Are professed Christians who deliberately practice sin saved?

[Lily of Valleys]

Why or why not? Please explain with the support of the scripture.

EDIT 1: Let me rephrase the question to make it clearer. The question is NOT whether a Christian needs to be sinless in order to be saved, but rather, whether a truly born-again Christian with the Holy Spirit living within them would choose to deliberately commit a sin over and over again, with no intention to make effort to eliminate that sin from their life.

EDIT 2: To clarify what sin I am referring to:
Any sin that is considered to be sin in the New Testament under the new covenant (NOT Jewish laws about food, days, festivals), such as but not limited to:

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV)​

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26-27 NASB)

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6:1-2 NASB)

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? (Romans 6:15-16 NASB)

No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 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. (1 John 3:6-9 NASB)

 

[1stcenturylady]

Why or why not? Please explain with the support of the scripture.


For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26-27 NASB)

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6:1-2 NASB)

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? (Romans 6:15-16 NASB)

No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 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. (1 John 3:6-9 NASB)

It is only through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us that we can control ourselves from sinning, because the hold sin had on us is dead. We are free. So the question is, how many professed Christians actually have repented from sin. Repentance is the avenue by which the Holy Spirit enters.

Romans 8:8-9
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Acts 2:38
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

[HereIStand]

The key phrase from 1 John 3 is practices sin. This is not the life of the true Christian. We can't know the status of another's salvation though.

 

[Basil the Great]

1 Peter 4:8 says that love covers a multitude of sins. I believe that the OP asks a very important question, but I do not believe that we have an easy answer that fits everyone. For the most part, it would seem that Christians who commit habitual sins could be in trouble. However, God no doubt judges the entire person, not just one aspect of a person's life. It might be possible that a Christian could make up for being trapped in a habitual sin, by being extraordinarily charitable toward others, especially the less fortunate.

 

[1stcenturylady]

The key phrase from 1 John 3 is practices sin. This is not the life of the true Christian. We can't know the status of another's salvation though.

No, that is a mistranslation. It is actually commits sin. We are dead to sin, so we are free from the desire to sin - IF we have the Holy Spirit.

 

[Kenny'sID]

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26-27 NASB)

that says it perfectly.

We sin, we repent, we ask forgiveness and we are fine. We choose to live in, practice perpetual sin, as in always being up for sin if the chance comes along or say living with our other half out of wedlock, that is not going to cut it with God.

There will be those here that will argue one can do those things but your verse right there says otherwise, so don't listen to them. Those people will have a twist for many scriptures, or they will just ignore you when you hit them with something they cannot refute. Their argument is as weak as their belief, and always falls apart.

They are also the people that will tell you it is bad to do good because to do/be good is working your way into heaven, something they have a whole twisted view on.

Those people want to sin, so they go with a religion that allows that and heaven too, but in the end it was their choice to get it wrong because they wanted what they wanted and not what God wanted, and will pay a very high price for that and for those they lead into that way of thinking.

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

Why would one choose to practice sin? Well in my case I choose to practice sin. It wouldn't make any sense. For example if one looks at inappropriate content with no regret, no "should I do this?" and no feeling of any kind that it is wrong. Then they are practicing sin (so to speak) and don't care.

Which is far different from someone who has worked on a sinful issue they have had and even if not 100% free from it, they feel guilt and choose not to do sin. And in the chance they do give in, they feel guilt, they pray for forgiveness and they move on.

However there is also a third person. This person acts like the one above, however they know what they are doing is guilty but do it anyways knowing they can just "pray for forgiveness". This person doesn't realize that God is not stupid. If your abusing His grace by being like "Eh, I'll look at inappropriate content, its fine since I can pray about it later!", God is not forgiving them. They fool only themselves.

I used to be the first person, then the person above. Now I am the person in my middle example who feels guilt, who feels the Holy Spirit saying "No, don't do this!". I avoid the sin. I am not perfect of course. But I know God gives me the strength to grow and mature as a christian. For example I used to swear many times a day. Like crazy. At this point I can go months without swearing. By that I mean sometimes I will in the heat of the moment say something I shouldn't. Which leads to instant regret, remorse and prayer.

 

[☦Marius☦]

If it is unrepentant then no. This is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit the NT talks about. Refusing to attempt to follow Christs commandments means you are not accepting Christ as Lord, and therefore not fullfilling the requirements Romans sets down for salvation.

