Can a person be a Christian and engage in habitual sin?

Question

Consider 1 John 3:9:


1 John 3:9 (Amplified Bible)

9No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God's nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.


1 John 3:9 (New International Version)

9No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.


1 John 3:9 (New American Standard Bible)

9No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Answer 1

John 3:4 Those who sin are opposed to the law of God, for all sin opposes the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, for there is no sin in him. So if we continue to live in him, we won't sin either. But those who keep on sinning have never known him or understood who he is..
There is a difference between committing a sin and continuing to sin. Even the most faithful believers sometimes commit sins, but they do not cherish a particular sin and choose to commit it. A believer who commits a sin repents, confesses and finds forgiveness. A person who continues to sin, by contrast is not sorry for what he or she is doing. Thus this person never confesses and never receives forgiveness. Such a person is in opposition to God, no matter what religious claims he or she makes. They are lawless and have never been born again.

Answer 2

Yes, otherwise why would we have 1 John 1:9.
And if not then why do we have:
John 10:29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.

If you truly desire the Lord Jesus, do you think any little sin that you habitually commit is greater than the Word, the Blood, the Love of God, or the New Covenant.?

I Cr 13;8a

Answer 3

Eventually every knee will bow and every tounge confess that Jesus is the Christ, but the habitual sinner will have to pay for his own sins (sweat blood) and then will receive a lesser degree at judgment day (Celestial, Trerrestrial, Telestial)

Answer 4

Kidd, did you answer your question yourself. I do not think it is possible to want to engage in habitual sin. We are alll weak, and Satan is always waiting to tempt us, and we are weak. You have to hold true to your beliefs and not give in to sin. Asking for forgiveness, God will forgive you,. However, only He knows how He deals with those that do not obey his rules and go on to sin again and again. I just thinkk that you hae to become a stronger individual and live your religion every day of your life.

Answer 5

I believe the passage here is speaking of continual sin, living in sin, walking in sin, having a sinful lifestyle. Otherwise, he would be contradicting himself from Ch.1 vs. 8 - 10:

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.

It would also contradict Paul's lament in Romans 7:

Rom 7:19 For what good I desire, I do not do. But the evil I do not desire, this I do.
Rom 7:20 But if I do what I do not desire, it is no longer I working it out, but the sin dwelling in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then the law, when I desire to do the right, that evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man;
Rom 7:23 but I see another law in my members having warred against the law of my mind, and taking me captive by the law of sin being in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then I myself with the mind truly serve the Law of God, and with the flesh the law of sin.

Answer 6

we are all sinners. ideally christians should be without blemish but there are other passages that tell us that we are sinners and that we must run the race till the end, sometimes we will stumble but yes one who sins habitually is still christian, they need more prayer the help and guidance of the holy spirit maybe more than others but god is still with them and still loves them. god bless.

Answer 7

We are all sinners. But, to knowingly commit any sin w/o being repentant and doing your best to not sin is endangering your soul.

Answer 8

It is as the Word says.

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it (God has left us a promise of rest) there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works (from his own strivings, from his own carnality) Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest (of God)" Hebrews 4:1,9-11

We are not saved by works but grace through faith. As James says, this faith is a working faith, a faith that leads to works. Christians who have no fruit must "work out their own salvation with fear and trembling." Many confess with their lips that Jesus is Lord yet their actions speak so differently that we can't help but wonder if they believe in their heart. These people are not only miserable of themselves but they cause confusion and misery in the Church body. Jesus said not to judge to condemnation but to identification according to fruit. Let us therefore identify them by their fruit and not let them waste our energy.

Answer 9

NO.Daylight and night time do not meet.One gives the way to the other.

Answer 10

The religion you are refering to is designed to make you feel gulity.