Why we Christians still have to struggle with sins?

[Mercy Shown]

Even after being born again, God doesn’t take away all of our sinful struggles right away. Instead, He walks with us through them. The Christian life is not about instant perfection but about growing closer to Christ day by day. Our battles with sin keep us humble, remind us of our need for His grace, and teach us to lean on His Spirit instead of our own strength.


God also uses the struggle to shape our hearts—building patience, compassion, and maturity. Every time we stumble and come back to Him, we experience His mercy in a deeper way. And while we may wrestle with sin now, the promise is that one day, when Christ returns, He will finish the work He started in us and we’ll be free from sin forever (Phil. 1:6).


So if you feel the tension inside yourself, you’re not alone—it’s a sign you belong to Him, that His Spirit is alive in you, and that He’s faithfully bringing you through the refining process toward glory. Below are my study notes.

• Sanctification is a process, not an instant event.
  • Justification (being declared righteous in Christ) happens once, but sanctification (being made holy) is lifelong. Paul says, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you” (Phil 2:12–13). Struggle with sin is part of this refining process.
• God uses struggle to grow us in dependence.
  • If sin vanished instantly, we’d be prone to pride or self-reliance. Ongoing weakness keeps us leaning on God’s grace (2 Cor 12:9).
• The “old self” still lingers until glorification.
  • Believers are given new life, yet the flesh and its desires remain (Gal 5:16–17). The full removal of sin comes only when Christ returns and we are glorified.
• Struggle produces perseverance and maturity.
  • James 1:2–4 teaches that trials—even inner ones—shape endurance and spiritual wholeness. Our battles with sin can deepen compassion and humility toward others.
• Victory is real, but progressive.
  • The Spirit empowers us to resist and grow (Rom 8:13), yet the fight remains until the end. This tension keeps us awake and longing for Christ.

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

Even after being born again, God doesn’t take away all of our sinful struggles right away. Instead, He walks with us through them. The Christian life is not about instant perfection but about growing closer to Christ day by day. Our battles with sin keep us humble, remind us of our need for His grace, and teach us to lean on His Spirit instead of our own strength.

I think our battles with sin (i.e., our sins and our sinfulness) reinforce both our need for Christ and His forgivenes on one hand and our distaste for sin due to new life in Christ on the the other hand.

God also uses the struggle to shape our hearts—building patience, compassion, and maturity. Every time we stumble and come back to Him, we experience His mercy in a deeper way. And while we may wrestle with sin now, the promise is that one day, when Christ returns, He will finish the work He started in us and we’ll be free from sin forever (Phil. 1:6).

Yes, we all look forward to the day when we will be further clothed, especially looking forward to seeing Him as He is.

So if you feel the tension inside yourself, you’re not alone—it’s a sign you belong to Him, that His Spirit is alive in you, and that He’s faithfully bringing you through the refining process toward glory. Below are my study notes.

• Sanctification is a process, not an instant event.
  • Justification (being declared righteous in Christ) happens once, but sanctification (being made holy) is lifelong. Paul says, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you” (Phil 2:12–13). Struggle with sin is part of this refining process.

I think you are combining spiritual growth and sanctification into one concept. Certainly, after nearly 50 years of Christ living in me, I would be able to notice if I was materially more holy like Jesus than I was at the beginning. But honestly, maturity has taught me to not make judgements like that. But it is easy to see that I am way more mature today than I was 50 years ago.

• God uses struggle to grow us in dependence.
  • If sin vanished instantly, we’d be prone to pride or self-reliance. Ongoing weakness keeps us leaning on God’s grace (2 Cor 12:9).

This is a good verse and a good application of the verse. As you said above, sin is a fact of life even after salvation. Some would argue that this point of view is just an excuse for continuing in sin. But it is curious to me that many of them attempt to re-define sin to exclude the depravity of the flesh and some smaller sins to avoid equating grace with the forgiveness of sins.

• The “old self” still lingers until glorification.
  • Believers are given new life, yet the flesh and its desires remain (Gal 5:16–17). The full removal of sin comes only when Christ returns and we are glorified.

I generally agree with this, but I'm not certain we must wait until Christ's return for glorification.

• Struggle produces perseverance and maturity.
  • James 1:2–4 teaches that trials—even inner ones—shape endurance and spiritual wholeness. Our battles with sin can deepen compassion and humility toward others.
• Victory is real, but progressive.
  • The Spirit empowers us to resist and grow (Rom 8:13), yet the fight remains until the end. This tension keeps us awake and longing for Christ.

Thanks for the post. You have shared many helpful things in here.

 

[RileyG]

Our battles are not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers.

