Can we sin or fall into sins?

No one can boast that he can never sin
I would always like to talk about some common sense before I show what God said. So, please think, Would you warn the small children from falling when they are on the escalator? Of course, there is nothing wrong to give warnings. But today we hear many preachers saying that God's warnings or commandments to us are condemnation. I will tell them, How can it be condemnation if we give warning to our children that they can fall or if we give warning to the believers that they can fall too? Of course, we don't give warning to condemn, we give warning because we love them, and it is necessary for us to warn them if they are our children or God's people. We would never warn those who are already fallen; they must repent first before they can keep any God's warnings or commandments.

Of course, I don't think I need to tell people that the Bible has many Bible verses which tell us that we can sin or fall  into sins. If we are not blinded by self-righteous doctrine which constantly argues that no one can sin because of grace or radical grace, we should be sober enough to know that we still need to stay humble to repent and confess our sins. I don't have time to find all the Bible verses which support this, but I can just say briefly that when the Bible verses warned us with the words "we .. , if we .., or Beware ..", they are speaking to us and they are for us too, for example:

1. If we sin willfully.. Heb 10:26
2. If we suffer, .. 2Ti_2:12  
3. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be..  Heb 2:3    
4. Heb 12:25 KJV  .. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
5. 1Jn 1:6-10 KJV  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  (7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  (8)  If we say that 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 that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Have we thought why John said, If we confess our sins .. and Paul said, If we sin wilfully..? Does it mean that John always confessed sins or Paul always sinned wilfully? No. We can say that they hardly sinned. But does it mean that they are saying it to the agnostic believers and therefore their warnings are not applicable to us? No. They are saying it to us and their warnings are for us. Please think, When a father warned his kid and said, "Son, if we take drugs, we will get addicted and we will regret one day..", does it mean that the father had taken drugs? No. We can say that the father had never taken drugs or hardly took any drugs. But does it mean that the father could only say it to other kids and therefore his warning was not applicable to his kid? No. It is ridiculous to twist the warning of the father and convince the son that his father's warning was not for him. Similarly, it is equally ridiculous to twist the words of God in Heb 10:26 and 1 John 1:9 and convince God's children that God's warnings are no more applicable to them.
If we have become fools by preaching that all God's warnings and commandments to us have become obsolete, I trust that we will repent immediately.
However, I do not write all these to tell people to just repent. I want people to go further. I have more things to say when thinking about the question: "Can we sin or fall into sins?"


Most sinners of the world know that they have sinned or they are sinners
We know that we can still sin or fall into sins because God's words said so. But will the sinners of the world argue that they can never sin too?

1. No, common sense tells us that no one can boast. We all still need the grace of God to repent and confess our sins, even after we have become believers. That's why Christians are under the covenant of grace. We need more grace than anyone who think that they are righteous or than any religious Jews or believers who lived under the righteousness of their laws.
2. Now, some religious people may argue that they can never sin against God, but can they argue that they can never sin against others?

No, I don't think so. As long as we are still living in this world, we can't boast that we can never sin against others. We may do all the correct religious practices and confessions, we may always give thanks to God, we may always have good opinion of God, we may preach pure grace or doctrine; but can we boast that we have done all the correct thinking and action for our fellow brethren? If we cannot say yes with a good conscience, we cannot boast that we can never sin. Hence, the words of the Lord to the young lawyer is still applicable to us even though we may think that we are righteous under grace:

• Luk 10:25-29 KJV  And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?  (26)  He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?  (27)  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.  (28)  And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.  (29)  But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

True believers know that they still need grace for repentance daily
The Pharisee who boasted before God in Luke 18 was almost perfect in the eyes of men. But in the eyes of the Lord, he was not worst than the sinner. Why? It's because when he oppressed other or sinned against others, God held it against him:

• Luk 18:10-14 KJV  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  (11)  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  (12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  (13)  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  (14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 

