespect to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The reason is the purpose of His death. It was to deliver you from the power of sin in a rebellious spirit into a life of righteousness as we live for Him.

However, even children of God sin, but a child of God should choose not to stay in sin as a way of life. We make mistakes, we say hurtful things, we think terrible thoughts, we even manipulate, cheat, lie, and often act foolishly. But the difference between a child of God doing these things and everyone else is that a child of God should never be content with these sins and keep doing them over and over again.

If we ever find ourselves content with sin, then we are living in rebellion against God. The child of God should be quick to get himself or herself out of a lifestyle of rebellion.

The Bible says that "no one who is born of God makes a practice of sinning". The practice of sin is the evidence and confirmation that one is not born of God. Doing confirms being. Not practising sin is the evidence and confirmation of being born again.

Christians may commit sin, but they do not make it a habit. It will not be a pattern for their lives. Christians will "hate" their sin, just as their Father hates sin. Before a person becomes a Christian, sin controls them. However, once they are born again, sin can no longer control them. Their old lives have been "crucified with Christ".

Christians are convicted when they commit sin. If they are not "convicted", they cannot have the Holy Spirit in them, and therefore they are not saved. Christians are called "children of light" and, as such, they cannot "walk in darkness". It is impossible for light and darkness to co-exist together.

Christians will struggle with sin and sometimes give in, but giving in to sin is no longer normative. As we grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord, we are being sanctified. As we are led by the Spirit, we will walk more and more in obedience to the Word of God.

Christians are not controlled by sin, but they do struggle with it

Christians are not controlled by sin because they are controlled by the Spirit of God. As the Bible says, "You are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you." However, this does not mean that Christians are completely free from the struggle with sin. On the contrary, all people, including Christians, struggle with sin, as stated in Romans 3:23. Even the apostle Paul, one of the greatest Christian leaders, lamented over his ongoing struggle with sin in Romans 7:18-20.

The key to victory over sin lies not in ourselves but in God and His faithfulness. As Christians, we must recognize that we cannot overcome sin through our own efforts but only through the power of God. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to help us grow in righteousness and overcome our sinful nature. This is a lifelong process of sanctification, and we will not be completely free from the battle with sin until we are with God in eternity.

While Christians may still struggle with sin, it is important to distinguish between committing a sin and living a life of sin. Committing a sin refers to individual acts of sin, while living a life of sin refers to a habitual pattern of sinning without repentance. Christians may still commit sins, but they should not make a practice of sinning. They should strive to live a life that is pleasing to God and be quick to repent when they fall short.

The Bible is clear that those who are truly born of God, or born again, will not make a practice of sinning. This does not mean that Christians will never sin but that they will not continue in a lifestyle of habitual sin. When Christians do sin, they have an Advocate in Jesus Christ, who intercedes for them and helps them overcome sin.

In conclusion, while Christians are not controlled by sin, they do struggle with it. They must rely on the power of God and the work of the Holy Spirit to help them overcome their sinful nature and live a life that is pleasing to God.

Christians are convicted of their sin by the Holy Spirit

The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin. However, this conviction is not a guilty conscience, shame, foreboding, or knowledge of right and wrong. Instead, it is a deep sense of the loathsomeness of sin, which occurs when we see God's beauty, purity, and holiness, and recognise that sin cannot dwell with Him.

The Holy Spirit convicts Christians of sin in a different way to the way it convicts the world of sin. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin by exposing evil, reproving evildoers, and convincing people that they need a saviour. However, Christians are already aware that they need a saviour, so the Holy Spirit convicts them by making them aware of their sin and leading them away from it.

The conviction of Christians by the Holy Spirit is not the same as condemnation. The Bible tells us that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, and that Christ died once for all, taking away our sins. Therefore, the Holy Spirit does not convict Christians of sin in order to bring about a guilty verdict, but rather to lead them away from sin and towards God.

Christians are at war with their sin

Christians are called to be righteous, and to practice righteousness. This means that Christians are called to live a life that is different from their old life without Christ. The old life is marked by a pattern of sin, whereas the new life in Christ is marked by a decreasing pattern of sin.

Christians are not to continue sinning, and a true Christian will not "deliberately, knowingly, and habitually" sin. This is because Christians are born of God, and God's seed remains in them. They cannot go on sinning because they have been born of God. Christians are to hate their sin, be convicted of their sin, and be at war with their sin. They are to walk in the light, not in darkness.

However, Christians do still sin. Even John, the writer of 1 John, said, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). So, while Christians are not to continue sinning, they will still struggle with sin. They will still give in to sin at times. But this giving in to sin is not to be normative for the Christian life. It is not to be a pattern or a way of life.

Christians are in a battle against sin. They are to put to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:13). They are to put off the old self and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator (Colossians 3:9-10). They are to work out their salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). They are to present themselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and their members to God as instruments for righteousness (Romans 6:13).

Christians cannot walk in darkness

The Bible makes it clear that Christians cannot walk in darkness. In 1 John 1:6, we read, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." Walking in darkness means living a life characterised by sin and rebellion against God. This is not just about committing individual sins but also about having a lifestyle marked by habitual sin and lawlessness. In other words, it is possible for a Christian to sin, but they should not make a practice of sinning.

The apostle John writes, "No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or known Him" (1 John 3:6). This means that those who have encountered the living God through Jesus Christ will have their lives transformed. They will no longer live in darkness but will walk in the light, reflecting God's character and obeying His Word. This does not mean that Christians will be perfect and never sin, but it does mean that there will be a decreasing pattern of sin in their lives. As they grow in their relationship with God, they will hate their sin, confess it, and turn away from it.

In 1 John 3:9, we find the reason why believers do not continue to practice sin: "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God." When someone becomes a Christian, they receive the Holy Spirit, who convicts them of sin and empowers them to live a new life. They become a new creation, with their old sinful nature crucified with Christ (Galatians 5:24). This does not mean that Christians will never struggle with sin, but it does mean that sin will no longer have dominion over them (Romans 6:14). They will be at war with their sinful flesh, and their desire will be to please God rather than gratify their fleshly desires.

Walking in darkness is incompatible with the Christian life. Those who claim to be Christians but continue to live in willful, habitual sin demonstrate that they do not truly know God. John writes, "Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness" (1 John 2:9). True Christians will love other believers and will seek to walk in the light as He is in the light (1 John 1:7). They will confess their sins, turn from them, and strive to live a life that honours God.

In conclusion, Christians cannot walk in darkness because they have been transformed by the gospel and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. They will still struggle with sin, but their desire will be to please God and live in obedience to His Word. They will not make a practice of sinning but will instead walk in the light, reflecting God's character to a dark world.

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