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

Our battles are not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers.

Apples and oranges?

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12)​

9.14 σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα: (an idiom, literally ‘flesh and blood’) a human being in contrast with a divine being—‘person, human being.’ σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψέν σοι ‘it was not revealed to you by any human being’ or ‘no person ever revealed it to you’ Mt 16:17. [Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 105). United Bible Societies.]​

 

[Hawkins]

To me, it's matter of how one is getting closer to God. It's measurement of one's distance from God. The world on the other hand is much more evil than before. Say for an example, before 60s 99% Christians won't and can't get in touch with pornography. In today's world, the opposite is true, 99% Christians can and ever did get in touch with it. We overestimated our status in terms of our distance from God. We have struggles before we are from a distance and lost on how to shorten such a distance. The correct way is rather to increase faith, instead of struggling with a fight which is difficult to win (world is corrupted tactically by the devil).

 

[HARK!]

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[Bro.T]

Even after being born again, God doesn’t take away all of our sinful struggles right away. Instead, He walks with us through them. The Christian life is not about instant perfection but about growing closer to Christ day by day. Our battles with sin keep us humble, remind us of our need for His grace, and teach us to lean on His Spirit instead of our own strength.


God also uses the struggle to shape our hearts—building patience, compassion, and maturity. Every time we stumble and come back to Him, we experience His mercy in a deeper way. And while we may wrestle with sin now, the promise is that one day, when Christ returns, He will finish the work He started in us and we’ll be free from sin forever (Phil. 1:6).


So if you feel the tension inside yourself, you’re not alone—it’s a sign you belong to Him, that His Spirit is alive in you, and that He’s faithfully bringing you through the refining process toward glory. Below are my study notes.

• Sanctification is a process, not an instant event.
  • Justification (being declared righteous in Christ) happens once, but sanctification (being made holy) is lifelong. Paul says, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you” (Phil 2:12–13). Struggle with sin is part of this refining process.
• God uses struggle to grow us in dependence.
  • If sin vanished instantly, we’d be prone to pride or self-reliance. Ongoing weakness keeps us leaning on God’s grace (2 Cor 12:9).
• The “old self” still lingers until glorification.
  • Believers are given new life, yet the flesh and its desires remain (Gal 5:16–17). The full removal of sin comes only when Christ returns and we are glorified.
• Struggle produces perseverance and maturity.
  • James 1:2–4 teaches that trials—even inner ones—shape endurance and spiritual wholeness. Our battles with sin can deepen compassion and humility toward others.
• Victory is real, but progressive.
  • The Spirit empowers us to resist and grow (Rom 8:13), yet the fight remains until the end. This tension keeps us awake and longing for Christ.

Jesus brought grace when he came in the flesh, but example of grace was in the days of Noah. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:8), And Noah and his family was saved. Not save from eternal life, but saved from the flood. This is why Jesus had to come. Paul says in Hebrews 9: 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 26 for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Now Paul said in (Rom. 3:23-25) (v.23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (v.24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

(v.25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.

So the bible tells you to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2 :36-38). And by doing so you come up under his precious blood and then you are saved from your sins that are past, not present or future sins but for sins that are past. We were all locked under death by Adam’s sin, even the second death, which is the lake of fire. But when Jesus became (he was God in the beginning) man and died for the sins of the world, he gave us access back to the tree of life (himself) which Adam had caused us to lose. That’s what grace is, our free gift our access back to the tree of life but that’s another lesson for another time.

So by coming under the blood of Jesus being baptize, you are saved from your past sins. And if you are saved now, it is on a day to day basis. Because for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 23:3), and if you continue to live you will sin again.

When the bible speaks of laws we no longer have to keep, it is speaking of the sacrificial laws and Priesthood laws. These animal sacrificial laws were a school master pointing us to the fact that Jesus would be sacrificed for our sins. Since Jesus died we are no longer under a school master, (required to offer up bulls and goats for our sins). Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. This animal sacrificial law was only a schoolmaster.(Gal 3:24)

Now we must believe (have faith) Jesus died for us (Hebrews 10:4,9-10) 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 9 then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

This doesn't mean we don't have to obey God's moral laws of conduct. That would be like a man getting paroled from prison and then ignoring the same laws that sent him to prison in the first place. Jesus only died once, so if we willingly break God's law, after accepting Jesus, our reward will be eternal damnation

It is the willful sinning that you need to put in check. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (Hebrew 10: 26, 27)

 

[ARBITER01]

Why we Christians still have to struggle with sins?​

Why was Jesus able to have victory over them? Part of it was He was innocent and knew no sin, but as also a man upon the earth, He was tempted in all respects like us.

