While a chaplain in the Army, I attended a strongly Calvinistic seminary. All my professors insisted that if a person was really a Christian, he could not continually sin. A common example of this view was that a “true” Christian could not be a practicing homosexual. When given the opportunity, I would point out that a Christian can commit (and “practice”!) any sin. Our sinful activity does not determine if we have eternal life. Our sins impact our fellowship with the Lord. Of course, I was considered to be more or less a heretic for saying these things.

In a recent conversation with Bob Wilkin, I realized I hadn’t been heretical enough. I should have been even more forceful.

Bob and I were talking about 1 John 1:9. John tells the believers to whom he is writing that if they walk in the light, they are in fellowship with the Lord. Walking in the light involves being open to what God’s Word says. God’s Word will shine the light on our sins and make us aware of them. When that happens, we are to confess those sins. When we do, Christ forgives us of all our sins, including those we are unaware of.

The new believer is likely unaware of most of his sins. He is, by definition, a carnal believer (1 Cor 3:1). This could include sexual sins. Many young people today do not realize that having sexual relations outside a marriage between a man and a woman is a sin. Our nation’s current culture celebrates such acts. When people come to faith, they do not automatically realize that those things are sinful.

What about other countries? What do people in various African or Asian countries think about such practices? How many come to faith in Christ and have much to learn about Biblical morality?

In our conversation, Bob gave the example of a couple who attended a church where one of Bob’s friends was the pastor. This couple came to the church as unbelievers. They were unmarried and living together. They heard the gospel of eternal life by faith alone and believed. They were excited about their new life in Christ and were faithful church members.

Strange as it might sound to some of us, it wasn’t until they had been believers for almost a year that they saw in the Scriptures that living together outside of marriage was sinful. When the light of God’s Word revealed that to them, they confessed that sin and went to the pastor and asked what they should do. He told them they either needed to get married or stop their sexual relationship. They gladly agreed to get married to please the Lord.

Since they believed in the Lord Jesus for eternal life, they were born again during those nine months. But they were also in fellowship with the Lord despite living in sin. They were unaware of their sin. They couldn’t and didn’t confess it until they became aware of it. A statement like that would have blown the minds of my Calvinistic professors and fellow seminary students!

Such a discussion shows just how bankrupt the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints is. The view that every “true” Christian will continue to do good works and will never commit “big” sins is false at face value. Christians are capable of any sin. Believers, especially new ones, are often unaware of the sins in their lives. Different cultural influences will lead to a variety of views on such matters. Exposure to the Word of God will also differ from one believer to another. Even in America, it might take almost a year in the faith before a Christian is shown that sex outside of marriage is a sin.

At school, I was often asked: “Are you telling me a practicing homosexual can be a Christian?” They thought I was nuts when I answered, “Of course.” I wish I would have added, “Until he is aware it is a sin, he is even in fellowship with God. When he becomes aware, he must confess that sin to maintain that fellowship. Regardless of whether he confesses or not, his sexual activities do not affect the gift of eternal life.”

That would have probably gotten me expelled.