1. Desensitized

A continuous pattern of sin will deaden your conscience to the harmful effect of sin. The best example of this is the unconverted world. Those who are outside of the body of believers practice sin without a second thought. They think nothing of lying, looking with lustful intent, cursing God’s name, disobedience, and committing every sin that is common to man. This is why the Christian is different from the world. The Christian has been set free from the controlling power and demand of sin. The Holy Spirit has given the believer the ability to overcome sin and reject temptation.

In Matthew 15:13 the Bible speaks of people whose hearts have waxed gross and ears that are dull of hearing. This description applies to the vast majority of people today. We live in a society that is growing ever more sinful by turning away from the wisdom and knowledge of God. The words of Acts 7:51 are also applicable here. “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.”

Let us consider the promise of God in Ezekiel 36:26-27. Here God promises to give us a new heart and a new spirit. He will take away the heart of stone that is hard towards Himself and replace it with one of flesh. This is the new heart of the Christian. This is only possible when we turn to God in faith and repentance. We find in Proverbs 28:13, the Lord blesses the soul that confesses his sins and forsakes them, with the blessing of mercy.

2. Disconnects

Isaiah 59:2 teaches us that our sins separate us from God and that the Lord will withdraw from hearing you. This is a warning against a continuous pattern of sin. Fellowship with God is at the heart of the Christian life. Being separated from true communion with God ought to be the motivation to continue on the path of righteousness. The desire of all true born again believers is to be connected with God in fellowship. Read and ponder Ephesians 4:29-30. The warning here is to not allow any evil speech to proceed out of your mouth and do not grieve the Holy Ghost. Our conduct ought to be seasoned with grace for the well-being of others.

May we all heed to the warning found in Galatians 6:7-8. God is not mocked. What you reap you will sow. If you sow seeds of sin you will reap the results. No-one in their right mind would sow apple tree seeds and expect to grow a rose bush. If you sow corruption, corruption you shall surely reap. The only way we can reap righteousness and holiness is if we abide in Christ Jesus. John 15:4-5, tells us that Jesus Christ is the vine and we are the branches. The branch cannot bear fruit on their own. Without Christ we can do nothing.

3. Dominates

Sin has power and control over the soul and heart. Sin can and will dominate you if you allow it to control you. Christian people have been given the victory over sin and its power. Christ has defeated the dominating power of sin. All true born again Christians have the victory over sin through Christ. We find in Ephesians 2:2 that the Apostle Paul encourages believers to forsake the former life that was lived according to the spirit of the world. He also writes that the spirit of the world works in the children of disobedience. If we walk in righteousness we know that we are of God (1 John 5:19 and 2 Timothy 2:26). Consider the following Scriptures.

Proverbs 5:22-23
22His own iniquities will capture the wicked, And he will be held with the cords of his sin. 23He will die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.

John 8:34-36
34Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Romans 6:11-12
11Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,

4. Discourages

The fourth thing that happens when we commit sin is discouragement. I am sure you feel discouraged when you have fallen into sin. This is one of many ways used by the enemy to cause you to doubt your faithfulness to Christ and to cause you to stumble in your Christian walk. In Psalm 38:4-8 the Bible says, “4For my iniquities are gone over my head; As a heavy burden they weigh too much for me. 5My wounds grow foul and fester Because of my folly. 6I am bent over and greatly bowed down; I go mourning all day long. 7For my loins are filled with burning, And there is no soundness in my flesh. 8I am benumbed and badly crushed; I groan because of the agitation of my heart.”

5. Devices

The final point I will like to make is the deception of sin. The devil tells us many lies. A few of them are as follows. You cannot overcome that sin. You cannot be forgiven. You will commit that sin again tomorrow. You can put off salvation till later. Remember the words of 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” This ought to be our motivation to live a holy and righteous life before God. Remember that Christ paid the price of your soul with his own body.

Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me.

Micah 7:8