Why Do People Live In Sin?

Why do people live in sin? To answer this question, let us first consider what the bible has to say about our condition before a Holy God. We were created as free moral agents. God could have made us as robots, but He didn’t. We have a choice in the matter, and sin is a direct result of Adam disobeying God's instruction (Gen. 2:16-17).

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12). David acknowledged that he was born in sin and said, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me (Psa. 51:5). "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23).

There are several reasons why people sin. People sin because: 

1. "There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Rom. 3:18). They have no respect for God, our Creator.  But the "whole duty of man" is to "fear God and keep His commandments" (Eccl. 12:13).  
2. There is a lack of knowledge (Hos. 4:6). Before we can keep God’s commandments we must know what they are. We must study God’s word (Psa. 119:11). 
3. We are deceived by sin. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8).
4. There is temporary pleasure in sin. Moses chose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Heb. 11:25). But we are also tempted and enticed daily, eg. by commercials.   (Jam. 1:14-15).
5. "The soul of the wicked desires evil" (Prov. 21:10). They "love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking righteousness" (Psa. 52:3).   
6. They are deceived by false doctrine.  "If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let hem be accursed" (Gal. 1:9).
7. They're influenced by people with whom they associate.  "Do not be deceived: evil company corrupts good habits" (1 Cor. 15:33). We must carefully choose our friends. To protect ourselves from sin we must, "Abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thess. 5:22).

We also sin when we don’t do what we should do.  "Therefore, to him that knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" (Jam. 4:17).  

If we continue willfully in our sin and don’t repent, we will die in our sins and be lost (John 8:24).  Let us not be deceived by sin, because the wages of sin is spiritual death in Hell forever (Rom. 6:23).

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, men and brothers, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:37-39).

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

So you see, God loves us and wants us to spend eternity with Him; "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23b). It's a FREE gift, receive it today.