Asking For A Friend - Can a Christian live in sin and still go to heaven?
September 19, 2020

Can a Christian live in sin and still go to heaven?

Main Point: Asking “how much can I sin and still go to heaven?” misses the point of the relationship and freedom Jesus offers us.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. —Ephesians 2:8-9

“We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.” Martin Luther

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. —Philippians 2:12-13

Past — When we became a Christ follower. (Justification)
Present — Living a Christ-like life. (Sanctification)
Future — Eternity with in heaven. (Glorification)

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” —Mark 10:17-19

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” —Mark 10:20-23

Salvation is a free gift based on the sacrifice of Jesus, but that does not mean that living a Christ-like life won’t require sacrifices from us.

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” —Matthew 12:30-32

There is a substantial *difference* between sinning sometimes and living in sin.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. —Galatians 5:16-18

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. —Galatians 5:19-21

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. —Galatians 5:22-25

If our life is led by the fresh and not the Spirit we need to address it immediately.

Takeaway: Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross not only made a way for us to go to heaven when we die — he made a way for us to live like him while we’re alive.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is there anything that you regularly try to push as far as you can without going past a potential problem point? What is it? As you talk about it does it seem like it’s a healthy choice or one you need to reexamine?

  2. What are ways you would clarify the difference between sinning sometimes and living in sin?

  3. When you take an honest look at the fruit of your own life, do you see more evidence of a life being led by the flesh or by the Spirit? Why?

Table Discussion Questions — Martin Luther reminds us that “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.” If you have given your life to Jesus, how have you been changed since that decision?