If we sin against others, we sin against God
Do we still doubt against God's justice because He held it against us if we offended others or sinned against others? Jesus told us another parable which explained why our behaviors or actions for or against others will affect our righteous standing before Him:

• Mat 25:31-46 KJV  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:  (32)  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:  ..   (41)  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  (42)  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  (43)  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  (44)  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  (45)  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.  (46)  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

If we are still not satisfied with the Lord's answer, we can hear three more parables from the Lord:

1. Luk 16:19-31 KJV  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:  (20)  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,  (21)  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.  (22)  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;  (23)  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  ...  (27)  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:  (28)  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.  (29)  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.  (30)  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.  (31)  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (The rich man should have repented because he had sinned but the Lord did not specify what sin he had committed. However, it is clear to us that the beggar died before the eyes or the doorsteps of the rich man. It means that the rich man could have done something but he chose to do nothing like the priest or the Levi in the another parable which the Lord had shown us)
2. Luk 10:29-36 KJV  But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?  (30)  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  (31)  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  (32)  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.  (33)  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,  (34)  And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  (35)  And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.  (36)  Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? (37) And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
3. Luk 12:1-21 KJV In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy ... (15) And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.  (16)  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  (17)  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  (18)  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  (19)  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  (20)  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  (21)  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (Again the Lord did not specify what sin the rich man had committed. However, it is clear to us that the rich man became so covetous that he started to hog or hoard on his riches.)
   

Don't help those who sin against others to feel better
Hence, it is clear to us that many prosperity or radical grace preachers would encounter problem whenever they come to the three Bible passages above. Guess what will they say to the believers? They will say, "These Bible passages are not for us. They are obsolete. They are for the Pharisees or non-believers who are filthy rich. The rich man who was condemned in the parable can never be us or Christian believers."
I will tell them, Yes, you may help the rich Christian believers to feel less condemned but you have also preached lies to help those who have sinned against the Lord when they are answerable to those are around them:

1. Firstly, the Lord did not tell us which parable is for us and which parable is for the sinners
2. Secondly, the Lord would never allow us to use his grace or favor as a cover for our foolish thinking, behavior, or sin: Mat 18:32-35 KJV  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  (33)  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?  (34)  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.  (35)  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

a. justification by faith or by grace is only the beginning of a believer's forgiven life so that he can do more with the words and commandments of God in his life. The grace for cancellation of debts or forgiveness of debts is not given so that we can have more future debts or more future lawlessness. It is certainly not an excuse or license to have more future sins with no more repentance (or to sin wilfully). 

• Luk 13:2-10 KJV  And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?  (3)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (4)  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  (5)  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (6)  He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.  (7)  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?  (8)  And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:  (9)  And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.  (10)  And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

b. Grace is not forever - it is given for the purpose of repentance, turning back to God's commandments, keeping God's laws, and doing His words. Grace is not given for the purpose of enjoying or living in lawlessness forever. Grace is not there forever if we are forever lawless in our hearts or minds. However, if we repent, keep the commandments of God, and live with the laws of God in our hearts and minds, God will remember all our lawlessness no more and He will be our God forever: 

• Heb 10:16-17 LITV  "This is the covenant which I will covenant to them after those days, says the Lord: Giving My Laws on their hearts, and I will write them on their minds;"  (17)  also He adds, "I will not at all still remember their sins" and their lawlessnesses. ..  
• Heb 8:10 LITV  Because this is the covenant which I will covenant with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord, giving My Laws into their mind, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 
• Luk 19:8-10 LITV  But standing, Zaccheus said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor. And if in anything I accused anyone falsely, I restore it fourfold.  (9)  And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, for he also is a son of Abraham.  (10)  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the one being lost.

