Scripture cautions, “If you (you believers) be without chastisement (corrective punishment), whereof ALL (the children of God) are partakers, then are you bastards (illegitimate children, false converts), and NOT sons” (See Hebrews 12:8). Many fail to see the Bible’s clear teaching as to a believer’s judgment for sinning because they have been taught that upon “receiving Jesus” all sins, including future sins are forgiven, blotted out, no longer counted against them in any way. I have even heard it argued that when Christ died all of our sins were future and that this is proof God forgives future sins before they are even committed – a diabolical, satanic LIE! Scripture plainly declares, “If we (we believers) CONFESS our sins, (then, at that point in time) He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us…” (See I John 1:9). And John doesn’t mean confess it to some fellow human being, some supposed “priest”, who himself might be even a greater sinner than we ourselves. (What if that “priest” is a closet pedophile! Do you think such a one can then absolve you of your sins while in the grip of gross depravity himself???) And, of course, scripture further declares that it is only those who confess AND FORSAKE THEIR SINS, who then obtain mercy from God (See Proverbs 28:13). “Let the wicked FORSAKE his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and He will (then) have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon (at that time)” (See Isaiah 55:7). Confession is made to God and forgiveness given by God, not some “priest.”
Again, in James 5, we read: “Is any sick among you (among you believers)? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up (restoring him to health), and if he has committed sins (if his sickness is corrective chastening from the Lord), they shall be forgiven him (yes, at that time, at that moment – NOT before)” (verses 14 and 15).
If a believer’s sins are pre-forgiven, why strive against sin? What God forgives He forgets. He takes no note then of a believer’s sin. Yet Revelation 2 and 3, Acts 5, I Corinthians 5, 10 and 11, and many other passages of scripture show clearly that God does indeed see a believer’s sins, and that they definitely are NOT pre-forgiven! At the moment of justification (what many refer to as the moment they are “saved”) we receive “remission of sins THAT ARE PAST” (See Romans 3:25). Peter writes that we were “purged,” or cleansed, from our “OLD sins” (see 2 Peter 1:9). The Greek word translated “old”” in that verse is palai (pronounced PAL’-ahee), and means “former” or “past” sins. No scripture even intimates that upon surrendering one’s life and total self to Jesus Christ’s LORDship and guidance his future sins are, at that moment, forgiven. That is ludicrous and a doctrine of demons!!
“For if we (we believers) sin willfully (voluntarily, wittingly, knowingly, intentionally) after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, but a CERTAIN fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries…The Lord shall judge (and punish) His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God” (See Hebrews 10:26-27, 30b). This is WHY Paul became indignant with any sin he found among God’s people, warning the Corinthians, “I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare” (See 2 Corinthians 13:2)
When believers sin they become adversaries of the Lord. I speak of willful, voluntary, intentional sin here. The manner of sin spoken of in Hebrews 10. Those who sin in such manner counter-work the Lord. The Lord is striving diligently to bring us into holiness (without which NO ONE will see the Lord – see Hebrews 12:14), instilling us with purity through and through. When we willfully, premeditatedly sin we do despite to the Spirit of grace given to keep us from sin, and we trample underfoot the blood of Christ in that we eloquently show what little regard we have for our Lord’s sacrifice. (Read Hebrews 10, verse 26 through 31 slowly and carefully – and God grant you understanding).
Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley