Q: Does God continue to forgive if we keep on sinning in the same way again and again? I’m not able to overcome a specific temptation and find myself circling through forgiveness and sin again and again. Will God kill me as He did in Old Testament for sin? I am scared and worried.  —Ebenezer

A: A Christian is forgiven of his sins, but a Christian is not sinless on this side of heaven. In giving us a new nature and His Holy Spirit, God also gave us the capacity and the power not to sin. While we’re not yet sinless, we can sin less. We must desire to live a life that is pleasing to God (2 Corinthians 5:9; Colossians 1:10).

As we strive to live a holy life, we do battle with our own human weakness and sinfulness. Even a spiritual giant like Paul struggled with sin in his body (Romans 7:15-20). And like Paul, we must want to do what’s right, and aim to not sin! (Romans 7:24-25).

The apostle John wrote of this need for us to willfully reject sin, “Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God” (1 John 3:6, 9). As Christians, we do stumble and sin (1 John 1:8), but we’re called to reject a lifestyle of continual, unrepentant sin.

Because Jesus died on the cross, there’s no sin that God in His infinite love and mercy and grace will not forgive. “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (I John 1:9). What an incredible promise! Even when we stumble, we can be forgiven still. But we must want to confess and repent sincerely.

God is displeased when we sin, and He will discipline us because He loves us (Hebrews 12:5-12). But our Father will not summarily kill us just because we have done wrong. The Psalmist assures us: “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. . . . He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust” (Psalm 103:8-14).  —K.T. Sim

Feel free to submit a “you choose Q” to ODJ by using the contact us form on the home page!