Christians should be free from all habitual sin. This is stated many places in Scripture, but the book of 1 John, which was written, "that we might know that we have eternal life" (1 John 5:13), states this truth clearly:
"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:5-7
When we talk about "habitual sin" we are referring here to sin that has become a persistent habit. We are not referring to sin that happens occasionally, but rather we are referring to sin that is practiced often. Some might use the term "life-dominating sin" here, or even sin that has "mastered" us and taken us "captive." "Habitual sin", as shown in 1 John 1:5-7 is described as "walking in darkness", and the opposite as "practicing the truth". The metaphor of "walking" indicates the direction of one’s life.
Another good definition of "habitual sin" can be seen in 1 John 3:6-9:
“No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:6-9
This passage defines "habitual sin" as the "practice of sinning", or that sin which has become a habit or pattern in one’s life.
Question 1. According to 1 John 3:9, what is true of someone who is "born of God"?
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We must distinguish between sin, which all Christians commit, and habitual sinning, in which no Christian should be involved. Again, 1 John makes this distinction clear:
“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:6-10
On the one hand, if we "walk in the darkness" that is, practice habitual sin, we lie and do not practice truth, on the other hand, if we "say we have no sin" that is if we say we have reached sinless perfection, then "we deceive ourselves" and the truth is not in us.
The Christian who lives in Christ cannot, at the same time, live in sin. While he can certainly stumble and fall to sin, he cannot live in habitual, life-dominating sin if he is "abiding in Him."
So, the point is this: all Christians sin (become tripped up, stumble and fall, etc.), but no Christian should live ("walk") in any habitual sin. In other words, the believer's life should not be characterized by sin, but by righteousness.
It is my premise in this writing that to truly overcome habitual sin, we must focus on and glory in the cross of Jesus Christ. Paul connects this cross-focus with overcoming the world in Galatians 6:14:
“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14
Question 2. According to Galatians 6:14, what did the cross do for Paul? What do you think this means?
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Daniel writes, "The world crucified to Paul means that everything that he once counted important and glamorous in the world is nothing more than rubbish. Paul dying to the world means that he is no longer a friend of the world and an enemy of God, but is now a friend of God and an enemy of the world. He is dead to the world and its sinful offers and way of living."