 

[Lily of Valleys]

1 Peter 4:8 says that love covers a multitude of sins. I believe that the OP asks a very important question, but I do not believe that we have an easy answer that fits everyone. For the most part, it would seem that Christians who commit habitual sins could be in trouble. However, God no doubt judges the entire person, not just one aspect of a person's life. It might be possible that a Christian could make up for being trapped in a habitual sin, by being extraordinarily charitable toward others, especially the less fortunate.

What do you think 1 Peter 4:8 means? Whose sins was Peter referring to there?

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8 NASB)

Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions (Proverbs 10:12 NASB)

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins (James 5:19-20 NASB)

 

[Lily of Valleys]

Well in my case I choose to practice sin. It wouldn't make any sense. For example if one looks at inappropriate content with no regret, no "should I do this?" and no feeling of any kind that it is wrong. Then they are practicing sin (so to speak) and don't care.

Which is far different from someone who has worked on a sinful issue they have had and even if not 100% free from it, they feel guilt and choose not to do sin. And in the chance they do give in, they feel guilt, they pray for forgiveness and they move on.

However there is also a third person. This person acts like the one above, however they know what they are doing is guilty but do it anyways knowing they can just "pray for forgiveness". This person doesn't realize that God is not stupid. If your abusing His grace by being like "Eh, I'll look at inappropriate content, its fine since I can pray about it later!", God is not forgiving them. They fool only themselves.

I used to be the first person, then the person above. Now I am the person in my middle example who feels guilt, who feels the Holy Spirit saying "No, don't do this!". I avoid the sin. I am not perfect of course. But I know God gives me the strength to grow and mature as a christian. For example I used to swear many times a day. Like crazy. At this point I can go months without swearing. By that I mean sometimes I will in the heat of the moment say something I shouldn't. Which leads to instant regret, remorse and prayer.

Were you a Christian when you were the first person?

 

[Lily of Valleys]

No, that is a mistranslation. It is actually commits sin.

The Greek word there is poieō, which could also mean "exercise" with Strong's Definitions.

It seems like some Bible translations translate it as "practice" while some translate it as "commit":
1 John 3:9 - Bible Gateway

 

[High Fidelity]

No. By their fruits... if they're deliberately living in sin without attempting to sincerely limit it then No, they are are not Christian and are not saved.

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

Were you a Christian when you were the first person?

Well it depends on which denomination you are and how you believe you become christian. In my case when my parents felt I was "of age" to understand salvation I let Jesus into my heart. I knew He was was, I loved the Lord. I served the Lord...etc. I was a good christian kid/preteen. But as my health got worse and then I had a seizure and TBI at 16, I grew angry at other christians and then God. So I was in a bad place for a long time until others (here at this forum) got me back on the path and I stopped blaming God for everything.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

Why or why not?

Probably not.
For as we grow as a Christian we should sin less and our sin should bother us more.

M-Bob

 

[listed]

Why or why not? Please explain with the support of the scripture.


For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26-27 NASB)

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6:1-2 NASB)

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? (Romans 6:15-16 NASB)

No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 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. (1 John 3:6-9 NASB)

Are you aiming at any particular sin? You seem to be promoting the law.

 

[listed]

1 Peter 4:8 says that love covers a multitude of sins. I believe that the OP asks a very important question, but I do not believe that we have an easy answer that fits everyone. For the most part, it would seem that Christians who commit habitual sins could be in trouble. However, God no doubt judges the entire person, not just one aspect of a person's life. It might be possible that a Christian could make up for being trapped in a habitual sin, by being extraordinarily charitable toward others, especially the less fortunate.

I don't think you and the OP are talking about the same thing.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

Are you aiming at any particular sin? You seem to be promoting the law.

Didn't Jesus say to keep the commandments?
M-Bob

 

[listed]

What do you think 1 Peter 4:8 means? Whose sins was Peter referring to there?

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8 NASB)

Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions (Proverbs 10:12 NASB)

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins (James 5:19-20 NASB)

Kinda strange compilation of Scripture. The last verse seems out of place. So I must ask what truth are you talking about?

 

[listed]

Didn't Jesus say to keep the commandments?
M-Bob

Do you have a verse in mind for context?

 

[listed]

The Greek word there is poieō, which could also mean "exercise" with Strong's Definitions.

It seems like some Bible translations translate it as "practice" while some translate it as "commit":
1 John 3:9 - Bible Gateway

I like to go to an interlinear and Strong's Concordance for clarification for issues such as these. Both are on line. I do have hard copies.