What Happens When a Christian Sins – do they lose their salvation
If a Christian Sins
What happens when a Christian sins? Do they lose their salvation? The Word of God clearly teaches that salvation is based solely on the work of Christ and not our works. (Ephesians 2:8) Salvation is not based on whether a Christian has confessed and repented of every sin.
You Are a New Creation
When you receive Christ as your Lord and Savior all of your sins are forgiven. That includes past, present, and future, big or small. Jesus died to pay the penalty for all of our sins once and for all. In Christ you become a new creation and old things have pasted away and all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
When a Christian Sins – what do you do
So, if a Christian sins what do we do? Nothing? Act like everything is OK? God forbid! We need to confess our sins to God as soon as we are aware that we have sinned. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” This is not an instruction on salvation, but on how to stay in close fellowship with the Father who loves us.
Satan is the Accuser
Here’s the deal, when we sin it opens the door to the enemy to accuse us, bring condemnation, and guilt. We lose confidence in who we really are and begin to doubt our salvation. This is why the work and ministry of Jesus is so awesome. Not only did Jesus die on the cross for our sins, but He continues to minister to us TODAY as our ADVOCATE! The word “advocate” means lawyer or one who pleads your cause or case. Today as a Christian Jesus acts as your lawyer, pleading your case before the Father whenever needed. Jesus is Your Advocate!
Your Sins Are Forgiven
Before a person is born again they need the ministry of Jesus the savior. Jesus the savior provides forgiveness to the sinner. The sin of sinners are forgiven through the redemption of the cross. The sins of Christians are forgiven through the work of Jesus as our advocate based upon the redemption of the cross. 1 John 2:1 says, “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father.”
Jesus the Savior Accomplished – Jesus the Advocate Applies
The apostle John is encouraging believers not to sin and live right, but if as a Christian we stumble and sin he is reminding us that we have an Advocate with the Father, that is Jesus. The enemy is always at work trying to put guilt and condemnation on believers, He will say things like, “You have done wrong and you have not done what’s right,” but Jesus as our advocate says, “Father, the devil is right, but My blood has paid for what the devil is accusing them of.” The devil will say “You have not been reading the Bible or praying enough. And today, you told a lie or did this or that.” Again, Jesus will say, “Father, the devil has indeed reported correctly, but My blood has paid for all these failures.” God the Father will then slam the gavel and say, “Not guilty – case dismissed!
We need Jesus as our advocate. As our advocate He continues to apply His work at the cross to our life now as a believer. As Savior, Jesus accomplished the work of the cross. Today Jesus as Advocate, applies the work of the cross. As our advocate Jesus presents His work at the cross on our behalf as evidence to the Father. It reminds the Father that He accepted the sacrifice of Jesus as payment in full for the sin of all the world once and for all.
Cleansed from all Unrighteousness
As a believer, whenever you sin, at that moment Jesus is acting as your Advocate before Father God. Christians can confess and repent of their sins because Jesus is their Advocate. (1John 1:9) All of our sins, past and future, have been paid for. They all have been washed away by the blood of Jesus.
As our advocate, Jesus does more than just forgive us of our sins; He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. He cleanses us from the sin-consciousness and spiritual inferiority that tries to keep us from going boldly before the presence of God..
God is Not Mad at You
Sadly, many believers live under this cloud of guilt, fear and condemnation. They think God is mad at them and that they might not make heaven. As a result they are robbed of their joy in Christ. Christians do not have to live under such a cloud of fear and doom because we have Jesus as our advocate. Don’t miss out on this amazing ministry of Jesus for you today as a believer. Jesus is your advocate!