Willful Disobedience

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Romans 6:1-2

As followers of Christ, we often acknowledge that we are not perfect—that we stumble, fall short, and make mistakes. And it’s true. God’s grace covers our failures. However, there’s a clear difference between a moment of weakness and a pattern of willful disobedience.

A mistake is often unintentional: a harsh word spoken in anger, a missed opportunity to show kindness, a moment of selfishness. When we’re truly walking with Christ, these moments are followed by conviction, repentance, and a desire to do better. The Holy Spirit works in our hearts, making us more aware of how we reflect Christ.

But living in sin is different. It’s when we excuse or normalize behaviors, attitudes, or patterns that go against God’s Word—refusing to change or even justifying them under the banner of “nobody’s perfect.” That mindset stops transformation in its tracks.

Paul reminds us in Romans that grace is not a license to sin. We are saved from sin, not saved to stay in it. The gospel calls us not only to forgiveness but to repentance and renewal. God loves us as we are, but He also loves us too much to leave us as we are.

True transformation is the fruit of a life surrendered to Jesus. It doesn't mean perfection overnight, but it does mean progress—real, visible change. The more we follow Christ, the more we should reflect Him in our thoughts, our actions, and our attitudes.