So what was His secret to His victory?

 

[Mercy Shown]

Jesus brought grace when he came in the flesh, but example of grace was in the days of Noah. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:8), And Noah and his family was saved. Not save from eternal life, but saved from the flood. This is why Jesus had to come. Paul says in Hebrews 9: 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 26 for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Now Paul said in (Rom. 3:23-25) (v.23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (v.24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

(v.25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.

So the bible tells you to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2 :36-38). And by doing so you come up under his precious blood and then you are saved from your sins that are past, not present or future sins but for sins that are past. We were all locked under death by Adam’s sin, even the second death, which is the lake of fire. But when Jesus became (he was God in the beginning) man and died for the sins of the world, he gave us access back to the tree of life (himself) which Adam had caused us to lose. That’s what grace is, our free gift our access back to the tree of life but that’s another lesson for another time.

So by coming under the blood of Jesus being baptize, you are saved from your past sins. And if you are saved now, it is on a day to day basis. Because for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 23:3), and if you continue to live you will sin again.

When the bible speaks of laws we no longer have to keep, it is speaking of the sacrificial laws and Priesthood laws. These animal sacrificial laws were a school master pointing us to the fact that Jesus would be sacrificed for our sins. Since Jesus died we are no longer under a school master, (required to offer up bulls and goats for our sins). Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. This animal sacrificial law was only a schoolmaster.(Gal 3:24)

Now we must believe (have faith) Jesus died for us (Hebrews 10:4,9-10) 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 9 then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

This doesn't mean we don't have to obey God's moral laws of conduct. That would be like a man getting paroled from prison and then ignoring the same laws that sent him to prison in the first place. Jesus only died once, so if we willingly break God's law, after accepting Jesus, our reward will be eternal damnation

It is the willful sinning that you need to put in check. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (Hebrew 10: 26, 27)

Allow me to outline your argument as I understand it. If I have mistaken any of your points, please correct me. The following is what I believe you were conveying.

1. Grace existed before Jesus came in the flesh​

• Example: Noah “found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Gen. 6:8).
• But Noah’s grace was not eternal salvation—it was deliverance from the flood.

---

2. Why Jesus had to come​

• Old covenant sacrifices (bulls, goats, temple rituals) could not take away sin permanently.
• Jesus came as the true sacrifice to put away sin once for all (Heb. 9:24–26).

---

3. The universality of sin​

• All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23).
• Justification comes freely by God’s grace through Christ’s sacrifice (Rom. 3:24–25).

---

4. The biblical response to grace​

• Repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name for forgiveness of past sins (Acts 2:36–38).
• Through baptism and faith in Christ’s blood, believers come under His covering and are saved from past sins—not present or future sins automatically.

---

5. Ongoing nature of salvation​

• Because people continue to sin daily, salvation is ongoing (“day-to-day”).
• Jesus gave access back to the “tree of life” (eternal life in Him), lost through Adam’s sin.

---

6. The law and its fulfillment​

• The “laws we no longer keep” are the sacrificial and priesthood laws.
• These were only a “schoolmaster” pointing to Jesus’ sacrifice (Gal. 3:24).
• Jesus fulfilled and replaced these with His own sacrifice (Heb. 10:4, 9–10).

---

7. Moral law still applies​

• God’s moral commands remain binding.
• To disregard them after receiving grace would be like being freed from prison only to break the same laws again.

---

8. Warning against willful sin​

• Jesus only died once; His sacrifice is not repeated.
• If a believer willfully and knowingly sins after coming to the truth, there is no more sacrifice left—only judgment (Heb. 10:26–27).

I am pretty much with you up until point 4. Acts 2:36–38, does not indicate that it is for past sins only, so that part of your argument is not supported by the text. This is the point on wich I will contend with you. As far as keeping God's law, we cannot keep it well enough to be saved but we can be saved to keep it well enough. Now onto the subject of sin: past, present and future.

The idea that Christ only died for our past sins diminishes the completeness of His sacrifice. Scripture teaches that Jesus’ offering was once-for-all and entirely sufficient: “By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Heb. 10:14). His blood “cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7), not just those already committed, and Paul affirms that God “forgave us all our sins” (Col. 2:13). Justification by faith is a settled reality that gives believers peace with God (Rom. 5:1), not a temporary condition revoked with each new failure.

Moreover, Jesus’ ongoing intercession (Heb. 7:25) ensures continual forgiveness and fellowship. If only past sins were forgiven, believers would need constant re-sacrifice or re-baptism, contradicting the finality of the cross. Grace does not excuse sin, but it does cover the believer fully — past, present, and future — so that we walk in the assurance that “where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Rom. 5:20). Christ’s death is sufficient, once and for all, for every sin of those who trust in Him.

