The Bible teaches that those saved by faith in Christ are deemed righteous in the sight of God. ^{Romans 4:5-8} We are told that our old self has been put to death; ^{Romans 6:6-7} we are now free from the bonds of sin; ^{Romans 6:18} and are no longer slaves to sin. ^{Romans 6:22} 

Yet every Christian continues to sin until the day they die; critics of the faith call this hypocrisy. They see Christians declare themselves righteous by the grace of God, headed to Heaven, and then continue to live just as they always have. They believe it is absurd that Christians think they can willingly sin, then ask for forgiveness, and everything is fine with God. They claim Christians are no better than anyone else and that our faith and the God we proclaim are a sham. They say we are frauds, and sadly, what we see in the congregations of professing Christians today certainly lends credibility to their accusations.

Christians are not inherently better than non-Christians. Becoming a Christian does not make someone more righteous or moral than they were before, but they certainly desire to be. Man’s proclivity to sin is not extinguished when someone becomes a Christian. Instead, the great challenge of mortal life is to resist temptation and live in obedience to God. This is a test that Christians consistently fail as they wrestle with sin throughout their lives. However, this does not diminish God’s validity or disqualify one’s conviction in their faith.

Why do Christians sin?

Christians sin after committing to Christ because they still live in their humanity, struggling with lust, covetousness, pride, and all the other unrighteous errors until they leave this world. ^{Romans 7:14-24} Our salvation and reconciliation with God are credited to us through righteousness by our faith in Jesus, not by righteousness inherent in ourselves. Although considered righteous before God, the Christian remains a sinful person during his mortal life.

Addressing our sin with God.

A Christian’s sin is already forgiven, but we must acknowledge or confess our sins and then repent. The recognition and confession of one’s trespass against God are made directly to God. There is no need for an intermediary or priest. Jesus is our advocate with the Father. After confession, we must then repent and stop sinning.

Willful sinning without repentance indicates someone still headed to Hell. Christians aim to please God, live obediently to his will, and would never intentionally sin expecting forgiveness. Doing so, they only fool themselves because they cannot fool God, as he knows the true intentions of the heart.

What is the difference between the saved Christian and the Profane man?

If everyone sins, what sets a Christian apart from anyone else? For sure, in today’s society, it can be difficult or even impossible to spot a Christian in a crowd. Sadly, few lives have been visibly transformed enough to make a clear distinction, but there are meaningful differences between those in Christ and the rest of the world.

First, Christians are aware of their sin. As they grow in faith, their awareness of sin and desire to repent increase, and their daily need for forgiveness deepens their gratitude for God’s endless mercy. Those not in Christ are often unaware or unconcerned about their error.

Second, Christians struggle with sin as their conscience convicts them of their wrongdoing. Sin profoundly troubles a Christian; the repentant believer is filled with regret and remorse. The good news is that a Christian who diligently seeks to live by the word of God will grow and improve over time as the Holy Spirit sanctifies them. The lost are not bothered by sin, though they may experience pangs of guilt or alarm from a conscience that has not yet been thoroughly seared or hardened. The profane man enjoys sin.

Third, Christians are forgiven by the work Jesus accomplished on the cross. Those who are sincerely penitent acknowledge their sins to God, commit to repenting, and follow through. Thankfully, God’s mercies are new each day for those in Christ. But the unrepentant, godless person is not forgiven. Instead, he accumulates offenses that magnify God’s wrath against him on judgment day. ^{Romans 2:5-6}

Fourth, Christians fear God. Knowing God, understanding his righteous authority, and recognizing that we will stand before him to be judged for our deeds are powerful deterrents to sin if we keep that truth in view. The lost have no fear of God. To them, God is an irrelevant, fictional character to be dismissed and even mocked. But in the end, they will learn the true meaning of woe.

What is the impact of sin on the Christian?

The most regrettable consequence of sin, even when forgiven, for the faithful Christian is a damaged or ruined testimony to God. Hearing the words, “How can you call yourself a Christian and do or say those things?” deeply grieves the Christian soul.