Are you a Christian if you willfully sin?

No. Multiple scriptures tell us that if we make a practice of sin, we are not a born again Christian.

1 John 3:9 states that “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.”

When you believed in Jesus, you received redemption, the forgiveness of your sins. As a result, you were born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. You became a new creation, created according to God in all true righteousness and holiness.

The Holy Spirit indwelt you and God begin to live in you through His Spirit. Therefore, since God lives in you, it’s impossible for you to continue in sin.

This is not to say that there won’t be times when you miss the mark and sin. We are housed in sinful flesh and that will happen. God knows that and He gives grace, forgiveness, and cleansing when you confess your sin to Him (see 1 John 1:9).

However, when you make a practice of sin, you are continuing in the course of it. Your sin is intentional, willful, and habitual.

As a Christian, this is unacceptable. If you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ, saved by Him, you must walk like He walked (1 John 2:6). Jesus lived righteously, holy, and obediently before God the Father.

God expects us and empowers us, through His Holy Spirit, to live the same way.

1 Peter tells us that He who called us is holy, therefore, we must be holy in all our conduct, because it is written, “Be holy for I am holy.”

Thus, he who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil sinned from the beginning (see 1 John 3:7-8).

Our righteousness is not born out of religion or man made traditions and customs. Our righteousness is birthed out of our salvation and relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you think you’re a Christian, but you are willfully sinning against God, you need to examine yourself to see if you are in the faith.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 7:22-23: “Many will say to Me in that day ‘Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

Sadly, these are people who will declare that Jesus is Lord with their mouths but deny Him with their works. You don’t want to be condemned along with this group.

Repent today while there is still time.

Be encouraged! You are loved! ❤️