Hence, the cancellation of debt or forgiveness of debt is not given so that a believer can have more future debt or lawlessness forever. It is certainly not an excuse or license to have more future sin or lawlessness without any repentance. However, many preachers have deceived the believers into thinking that they can literally expect forgiveness of all their future sins, and even supernatural cancellation of all their future financial debts, if they will just radically believe or do and teach their 'holy communion's blood cleansing' ritual, 'pure grace' confession, 'supernatural' favour, 'mind changing' philosophy, or 'false repentance' to disregard and to 'repent' from all the laws and commandments of God. I did write about some preachers who have managed to quote the Bible out of context and capitalise on this 'supernatural' deception or 'cancellation of debts' to transfer effortless wealth to themselves. (see "Supernatural cancellation of debts - Is it really a supernatural transfer of wealth, a religious gimmick, or just a vain religious boasting?" in my previous post here.)

Can a believer fall or renounce his eternal security?
Radical grace preachers say, "When Adam fell, he became a sinner. He didn't want to be a sinner, but could he renounce his sinnership or sin status? Of course, not. Similarly, what make you think that when you are made righteous in Christ, you can renounce your righteousness status now? No, never, impossible. If Adam or a sinner can never renounce his sins, neither can we renounce our righteousness in God too. Hence, we can never fall even if we sin or renounce our righteousness. Once we are made righteous, we are always righteous. Once we are in the light, always in the light. Once saved, always saved. "
I will tell them, Please think again, Can a believer fall or renounce his eternal security? Of course, yes. This is common Bible logic: If the Bible has warned us with many examples of those who have fallen and sinned with disobedience. They will never confess their sins with true repentance.

• 1Co 10:6-15 KJV  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.  (7)  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.  (8)  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.  (9)  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.  (10)  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.  (11)  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.  (12)  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.  (13)  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.  (14)  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.  (15)  I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. (These teachings are certainly for us because it is said clearly that these are the examples, warnings, or admonition for us)

I will tell them, You said that Adam was a sinner and he could never renounce his sinnership. Have you forgotten how Adam had renounced his righteous status in the garden of Eden. He was created or made without sin in the garden of Eden, how come he can renounce his status and become a sinner? If this can happen to him, it can happen to any believer who renounce his righteous status and depart from God's laws too.
What we should preach today is, Don't listen to the devil. He will still come to the churches, the righteous ones in Christ, and the believers. Why? It's because he knows that he can tempt us, like he tempted Adam and Eve, to lead us to nakedness, condemnation, lawlessness, and departure from God's laws. Please think, If Satan knows that the churches or the believers can never fall, will he still tempt the churches or us? No, he will retire early, relax in one corner, and wait for his judgement. But why would he need to work so hard to tempt the churches with so much false doctrine or lawlessness teaching? It's because he knows that he can still deceive some believers who will depart from the law of God and fall like Adam and Eve:

• 2Co 11:2-4 KJV  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.  (3)  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (4)  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
• Rev 12:15-17 KJV  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.  (16)  And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.  (17)  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Satan will preach lawlessness and false doctrine and it will be preached like flood water from his mouth which will corrupt many churches. But God's people who has the commandments of God will oppose him.)
• Rev 14:12 KJV  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Hence, there are still many Bible warnings for us even though we have been made righteous by Christ to follow the laws of God. We can still fall because the temptation from Satan is not over yet. Satan can still tempt us and make us fall. He can still convince many believers and make them renounce their righteous status in Christ by doing something silly and fall like Adam and Eve. Satan will lie and say that a God's favoured one or righteous one can never die and lose his eternal security even if he sins wilfully or renounce all the laws and commandments of God.
Satan would never ask the sinners to renounce the laws and commandments of God, but he will certainly tempt those who has the law, command, or the glory of God. It's simple logic. The sinners have nothing to renounce because they have already fallen, but the believers can still fall if they listen to the words or reasoning of the lawless one. They can still fall like Adam and Eve if they are not diligent in hearing and keeping the words or command of the Lord. They will lose their garment of glory:

• Gen 2:16-17 KJV  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  (17)  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. ... Gen 3:4 KJV  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: ..  (7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
• Mat 22:10-14 KJV  So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.  (11)  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  (12)  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  (13)  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  (14)  For many are called, but few are chosen.

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