Why do some Christians continue to live in sin?

You have asked yourself this question, for sure, when you see people, who pretend that they are Christians, but they continue to live in sin and they are either hypocritical or they find a pretext for their sin. Why do these Christians live so and why do they remain slaves of sin? There are two main reasons which I want to present in this article.

Reason Nr. 1 – The person who pretends to be a Christian is not born again

Once, when the Lord Jesus Christ was in Jerusalem, the following things took place:

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (the Gospel of John 3:1–7)(NASB)

The new birth is a main condition to enter the Kingdom of God, and to live a pure life, full of victory against the sin. Here is what Apostle John says concerning to this:

 

No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. (1 Epistle of John 3;9–10)(NASB)

According to the passage, who is born again of God cannot sin, and who sins is not born of God. The sin and the new birth are not compatible with each other, they cannot go together by any means. Here is not allowed for something accidental, but for a way of life lived in sin. Further on, in the same epistle, Apostle John also says:

 

We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. (1 Epistle of John 5:18)(NASB)

The born again man cannot conform himself to sin, because the seed of God remains in him and he cannot sin. Are you born again? How is your life in the light of the truth of the Holy Scriptures? Do you live in rigteousness or do you live in sin? If you could know what letters I receive sometimes from people who consider themselves children of God and who continue to live in sin? The first question that I want to ask and that I want to ask you is: What are the proofs of your new birth and of the presence of the Spirit of God in you? Answer to this question… There are also cases when born again people lived in sin for a period.

Reason Nr. 2 – The Christian who doesn’t live at the call of the Holy Spirit, begins to be driven by the sinful flesh

At the new birth, the Holy Spirit comes to live in the person of the Christian and He gives him power to live in obedience of God, so that he may not sin. Before, when we didn’t have the Holy Spirit, it was impossible to live this way, but now, it is our choise to obey Him or not. The Holy Spirit urges us to live in obedience of God, but at the same time, we continue to live in the flesh, that urges us to sin. Since we have received the Holy Spirit, the Word of God says:

 

We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. (Epistle of Paul to Romans 8:1)(NASB)

Some Christians don’t want to die for their sinful flesh and that’s why they continue to live in hidden sins.

 

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Epistle of Paul to Romans 8:5–8)(NASB)

Apostle Paul wanted to show the Christians that they can live free of the sinful flesh’s pressure, that leads them to sin and that they can be victorious and he wrote the following:

 

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh– for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Epistle of Paul to Romans 8:12–14)(NASB)

How is your life and living before God? Are you born again? Do you live in accordance to the guidance of the Spirit of God or in accordance to the urges of the sinful flesh? What decisions did you make after you have found out these things? If you need to make a change, don’t put it off and make it today.

Translated by Djugostran Felicia