 

[Mercy Shown]

Why we Christians still have to struggle with sins?​

Why was Jesus able to have victory over them? Part of it was He was innocent and knew no sin, but as also a man upon the earth, He was tempted in all respects like us.

So what was His secret to His victory?

Great question. Scripture gives us a multi-layered picture of how Jesus had victory over sin, temptation, and ultimately over Satan. You’re right—part of it was His innocence (“He knew no sin,” 2 Cor 5:21), but His victory wasn’t automatic simply because He was divine. As the incarnate Son of Man, He fought the battle in our place and as our example.

Here are some key “secrets” to His victory, drawn from Scripture Sorry, but I love organizing my thoughts in outline format:

1. His total dependence on the Father

• Jesus repeatedly said He could do nothing “of Himself” (John 5:19, 30).
• His strength came from perfect fellowship and obedience to the Father’s will (John 4:34).

2. The fullness of the Holy Spirit

• At His baptism the Spirit descended and remained on Him (John 1:32–33).
• Luke 4:1 says, “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” His resistance to Satan came not from raw willpower but Spirit-empowered obedience.

3. Constant prayer and communion with God

• He often withdrew to pray (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16).
• In Gethsemane, prayer was the means by which He resisted the greatest temptation to shrink from the cross (Luke 22:41–44).

4. Reliance on the Word of God

• When tempted in the wilderness, He answered each temptation with “It is written” (Matt 4:4, 7, 10).
• The Word was His sword (cf. Eph 6:17).

5. Perfect love and obedience

• His heart was fully devoted to loving the Father (John 14:31).
• That love made obedience not a burden but a delight (John 8:29).

6. His identity as the beloved Son

• Satan’s temptations attacked His identity: “If you are the Son of God…” (Matt 4:3, 6).
• But Jesus rested securely in the Father’s affirmation: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt 3:17).

The great part of this is that I can learn some lessons from this in my struggle against sin.

1. Dependence on the Father → I must walk by faith, not self-effort

• Jesus said He could do nothing of Himself (John 5:30).
• We are called to the same posture: “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
• Victory comes not by gritting our teeth but by abiding in Him—drawing life from the Vine.

2. Fullness of the Spirit → I must must be filled with the Spirit

• Jesus lived and ministered in the Spirit’s power (Luke 4:14).
• Believers are told, “Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18) and “walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal 5:16).
• The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us (Rom 8:11).

3. I should be in constant prayer and communion with God → We pray without ceasing

• Jesus prayed often and intensely (Luke 5:16; Heb 5:7).
• Paul echoes that: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17). Prayer is how we stay connected to the Source of strength, especially in trial.

4. I must fully rely on the Word of God → We take up the sword of the Spirit

• Jesus defeated Satan with “It is written.”
• Believers are to let the Word of Christ dwell richly in us (Col 3:16) and take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph 6:17).
• The Word gives discernment, correction, and power to stand firm.

5. Submit to God for love and obedience → We love God and keep His commands

• Jesus obeyed out of love (John 14:31).
• We are told, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3). Love transforms obedience from drudgery into joy.

6. I must relize constantly that I am one of His beloved sons → We rest in our adoption

• Jesus stood firm in His Father’s affirmation.
• We too are called beloved: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1).
• Satan still tries to undermine our identity, but security in Christ shields us.

 

[Bro.T]

Allow me to outline your argument as I understand it. If I have mistaken any of your points, please correct me. The following is what I believe you were conveying.

1. Grace existed before Jesus came in the flesh​

• Example: Noah “found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Gen. 6:8).
• But Noah’s grace was not eternal salvation—it was deliverance from the flood.

---

2. Why Jesus had to come​

• Old covenant sacrifices (bulls, goats, temple rituals) could not take away sin permanently.
• Jesus came as the true sacrifice to put away sin once for all (Heb. 9:24–26).

---

3. The universality of sin​

• All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23).
• Justification comes freely by God’s grace through Christ’s sacrifice (Rom. 3:24–25).

---

4. The biblical response to grace​

• Repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name for forgiveness of past sins (Acts 2:36–38).
• Through baptism and faith in Christ’s blood, believers come under His covering and are saved from past sins—not present or future sins automatically.

---

5. Ongoing nature of salvation​

• Because people continue to sin daily, salvation is ongoing (“day-to-day”).
• Jesus gave access back to the “tree of life” (eternal life in Him), lost through Adam’s sin.

