What happens when a Christian sins/What happens when we lead holy lives
The study of these two topics is actually related. When we lead holy lives, we will receive all the benefits that come with obedience. When we disobey, we not only forfeit the benefits, we will be disciplined by God.
He will be disciplined by God
Hebrews 12:5-8 “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, {6} because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” {7} Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? {8} If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
Loss of Christian joy
Psalms 51:8-13 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. {9} Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. {10} Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. {11} Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. {12} Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. {13} Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
When King David was walking in the right way, he experienced the joy that comes as a result of being a Christian. When he sins, he feels that God has left him and he lost the joy of salvation. Joy is lost because fellowship with God is lost when we sin.
God will not answer our prayers
Isaiah 59:1-3 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. {2} But your iniquities (ie sins) have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. {3} For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things.
God says that He is not powerless to save or too inactive that He does not hear the cry of his people. But He has deliberately chosen not to listen to their prayers because they have done so many wicked things.
1 John 3:21-22 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God {22} and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
Loss of soul winning power
Matthew 5:16 (NIV) In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
2 Samuel 12:14 But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt…
When King David sinned, the prophet scolded him that he has given reason to God’s enemies to show discontempt.
Loss of rewards in heaven
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body (ie still alive) or away from it (ie dead). {10} For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Note that this verse is teaching that if we do good while we are still alive, we will receive rewards from God. But if we do not we will receive bad in the sense that we will suffer the loss of rewards. This verse does not teach that a Christian will be punished in heaven for his sins because the Bible teaches that when one becomes a Christian, he is foregiven of all his sins.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 But each one should be careful how he builds (his life). {11} For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. {12} If any man builds on this foundation (ie Jesus) using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw (ie worthless and worldly things), {13} his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day (ie judgement day) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. {14} If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. {15} If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames (ie hell).
Loss of a prosperous life on earth
Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Being prosperous does not mean that God will make everyone a millionaire. It does mean that God will make sure that we have a meaningful and successful life here on earth if we obey Him.