If our future sins have already been forgiven by God as some say, then it makes no difference whether you repent or ask God for forgiveness when you sin since all those sins would have already been forgiven even before you commit them. However, 1 John 1:9 shows that God expects His children to confess their sins in order to receive His forgiveness. Similarly, if all our future sins were already forgiven, then Jesus would have been in error by saying that on the judgment day, He will tell some who had called Him Lord and had used His name to prophesy, cast out demons, and perform miracles to depart from Him because they made a practice of sin or lawlessness (Matthew 7:21-23, 1 John 3:4). Interestingly, Jesus will not tell them to depart from Him because because they will be lying about calling Him Lord and using His name tin their ministry. In the words of Jesus, satan does not cast out satan (see Mark 3:23-27). Therefore, those folks should have already been saved to be able to use the name of Jesus to cast out satan. But their practice of sin, without repentance, will exclude them from heaven and the kingdom of God (Matthew 7:21-23). Again, if all sins were already forgiven, then Paul would have been in error, essentially repeating the words of Jesus by warning the church that those who made a practice of sin will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21), which in the Greek also directly refers to the domain/territory where God rules including heaven, the millennium, as well as the new heaven and new earth (Revelation chapters 20-22). Furthermore, if all sins were already forgiven, then Jesus would have erred by telling the members of His church in Sardis that He will erase the names of those who did not overcome from the book life (see Revelation 3:5). Friends, let us not be deceived! The Scriptures are abundantly clear that God requires that we repent and confess our sins to Him to receive His forgiveness, lest we continue in sin wilfully and be cut off from His presence and kingdom (Hebrews 10:26-27 1 John 1:9).
When Jesus reproved the church in Ephesus for leaving their first love, He brought correction to them by telling them to repent and get back to doing the good they did earlier. Otherwise, He would remove their lampstand from its place (Revelation 2:5). Similarly, in the church of Thyatira, Jesus did not only demand repentance from Jezebel but also those Christians who were involved in idolatry and sexual immorality lest they face His wrath (Revelation 2:22; Revelation 2:18-29). We also find Paul greatly displeased with the church in Corinth for their failure to repent over the gross immorality in the church (1 Corinthians 5:1-11). But he rejoiced when the church had the wisdom to be sorrowful over the grievous sin in the church, with a godly sorrow which led to repentance so that they will not suffer loss in anything (2 Corinthians 7:8-13). All these would have been unnecessary if all our future sins were already forgiven, and repentance and confessing our sins to God were not required in the New Testament.
Because we all stumble in many ways even after being saved (James 3:2), God has made provision for us in Christ to repent and consequently confess our sins to receive His forgiveness. Let us take advantage of this grace of God and run our race without hindrance. But “if we go on sinning wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES” (Hebrews 10:26-27).
Dr. K. Omari
February 14, 2019.
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.