Condoning sin means accepting sin. God does not want Christians to condone sin as sin only leads to pain, destruction, and separation from Him. The Bible tells us God hates sin (Proverbs 6:16-19), which means we should too.
If a person condones sin, it means the person accepts, allows, and approves sin in their lives or in other people’s lives. While Christians are commanded not to judge others (Matthew 7:1), it does not mean Christians should condone sin.
A person’s sin separates them from God as the Bible says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). If you condone sin in your own life, it will separate you from God. Even as believers, our sin can separate us from God.
Actively living in sin will cause a rift in our relationship with the Lord. When a person places faith in Christ, they are forgiven of their sins (Romans 6:23); however, the Lord does not want you to continue to live in sin.
Jesus preached forgiveness of sins and repentance (Luke 5:31-32). In the same way, the Apostle Peter reaffirms the need for repentance, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19). Repentance means to turn away from your sin and choose not to participate in the sin anymore.
A person should not ask for forgiveness if their ulterior motive is to simply go on sinning. In Hebrews 10:26, it states, “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins” (ESV). If the person continually commits the sin over and over again, it demonstrates that they are not truly remorseful over their sin.
A person should intentionally and willingly accept Christ out of love for Jesus and their conscious decision to know they need Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Accepting Jesus to live a life of sin is not a Christian-focus life. When a person becomes a believer, they should want to do the right things in service to God.
Good works do not save a person (Ephesians 2:8-9); however, good works are the result of knowing Christ (Matthew 7:15-20). Condoning sin is not part of the life God has for His children. The Lord hates all sin, evilness, and wickedness (Psalm 5:5, 11:5).
Christians are not to condone sin as condoning sin means the Christian accepts the sin or possibly even celebrates the sin. Sin is nothing to be encouraged or celebrated. All people are sinners (Romans 3:23) and we will continue to struggle with sin throughout our lives, but the Lord does not want us to actively seek out sin and condone it.
The Apostle Paul speaks about people condoning sin in the Book of Romans. Paul was proclaiming the truth of God’s Word to the Church of Rome, and he was telling them what happens when a person deliberately lives in sin and refuses to accept the truth of God’s Word (Romans 1:18-32). The people Paul was referring to had committed a myriad of sinful acts and were condoning those who practiced these sinful actions.
Paul tells the Church of Rome about these people, “They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy” (Romans 1:29-31).
Wicked, evil, sinful acts were being conducted by these individuals and they did not have any remorse for their wicked behavior. Paul continues to say, “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:32).
The individuals who Paul speaks about were aware of God’s commands; however, they deliberately ignored His commands, refused to follow His righteous decree, and approved of those who did the same things.
This is clearly condoning sin and Paul does not represent condoning sin in a good light. As Christians, this still rings true for us today. We should never condone sin in our own lives or in other people’s lives. To condone sin would mean that you accept the sin, approve the sin, and even encourage the sin.
The Bible is clear that we should not judge others (Matthew 7:1); however, Christians are supposed to help each other when they are struggling. Galatians 6:1-2 says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Sin is a major problem and as believers, we cannot simply look the other way. Jesus tells us specifically to have two or three believers first talk to the person in private and then if they do not listen to two or three believers in private, the two or three believers should take it before the church (Matthew 18:15-16).
It can be difficult to approach a friend, family member, or another church member, but it is vitally important to talk to them. When you approach them, you need to speak the truth in kindness, humility, and love (Ephesians 4:15).
Speaking the truth in love does not entail a prideful, hostile, or superior attitude when you are confronting your fellow Christian struggling in their sin. Believers should never tear down one another. Rather than being hostile or prideful, Christians need to always encourage and build each other up in love (1 Corinthians 16:14).
After having that conversation, give them time to think on their own. The Holy Spirit will convict a person of their sin and lead them to repentance — that is not our job. Sometimes believers can grow to become cold and calloused to the Holy Spirit’s conviction that they do not feel His conviction anymore. As Christians, it is important to pray for each other, especially during these struggling times (James 5:16).
It is never right to condone someone’s sin or to “overlook” the sin (Ibid.). Jesus informs us, “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them” (Luke 17:3-4).
The Lord does not tell us to condone the sin, but rather to rebuke it. If the individual chooses to repent, we should forgive them — even if they sin against us many times. Condoning sin is not an option for Christians as sin has no place in a Christian’s life.
All Christians will continue to struggle with sin throughout our lives; however, we should never condone or encourage sinful actions. Any sinful act goes directly against God. It can be easy for people to rationalize their sin or to believe their sin does not hurt others, yet this could not be further from the truth.
Our sin does affect others, ourselves, and God. If we condone sin in our lives or in other people’s lives, we are sinning against God. Even if we are not personally participating in sinful behavior, yet we approve of someone else doing the sinful behavior, we are sinning against God.
If we know a friend or family member who is struggling with a sin in their life, we must not condone their sin. We cannot say the sin is “okay.” Sin is never “okay.” All sin has dire consequences, even for believers.
Even though as believers we are forgiven of our sins and will spend eternity with Christ, there are consequences for our sins in our earthly lives as well as we can have rewards taken away during the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:20; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
Condoning sin is never acceptable and should be discouraged in your own life. If you have condoned sin in the past, rest assured that it is never too late to change. You can stop condoning sin today by turning to God in repentance and asking Him to help you as you confront your loved ones struggling with sin in their own lives with an attitude of kindness, humility, and love.
For further reading:
What Is the Biblical Way to Confess to One Another?
Why Do We Condemn When Jesus Came to Save?
Does God Forgive Every Sin We Commit?
What Does it Mean ‘In Your Anger Do Not Sin’?
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