Can I Sin Occasionally?

“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” – Romans 6:11-12

It’s a question many believers wrestle with, even if they never say it out loud: “Can I just sin occasionally?” “Can I toy with temptation and still walk with God?” The answer is found not in our feelings, but in Scripture. Proverbs 6:27–28 asks, “Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?” Sin is never harmless. It scorches everything it touches. When we were born again, we entered into a new relationship with God—and that means we entered into a new relationship with sin. We are no longer under its dominion. But that doesn’t mean we can flirt with it. Sin is not a pet to be played with—it’s a predator. And even though we are free, indulging in sin will always erode our joy, damage our witness, and strain our fellowship with God and others.

Paul makes this clear in Romans 6:12: “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” Sin wants to be king. It wants to build an empire in your heart. But in Christ, sin has been dethroned. It’s no longer your master—it’s a fugitive. And while it can still cause trouble, it can never again rule over you. Paul uses the word “mortal” to remind us that this battle is temporary. Our bodies are tents—fragile, fading, and groaning for heaven (2 Corinthians 5:2). That’s encouraging. The fight against sin won’t last forever. We’re headed for a permanent home, and God has equipped us to make it all the way through. So while sin may roam, it cannot reign. We must not let it take the throne again.

Don’t enlist in sin’s army. Don’t offer your life as a weapon for unrighteousness. You’ve been set free to serve a better King. Reckon yourself dead to sin and alive to God. That means you don’t just know the truth—you live it. You apply it. You believe it even when your emotions say otherwise. Sin will tempt, Satan will accuse, and your flesh will groan. But you are not who you used to be. You are in Christ. And that changes everything. So today, don’t toy with sin. Don’t turn off your conscience. Instead, turn your heart toward the One who died to make you free. Walk in the light. Fight the good fight. And remember—this battle is short, but the victory is eternal

“There is nothing more foolish than an act of wickedness; there is no wisdom equal to that of obeying God.” – Albert Barnes