Can we sin if we believe in God?

Yes and no. First of all, everyone of us can and does sin against God. The Bible says, "There is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Ecclesiastes 7:20). The only exception to this is Jesus Christ. He "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Does God say it is all right for us to sin? Not at all! He says, "Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2).

Regarding forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ, the Bible says in 1 John 1:8--2:2: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." St. Paul also writes: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:1-4).

So, Christians can and do sin even though they believe in God. BUT, Christians do not want to sin against the God who so loved them that He gave His only begotten Son to die for them. Rather they strive to be more and more like the risen Christ Jesus every day (cf. Ephesians 4:11ff.; Romans 12:1ff.; Galatians 5:13ff.; etc., etc.). Christians trust in Jesus' shed blood for forgiveness and then seek to live for Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:15). On the Last Day, those who have trusted in Christ Jesus for forgiveness and life, will be raised up like Him, holy and righteous and without sin (cf. Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:1ff.).

I might add, since I am unsure of what you mean by "believe in god," that I am speaking of trusting in and relying upon the Triune God of the Bible. This is much more than merely believing in the existence of God. James writes: "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19). When the Bible says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31), it speaks of trusting in the promises of God to forgive your sins and give you life eternal for the sake of Jesus' holy life and innocent sufferings and death in your place.

I hope this answers your question.

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