.

Did Christ die for all sins? Absolutely! Are a person’ future sins forgivable? Absolutely! Are all our future sins forgiven? They certainly will be, if we repent, come to Christ, and pray (as He told us to pray), ‘forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us,’ (Matthew 6:12).

In speaking about our responsibility to grow in the faith, the Apostle (2 Peter 1), said we should make every effort to increase our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to give evidence of that knowledge (along with self-control, perseverance, godliness, mercy, concern for others, kindness, and divine love). He said that these virtues should increase, grow, and continue, otherwise, he "has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."

When Jesus died on the cross, He took the world’s sins upon Himself, and gave everyone the opportunity to be forgiven of any past sin they ever committed…(no matter how long ago, how many, or how serious). Since we have been forgiven of all the sins and mistakes we could possibly be guilty of (when we kneel before the Lord and repent), then it is obvious that we have no right to hold anything against anyone (for any reason).

Eternal security proponents say that when we are born again all past, present, and future sins are forgiven. This would be termed security-in-sin. It is spiritually dangerous to be around those who twist the Scriptures and who make such statements as: a Christian’s future sins are already forgiven, even before they are committed. They erect an imagined shield to protect their false doctrine.

When we confess our sins, God forgives us. Psalm 103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." That supports 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

There are conditions to meet (and a repentance to make) in order to be forgiven. ‘If we confess, God forgives.’ The teaching of the Bible is that repenting gives a clean slate from all past sins, but does not teach that we have automatic forgiveness of future [not-yet-confessed] sins.

The apostle said (1 John 2:1-2), "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

God’s will is that we not sin (deliberately), but if we do sin and repent, Jesus is our Advocate who speaks to the Father in our defense. The entire New Testament message is, ‘If we will confess, God will forgive.’ The main focus of this message is to refute the false doctrine of eternal security that says all future sins are forgiven (before the sins are committed and even before the person repents, if they ever do repent).

If anyone would accept that teaching, their spiritual guard would be non-existent. It would give them a false sense of security, as they would not be watchful (nor on guard) against any personal sin and its ability to defile their conscience. The false teaching that all future sins are automatically forgiven, would mean that a person always remains spiritually pure, just as they were when they first confessed their sins and accepted Jesus as their Savior (regardless of whether they fell into idolatry, lying, murder, drunkenness, or immorality later on).

The person would not have to confess any of those sins to God, would not have to repent of them, and they would not have to forgive anyone else who sinned against them, because (according to that false teaching) those future sins are already forgiven [automatically]. That is the lie and the delusion which is readily heard today on television, radio, the Internet, and in many religious books.

In contrast to that false teaching, there is real, spiritual danger in failing to repent and failing to confess our sins before God. If anyone would read through the New Testament (and be enlightened by the Holy Spirit to the true meaning of those Scriptures), they would quickly see what seems to be hidden from the security-in-sin teachers.

After the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world (and His ascension to the right hand of God), He said to the believers in Revelation 3:4, "Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy."

It is obvious that all the other people in the Sardis church did soil their spiritual garments, and were no longer worthy to walk with Jesus. If we would ask, ‘How did the majority, (who were previously saved), become soiled?’ we would have to give the obvious reply that ‘sin can defile a person and bring about their spiritual death, if they do not repent.’

The Apostle Paul (who taught pure grace) warned the believers (1 Timothy 5:22) by saying, "Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure." If it were possible to remain in a perpetually pure position by accepting the false teaching that all future sins are forgiven (before they are committed and before they are confessed), there would be no warning to keep our heart pure.

The Apostle Paul (to whom young Timothy looked to for advice), knew that Timothy could become spiritually defiled through sin, and consequently advised that he keep himself pure by repenting. That warning would be meaningless if Timothy could fall into sin (at some future time) and automatically be pre-forgiven.

The New Testament teaches that a Christian can die spiritually (through sin) and not inherit the kingdom of God (if their sins are not confessed and a true Bible repentance made). Romans 8:13 says, "If you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live."

Two more references to support that would be James 1:14-16, "But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived."

And Galatians 5:19-21, "You know full well the doings of our lower natures. Fornication [immoral sins], impurity, indecency, idol-worship [idolatry], sorcery [witchcraft]; enmity [hatred], strife, jealousy, outbursts of passion [rage], intrigues [selfishness], dissensions, factions [cliques], envyings; hard drinking [drunkenness], riotous feasting [wild drinking parties], and the like. And as to these I forewarn you, as I have already forewarned you, that those who are guilty of such things [or those who live like this] will [not inherit the Kingdom] of God."

All of these Scriptures prove that sin committed after conversion (or after being born again), can defile a believer and bring about their spiritual death, which results in the loss of their salvation [they will not inherit the Kingdom of God]. That result [or loss of Eternal Life] would be impossible if our future sins were already forgiven (before they were even committed). There are (unfortunately) a multitude of savage wolves speaking on television and radio in wool suits. If any teaching is in opposition to New Testament teaching, it must be flatly rejected.

The Bible teaches that our past sins are forgiven at the point of repentance and when we place our faith in Jesus. This is verified in many New Testament books. In Acts 20:21, the Apostle Paul said, "I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus." Also chapter 26:20, "First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds."

In speaking about growing in the faith, increasing our knowledge of the Lord Jesus, and showing fruits of the Spirit, the Apostle Peter (2 Peter 5:9) said, "If anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins." Our past sins have been forgiven, but saying nothing about future sins.

As a believer (and at the point of confessing our sins and accepting the Lord Jesus as our Lord and Savior), we are cleansed from all past sins (2 Peter 1:9). This is also supported by Colossians 2:13, "You were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, [but] God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins."

All of our past sins are forgiven the moment we confess them before God. When a believer is baptized and born again, they come up out of the water cleansed of past sins. However, if afterwards they yield to the devil’s temptations to sin, they must follow through with 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

We notice that the Apostle John said ‘if we confess our sins’ (including himself by using the plural pronoun we). He is saying that if we don’t confess those sins (which are committed after conversion), then we won’t be purified from the effects of those sins. If anyone accepted the false teaching that all future sins are automatically forgiven, there would be no point to confess those sins (to be pure in heart).

Proverbs 28:13 says this about un-confessed or hidden sin (NKJV). "He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." God is always merciful and loves us as much as He loves His Son, but it is our responsibility to own up to our sins and to confess them before Him, in order to be forgiven.

There are many other Bible verses that indicate a Christian’s future sins are not forgiven (unless they are confessed), because those un-confessed sins can defile a believer (even though Jesus paid for those sins centuries ago). The writer to the Hebrews says (12:15), "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."

The Apostle Paul knew of some who had wandered away from a pure heart, which reveals that sin can affect a pure heart. This defiling [of heart] would be impossible if the future sins of those who had wandered away were already forgiven. (1 Timothy 1:5-6), "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these [pure heart & good conscience] and turned to meaningless talk."

The Lord Jesus gave a stern warning about what the serious sin of adultery can do to a believer. Even mental adultery can land a person in the Lake of Fire (if left un-repented). Jesus said (Matthew 5:28-29), "Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell."

The Lord also stated the stipulation [or condition] for a Christian to be forgiven. They must also forgive those who sin against them. Such teaching would be impossible if the Christian’s sins were automatically forgiven (even before they were committed or confessed).

If all future sins are automatically forgiven, Jesus would not have been able to state the conditions to be forgiven. He said (Matthew 6:14-15), "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

If we are not willing to forgive others, God cannot forgive us. That alone is a complete refutation of the false teaching that every believer’s future sins are automatically forgiven (before they are confessed). We have a free-will choice and a human responsibility to accept the free gift of God’s grace simply by confessing our sins & forgiving others.

In support of that responsibility we have to forgive from the heart (if we want Christ to forgive us), is the story about the wicked servant (Matthew 18:32-35). "The master called the servant in. `You wicked servant,' he said, `I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. ‘This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.’"

The world is full of false teachers today who preach in wool suits. They may say many correct things, but when it comes to unconditional eternal security, or if it involves any responsibility on the believer’s part (or exercising any real faith in God), they revert back to the delusion of once saved, always saved, or, once forgiven, always forgiven. We have been warned!

Another deathblow to the lie (that a Christian’s future sins are automatically forgiven) is Hebrews 10:26-27. "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God." There is no possible way to misinterpret that passage. If we intentionally sin, and do not confess that sin, the final result can only be the ‘raging fire that consumes the enemies of God.’

There are a multitude of false teachers (giving false doctrines today), and there are many books that contain the same lies mixed in with Scripture verses and wrong interpretations of those verses. (Psalm 56:5), "All day long they twist my words."

There are many ear-tickling messages given today that are not supported by God’s Word. The Apostle Paul wrote to his young friend and gave this advice (2 Timothy 4:1-4)…"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."

Telling people that all of their future sins are automatically forgiven (if they ever had one moment of faith in the past), is far from giving careful instruction. The Apostle’s prediction has already come true (vs 3-4)…"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

We have already come to the place when many professed Christians will not put up with sound doctrine, and will not accept God’s truth as it is written in the Bible. Thus they seek out a great number of teachers who will say what the majority wants to hear, (but it isn’t careful instruction and it isn’t sound doctrine).

Because of this poor spiritual condition (that prevails in the world), the apostle had to say what he said (2 Peter 3:14), "So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." Being found spotless, blameless, and at peace with God is not automatic. We have a responsibility and a choice to confess our sins (or to cover up our sins). As a believer in Christ, we are to put forth every effort to maintain an attitude of repentance.

It is a narrow door, so we can take no extra baggage with us. We brought nothing into the world, and we will take nothing out of it, because it simply will not fit through the gate. (Luke 13:24), "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to."

There are all too many who have accepted the lie that their future sins are automatically forgiven, and because of that false doctrine, have fallen into gross sins that have defiled them in a multitude of ways. By the grace of God, we will not be deceived by those whom Satan has used to twist the Scriptures and to give a false doctrine. We must defend the faith. The Apostle Jude was inspired to say, "I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints."

By the mercy of God, by the power of His Spirit, and through the atonement work of Christ (who forgives when we confess), we will contend for the faith, and we will endure to the end, because eternal souls are at stake!