How bad can a Christian sin?

Answer

Christians continue to sin after they are saved – we will not be completely free from sin until we die or Jesus comes back. However, becoming a Christian results in a transformed life «Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. », (2 Corinthians 5:17). A person will transition from engaging in the acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) to manifesting the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), as the indwelling Holy Spirit gains more and more control over their life. This transformation does not occur instantly, but it does unfold over time. If a person does not exhibit a transformed life, they are likely not a genuine believer. Christians can commit serious sins. History is replete with Christians (or those who profess to be Christians) committing atrocious offenses. Jesus died for these sins as well. All the more reason not to commit them!

In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, the Apostle Paul delineates the types of sinful lifestyles believers are rescued from. Verse 11 states, “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Note the use of the word “were.” Believers used to embody the behaviors listed in verses 9-10, but they no longer do. Can a person who is an adulterer, drunkard, homosexual, child abuser, etc. be saved? Yes. Is a person who persists in a life of ongoing sin a believer? No. When we embrace Christianity, our lives will transform. Anyone living a sinful lifestyle and asserting to be a Christian is either being deceitful, deluding themselves, or truly is a believer who will face God’s judgment.

It is written in the book of Hebrews 12:5-11 about correction and discipline.

The distinction between a non-believer who sins and a believer who sins is that one embraces their sin while the other detests it. The believer who falls in their journey with the Lord feels remorse, acknowledges it, desires to refrain from it in the future, and seeks to receive God’s strength and grace to prevent it. They do not ponder on how much sin they can engage in and still be recognized as a Christian. Instead, they contemplate on how to steer clear of any hint of sin in the days ahead.