When one are working with something, one reaps the fruits from the work (for instance salary). Like that it’s also with sin. If one choose to live in sin at one or more areas (that one don’t want to repent), then one will reap the fruits of the sin (and thoose fruits does not taste good).
About earlier sin one have done, and turned away from / repented from, one get forgiveness.
«But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”» Matthew 1.20-21
«The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!» John 1.29
«Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,» Acts 3.19
But if one choose to live in sin, one will reap negative fruits of that, so that’s one life here one earth, get less good than it else would have been. Small sins give some negtive fruits, and bigger sins, more negative fruits. As bigger sin one choose to live in, as more damage one will make to one’s life.
It’s important to say, that illnesses and damages, happen naturally without that one are sinning (og as older one get, as easier to get illnesses). What I’m focusing on here, is just that one’s life gett less good than it else would have been, if one choose to live in sin.
If one choose to live in sin, one loose some of the protection God is giving against the devil and his angels (demons), so they get more space to damage for one.
(I don’t think especially about them who more directly feel that evil spirits are damaging for one (it’s different reason why evil spirits can damage or one, without that one are living in sin (and one can gett free from such things)), but I’m thinking about all kind of problems in life which the devil and his angels (demons) get space to make for one).
Sin give the devil more or less power over one.
God can also punish one in other ways, but I guess one always will loose more or less protection against the devil and demons, if one choose to live in sin.
«I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.» Jesus quoted, in Acts 26.17-18
«He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,
But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.» Proverbs 11.27
«that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.» 1 Thessalonians 4.6-7
«He who has a deceitful heart finds no good,
And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.» Proverbs 17.20
«Evil pursues sinners,
But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.» Proverbs 13.21
«Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”» John 5.14
«“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.» Ephesians 4.26-27
“To the [a]angel of the church of Ephesus write,
«‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’» Revelation 2.1-7
«“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,
‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.» Revelation 2.18-23
Sinning easily closes for prayer answers
To get prayers answered, there need to be faith in that God basically helps.
«So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.» Mark 11.22-24
But, if one choose to live in sin, then that can easily close more or less for prayer answers.
«If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.» Psalms 66.18
The devil is trying to tempt one to sin
Because sin is giving the devil more or less power over one, he is trying to tempt people to sin (but all temptation is not coming from the devil of course, but he probably does that one get some more temptated than one else would have been).
«And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.» Revelation 12.7-9
«For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.» 1 Thessalonians 3.5
«Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.» 1 Peter 5.8-9
«Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God (stay away from sin) and He will draw near to you.» James 4.7-8
«Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints» Ephesians 6.10-18
Discipline
Becaouse sinning is damaging for one, God of course doesn’t want us to sin. If one live in sin, the devil get more or less power over one, and it can also close for prayer answers.
One way God can counteract, so it’s a less chance that one live in sin, is to punish / didcipline one if one choose to live in sin, so one find living in sin less attractive.
«My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor detest His correction;
For whom the Lord loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.» Proverbs 3.11-12
«And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.» Hebrews 12.7-13
«Reproofs of instruction are the way of life» Proverbs 6.23
«He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,
But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.» Proverbs 15.32
«Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects;
Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
For He bruises, but He binds up;
He wounds, but His hands make whole.» Job 5.17-18
«But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.» 1 Corinthians 11.32
«“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”» Revelation 3.14-22
«Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.» Proverbs 4.23
To build on solid foundation
«For “He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”» 1 Peter 3.10-12
«Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.» Proverbs 4.23-27
Sinning as a group, i.e as a country
In the same way as one can sin as individuals, one can also sin as a group, for instance as a country, by ungodly laws, or in relationship to other countries,.. and then we as a country will reap the fruits of the sin, so our country will be less good to live in than in else would have been.
Different sins
See the article; «different sins», for more info.