Can you be a Christian and still be selfish? Can you be a Christian and still sin? Can you be a Christian and be unreasonable at times? Can you be a Christian if you _______ (fill in the blank)? I know I have been all these things and more since I’ve accepted Christ in my life. Can anyone relate with me or have you been perfect?
While we are still living and breathing on this earth there will always be a constant struggle between our flesh and our Spirit. Our flesh is our human nature to be selfish and sin against our own bodies, others, and God. The Holy Spirit is what Jesus sent to us to overcome the evil and temptation we face in this life after we choose to follow Him. It also pricks our hearts with feelings of conviction, guilt, and regret when we sin.
To answer these questions let’s open up our Bibles to Galatians 5. Paul tells us that we used to be slaves of sin but now we are free in Christ. Does this mean we now are free from temptation and will be perfect? Not hardly. But now we have the power to overcome sin in our lives through Christ who gives us strength.
Galatians 5:17 says, “for the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”
We are to take up our cross daily to follow Jesus. Does this mean we will never sin? No, but God’s grace is enough. If we truly love God and want to follow Him though, we will strive after Him instead of doing as we please (sinning). This means that we acknowledge when we are struggling and continually choose God over temptation.
“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Galatians 5:24
This act is an ongoing choice. So yes, I think we can be a Christian but still at times have bad habits, attitudes, be selfish, jealous, be unreasonable, etc. but not on a consistent basis. If we love and serve the Lord, we will become more like Him day by day. Jesus said in John 14:15 “if you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” If we are having a hard time obeying Jesus and doing the right thing, we are not loving Him. This is hard to accept but it is true.
What does the Word say about people who know the truth but decide to ignore it continually?
“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools…therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
Romans 1:21-25
So what happened to these people in Romans 1? They KNEW the truth but chose to worship and serve themselves instead of God. What did God do? He gave them over to a depraved and selfish mind. Will these people who continually and willfully choose to worship themselves instead of God inherit eternal life? I believe the answer is no. It is important that we truly strive after God and not be pulled off course like the people in Romans 1 were.
Will we mess up from time to time? Yes, but God knows our heart and we can rest assured that His grace is enough when we put our faith in Him.
One step towards Him is five steps away from our sinful selves. So keep moving toward God.
As the verse above says, where there is selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil thing. Sinning is being selfish. So when you sin, there will be disorder and chaos in your life. But when you choose the will of the Lord, you will experience joy, freedom, and peace that surpasses all understanding.
The more we mature in Christ, the more He will reveal to us what we need to let Him change. It is an ongoing battle where we have the option to choose to love ourselves or God.
If you aren’t experiencing joy and peace in your life I challenge you to search your heart and see if there is anything that you haven’t given to God. It could be something you have ignored for so long that you’ve become numb to the fact that you’re sinning. It could be that there isn’t necessarily sin in your life but something that is not beneficial for you or your family. If you’re confused about what is right and wrong, search the Bible for clarity. Don’t just believe what a coworker, friend, or even a pastor says about God. Search the Word to verify the truth.
My prayer for you is that you would find the joy in the Lord and be blessed beyond all measure.
A Prayer for You
Lord Jesus, Your grace is enough and I thank You for it. I pray that You would search my heart and reveal to me anything that is not for You. Give me strength to overcome any weaknesses in my life that keep me from Your freedom, joy, and peace. I pray that not my will, but Your will would be done in my life. Every day I will strive after You. In Jesus’ name, amen.