Questions Answered in This Article
What does the Bible say about sin in believers?
The Bible acknowledges that believers can commit any sin, but they are sustained by Christ's righteousness.
2 Samuel 11, Galatians 2:11-14
How do we know that believers can sin like unbelievers?
Believers can indeed commit any sin except apostasy, as illustrated by Biblical figures like David and Peter.
2 Samuel 11, Galatians 2:11-14
Why is it important to understand that believers can sin?
Understanding that believers can sin protects us from pride and fosters humility towards God's grace.
Romans 7:18-19, Galatians 6:1
Let us never again be guilty of saying, “A believer wouldn’t do that.” Oh yes they will! When we say such a thing we are trying to take some credit for our righteousness.
A believer will commit any sin an unbeliever will commit with the exception of apostacy (and only because God keeps them from it). David, the man after God’s own heart, committed adultery and murder and didn’t even feel guilty about it for a time. “Just Lot” (II Peter 2:7) chose to separate from Abraham and live in the well watered plain of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Peter who confessed all of his hope was in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, also denied he even knew the Lord Jesus and later, by his actions, denied salvation by grace without works when he quit eating and fellowshipping with the Gentiles when some Jews arrived at the dinner. Yes, the strongest of believers will commit any kind of sin.
So rather than say, “A believer wouldn’t do that”, let’s say “I am nothing but sin but Christ is my righteousness and He will never fail me.”
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