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NASB | Acts 8:13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 8:13 Even Simon believed [Philip's message of salvation]; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he watched the attesting signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. |
Subject: How do I make sense of the context? |
Bible Note: Romans 3:25 is referring to sins committed before Jesus went to the cross, not the sins we committed before receiving Christ. Hosea 4:6 addresses the totality of Israel as a covenant people, not individuals. Because there was wholesale covenant breaking, God is announcing judgment upon them in the form of invasion and scattering of the people of Israel. Both those who were keeping the covenant (such as the prophets themselves) and the majority who weren't were caught up in this judgment of the sins of the people, so eternal destiny is not primarily in view here. In addition, Hosea 14 announces God's plan to not forsake Israel forever. Where does it say that future sins are forgiven? Places like this: "By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified." --Hebrews 10:10-14 Also see Romans 8:28-39 (for what has God predestined the Christian?), Colossians 1:13-14 (we have been transferred BY GOD from one kingdom to another), and Hebrews 9:26-28. The language of all of these points out that Christ has paid in full the debt of sin for His people, and continues to intercede for us before the Father. You wrote: "Doesn't a sin have to be repented of in order for it to be forgiven?" It is God who brings about the repentance, but the righteousness which gets believers into heaven is Christ's, not ours. We are not going to get into heaven because we have constantly "cleaned our slate," but because Christ already lived the perfect life in our place and died in our place. "Future sins don't even exist yet. How can something that doesn't exist be forgiven?" Well, since Jesus Christ died 2000 years ago, none of my sins existed at the time. When the Bible was written saying Jesus has already paid the price for sin, none of my sins existed yet. However, they were all foreknown by an omniscient God, and therefore the efficacy of Christ's atonement is not limited to a particular place and time, but is applied to God's people from the foundation of the world to the end of time. --Joe! |