I did not become a Christian until the second semester of my junior year of high school. At that time, I knew nothing about God, I knew nothing about the Bible, et cetera. So, I asked myself this question: What if I fail as a Christian? That was the wrong question to ask. The correct question is this: When I fail as a Christian, then what?
In his writings, the Apostle Paul confesses his own sins as a Christian (Romans 7:15-25), and he mentions a case in which the Apostle Peter sinned as a Christian (Galatians 2:11-14). 1 John 1:8 states, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." The claim that Christians never sin contradicts the plain teaching of the New Testament. Both Paul and Peter sinned during their apostolic ministries.
Folks, if two Apostles failed as Christians, then sooner or later we will all fail as Christians.
So, when we fail as Christians, then what?
After Paul confesses his failures, he makes this statement: "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)"
In the book of First John, we are told that if we confess our sins to God, then He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
1 John 2:1-2 states, "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world."
The God of Christianity is the God of restoration. If you have given your life to Jesus, then you are God's adopted child no matter what you are guilty of. That is why God eagerly waits to restore us when we fail. Adam and Eve hid from God when they failed. Because Jesus paid for our sins, we have no reason to hide from God when we fail.
I have failed numerous times since I became a Christian. Yet, God has always kept his word by cleansing me after I have confessed. The cleansing isn't always pleasant, but it still happens.
God loves you enough to send Jesus to die for you. God also loves you enough to restore you when you fail. It doesn't matter how badly that you have failed. God's grace is mightier than your worst failure.