Bible Question:
Dear CDBJ, I don't think God specifically asks anyone "Why should I let you into my kingdom" like in the Jack Chick tracts and you have to get the answer right. However, for your information, I believe that Christ's sacrifice on the cross makes satisfaction for my sins and merits my eternal salvation. We enter into the New Convenant in his blood by believing (in our heart that Jesus is the Son of God and that he was risen from the dead) and by being baptised (Mark 16:15) The Bible teaches that having appropriated the benefits of Christ's atoning death all our past sins are wiped cleaned. I don't believe that all our future sins are forgiven; after all Jesus instituted the Lord's Prayer in which we regularly ask forgiveness for our ongoing sins. I do not believe the Bible anywhere teaches that we are forgiven all our sins past, present and future, and it gives many stern warnings against both apostasy and ongoing sin (e.g. James 5:19-20): My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. 1 John 5:16-17 is quite explicit about the consequences of sins leading to death or mortal sin as Catholics (and the RSV) would put it. Are you asking me whether I understand that Christ's atoning death is what constitutes my righteousness before God rather than good works. Beyond this I trust you appreciate that the "once saved always saved" view is only held by the Baptists / Presbyterians and their derivatives and is certainly not a universially held belief across Protestantism. Two weeks ago I was rushed into hospital in the middle of the night with severe pains in my chest. First they thought it might be my heart, then it looked liked I had a clot on my lung. I can assure you I felt ready to meet my God and Saviour. Steve |
Bible Answer: Dalcent, I would respectfully take issue with your statement that " I don't believe that all our future sins are forgiven; after all Jesus instituted the Lord's Prayer in which we regularly ask forgiveness for our ongoing sins. I do not believe the Bible anywhere teaches that we are forgiven all our sins past, present and future, and it gives many stern warnings against both apostasy and ongoing sin." The main problem with this view is that it negates the all-sufficiency of Christs' atoning sacrifice on the cross! If all only our past sins are forgiven, then redemption is not complete and Christ must therefore go to the cross again- an impossibility according to Romans 6:9! Hebrews 9:12 clearly tells us "He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." Further in 9:22 says "...and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Second, I believe scripture unequivocably teaches us that we are forgiven of ALL sins (past, present, and future). "It is finished!" John 19:30 "For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God." Romans 6:10 "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Eph. 4:32 Colossians 2:13 is by far the clearest:"When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions," "bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." Col. 3:13 "so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him." Heb. 9:28 All the Pauline verses denote a past action, which is complete, carrying forward to the present time. If Christs' sacrifice is not wholly sufficient to pay for the penalty of my sin and redeem me, what further can be done? Surely you're not advocating any self-effort on my part? Christ either paid the full penalty for ALL my sins or He didn't. Ephesians 1:7 tells us "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace" Your and my forgiveness is solely "according to the riches of His grace", and it is by being in the sphere of Him! In Him we have complete redemption, and complete forgiveness. Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |