by By Javan Kilele
Do Christians fall into sin? The answer is yes.
The Bible consistently affirms that believers are engaged in a spiritual battle against the flesh — the sinful nature that opposes the Spirit of God. The apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:17 that “the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other.”
That means that the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They conflict with each other. This conflict is part of the Christian life, but believers whose lives have been bought with a price are not to do whatever they want. They are to do what the Spirit of God desires, not what their earthly nature wants. They are to resist sin knowing that sin has no dominion over them because of the covenant of grace.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:12–14
In Romans 8:13, Paul calls believers to put to death deeds of the flesh through the Spirit. This is the reality of the daily battle we fight to live in holiness. Such deeds of the flesh he cites in Galatians 5 as sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness and orgies. And in Colossians 3:5-6, he urges the saints to put to death whatever is earthly in them — sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Scripture also calls us to be spiritually vigilant. In 1 Corinthians 10:12, Paul warns, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” This caution reminds us that no one is immune to temptation and sin.
Yet, the Author of Salvation has not left us to fight this battle alone. Titus 2:11-12 assures us that the grace of God not only brings salvation but also teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions. Through God’s grace, we are empowered to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in a fallen world. For we know Jesus Christ appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. The power of lawlessness has been broken (1 John 3:4-6).
When a believer falls into sin, it does not mean they have lost their salvation. Salvation is rooted in the finished work of Christ on the cross, not in our ability to maintain perfect obedience. The journey of sanctification is a lifelong process. Philippians 1:6 offers this reassurance: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Even when we stumble, we can take comfort in the knowledge that Christ paid for all our sins. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). However, genuine repentance is key when we sin. True believers, grieved by their sins, turn to God in humility and away from their sin, seeking forgiveness and restoration. As 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness.” This process is not about earning God’s favor but about restoring our fellowship with Him. A repentant heart demonstrates the work of the Holy Spirit in convicting us of sin and drawing us closer to Christ.
The grace of God is a constant source of encouragement in our struggle against sin. Hebrews 4:16 invites us to approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. This assurance reminds us that God’s grace is always available, not just to forgive but to strengthen us in moments of weakness. It teaches us to rely on His power, rather than our own, to overcome the sinful desires of the flesh.
This reality propels us to pursue a life that pleases God and as we look to Christ and with the help of the Holy Spirit strive for “the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Romans 12:14). JC Ryle defined holiness as the habit of being of one mind with God, the habit of agreeing in God’s judgment, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word. “He who most entirely agrees with God, he is the most holy man.”
On the other hand, engaging in willful sin is a warning that we are still in our sin for we trample the Son of God underfoot, count the blood of the covenant a common thing and insult the Spirit of grace (Heb 10:26-31). “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him (1 John 3:6).
Christians can and do fall into sin, but the gospel assures us of God’s ongoing work in our lives. God’s commitment to transform us into the likeness of His Son remains steadfast. The Christian life is one of dependence on God’s grace, striving for holiness, and trusting in the finished work of Christ. Christ will present us blameless and without spot or wrinkle on the final day.
Javan Kilele serves as a youth pastor at Praise Chapel Mombasa. He is married to Joy Javan and they are both actively involved in ministering to young people in Mombasa. He is passionate about faithful Biblical preaching and growing passionate followers of Christ through Bible-centred discipleship.
