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

Yet we all continue to sin until the day we die, and critics of the faith call this hypocrisy. The reality of salvation through God’s grace alone raises the question of why Christians proclaim themselves holy and destined for Heaven yet continue to live as they always have. They argue that Christians are no better than anyone else, that our piety, faith, and God are all a sham, and that we are frauds, as evidenced by our sin.

A Christian is indeed no better than a non-Christian, except that the Christian is forgiven. Becoming a Christian doesn’t make someone perfect, and Christians struggle with sin throughout their lives. Nevertheless, this does not diminish God’s validity or undermine the conviction and sincerity of our faith.

Why do Christians sin?

Christians sin after coming to Christ because they live in unredeemed flesh, struggling with lust, covetousness, and pride until they depart this world. ^{Romans 7:14-24} The righteousness imputed to Christians by faith is a declaration; by the grace of God, we are adjudicated as righteous. The miracle of Jesus’ substitutionary atonement is that we are clothed in his righteousness, thereby avoiding condemnation and the wrath of God at judgment. ^{Romans 8:1} But the saved man is, by nature, still physically a sinner.

What, then, does the Bible mean that “we are free from the bonds of Sin and no longer Slaves”?

People are slaves to what they prioritize, seek, and serve, and it is clear that secular individuals are indeed enslaved by their sins. ^{Romans 6:16} The profane man pursues his desires and lives to indulge lustful self-satisfaction, coveting what he does not have and taking pride in what he does. In contrast, the faithful Christian submits to God, striving to serve him and always keeping in mind the eternal inheritance that awaits. The Christian is then a slave to the pursuit of righteousness, resisting the world’s temporary, fleeting pleasures. Although still tempted and tormented by fleshly desires, the Christian is no longer a slave to sin. Temptation is a trial, a persistent test of faith, in which we all stumble.

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. ^{Romans 7:21-25}

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

If everyone is out there sinning, what makes a Christian different from anyone else? In today’s society, it can be hard or even impossible to spot a Christian in a crowd. Sadly, few lives seem to have changed enough to make a clear distinction, but meaningful differences remain between those in Christ and the rest of the world.

First, Christians recognize their sin. Those who have come to Christ become increasingly aware of it. As one matures in the faith, the awareness of persistent sin grows, and the effort to resist is hopefully intensified, resulting in a deeper gratitude for God’s unfailing mercy. Those not in Christ do not feel this weight, as they are spiritually dead, unaware, and unconcerned with their error. 

Second, Christians struggle with sin as their conscience convicts them. Sin deeply troubles a Christian, and the repentant Christian is contrite. The good news is that Christians will improve over time as the Holy Spirit sanctifies them. To be sanctified is to become increasingly conformed to the image of Jesus as we diligently live in the word of God. The lost are not troubled by sin, though there may be pangs of guilt or alarm from a conscience not yet thoroughly seared and hardened. The profane man enjoys sin.

Third, Christians are forgiven. Thankfully, God’s mercies are fresh every day. ^{Lamentations 3:22-26} But the unrepentant, godless man is not forgiven. Instead, he accumulates offenses that magnify God’s wrath on judgment day. ^{Romans 2:5-6}

Fourth, Christians fear God. Knowing God, understanding that he is the ultimate authority who holds our lives in his hands, being in awe of him, and fearing his wrath are effective deterrents to sin if we keep that truth in mind. The lost have no fear of God. To them, God is an irrelevant, fictional character to dismiss and mock. But in the end, they will learn the meaning of woe.

What is the impact of sin on the Christian?

If we are consistently forgiven, is it then OK to sin? Absolutely not! ^{Romans 6:1} Willful sinning without repentance indicates someone who is not truly saved. This life is a test: first, we are called to Jesus Christ; then we must strive to live according to his will, succeed in our calling in this life, ^{1st Peter 2:11-12} and spread the good news to the world. ^{Matthew 28:18-20} When we sin, we fail at these things. The most regrettable consequence of sin in a Christian’s life is a tarnished or even destroyed testimony to God’s perfect will. Hearing the words, “How can you call yourself a Christian and do or say those things?” deeply grieves the Christian soul.

Good People and Bad People

Understand that Christians are no better than anyone else because we are all sinners. Many unbelievers are kind, charitable, and striving to be good people. On the other hand, some who call themselves Christians can be ungodly and immoral. The problem is that a “good” person in this life is considered good compared to others, but the best person on Earth falls far short of God’s perfect standard of righteousness. ^{Isaiah 64:6-7} This is why we all need a savior.