Every Christian sins daily, knowingly or unknowingly. That is because their sinful nature remains intact and will not be eradicated until Heaven (Revelation 21:4, 27). Even the apostle Paul wrestled with his flesh as a believer, as recorded in Romans 7:14-25. However, there is a significant difference between committing sin and practicing sin.
According to the Bible, believers commit sin, but unbelievers practice it. Two examples of this fact are found in 1 John. John wrote, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). He also penned, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:10). In both declarations, John unequivocally revealed that Christians still (commit) sin.
Yet, in the very same book, John dispelled the idea that genuine Christians practice sin by writing, “No one who is born of God practices sin because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9). Similarly, Paul wrote in Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Therefore, though Christians still sin, they are not characterized by it like unbelievers. Rather, they have been set free from the bondage of sin and death (Romans 8:2) and are being transformed into God’s image “from one degree of glory to another" daily (2 Corinthians 3:18).
I hope this information helps you understand the difference between committing and practicing sin.