---

6. The law and its fulfillment​

• The “laws we no longer keep” are the sacrificial and priesthood laws.
• These were only a “schoolmaster” pointing to Jesus’ sacrifice (Gal. 3:24).
• Jesus fulfilled and replaced these with His own sacrifice (Heb. 10:4, 9–10).

---

7. Moral law still applies​

• God’s moral commands remain binding.
• To disregard them after receiving grace would be like being freed from prison only to break the same laws again.

---

8. Warning against willful sin​

• Jesus only died once; His sacrifice is not repeated.
• If a believer willfully and knowingly sins after coming to the truth, there is no more sacrifice left—only judgment (Heb. 10:26–27).

I am pretty much with you up until point 4. Acts 2:36–38, does not indicate that it is for past sins only, so that part of your argument is not supported by the text. This is the point on wich I will contend with you. As far as keeping God's law, we cannot keep it well enough to be saved but we can be saved to keep it well enough. Now onto the subject of sin: past, present and future.

The idea that Christ only died for our past sins diminishes the completeness of His sacrifice. Scripture teaches that Jesus’ offering was once-for-all and entirely sufficient: “By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Heb. 10:14). His blood “cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7), not just those already committed, and Paul affirms that God “forgave us all our sins” (Col. 2:13). Justification by faith is a settled reality that gives believers peace with God (Rom. 5:1), not a temporary condition revoked with each new failure.

Moreover, Jesus’ ongoing intercession (Heb. 7:25) ensures continual forgiveness and fellowship. If only past sins were forgiven, believers would need constant re-sacrifice or re-baptism, contradicting the finality of the cross. Grace does not excuse sin, but it does cover the believer fully — past, present, and future — so that we walk in the assurance that “where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Rom. 5:20). Christ’s death is sufficient, once and for all, for every sin of those who trust in Him.

If Jesus didn't come and die or become a sin offering for mankind, all of mankind would have been put in the lake of fire, including, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, etc. Paul says in Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. This is talking about the first and second death. I notice on this forum, most people don't talk about the second death, and that's the most important death to worry about. In the Old testament no matter how good you where or righteous you couldn't get away from that lake of Fire, which is the second death. Paul says in Roman 5: 17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

What people don't understand is that in the Old testament, even if you repent, you was still headed for the second death, this what a lot of Christians don't understand the importance of Jesus coming. So now when you repent and come under the blood of Jesus now (today), you also have the gift of the Holy Ghost. "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, "repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38).


Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. See, Adam brought both death. This is why the atonement was practice in Leviticus 16 and so important. They had to live in hopes of what we living in now, because Christ already came and died in our day. But in their time, they sins was always on them including the second death. That's why Paul says in Hebrew 10: For the law (what law, the law of animal sacrifice?) having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. Because animal can't take away sins. The Lord had Moses to use two scapegoats because they were practicing on what Jesus had to actually go through to remove the sins off of mankind for righteous.

Now, Paul says in Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Let's take a look in Isaiah 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? This is hard for most people to understand this, because people are not taught about the second death, and when they see the word death in the Bible, they looking at it as the first death most of the time. But let's get a verse out the Bible thats clean cut in Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Meaning that all the Prophets and righteous people back then, would have been in the second death.

Again Paul said in (Rom. 3:23-25) (v.23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (v.24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (v.25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. So the bible tells you to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

 

[Mercy Shown]

If Jesus didn't come and die or become a sin offering for mankind, all of mankind would have been put in the lake of fire, including, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, etc. Paul says in Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. This is talking about the first and second death. I notice on this forum, most people don't talk about the second death, and that's the most important death to worry about. In the Old testament no matter how good you where or righteous you couldn't get away from that lake of Fire, which is the second death. Paul says in Roman 5: 17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

What people don't understand is that in the Old testament, even if you repent, you was still headed for the second death, this what a lot of Christians don't understand the importance of Jesus coming. So now when you repent and come under the blood of Jesus now (today), you also have the gift of the Holy Ghost. "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, "repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38).


Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. See, Adam brought both death. This is why the atonement was practice in Leviticus 16 and so important. They had to live in hopes of what we living in now, because Christ already came and died in our day. But in their time, they sins was always on them including the second death. That's why Paul says in Hebrew 10: For the law (what law, the law of animal sacrifice?) having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. Because animal can't take away sins. The Lord had Moses to use two scapegoats because they were practicing on what Jesus had to actually go through to remove the sins off of mankind for righteous.

Now, Paul says in Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Let's take a look in Isaiah 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? This is hard for most people to understand this, because people are not taught about the second death, and when they see the word death in the Bible, they looking at it as the first death most of the time. But let's get a verse out the Bible thats clean cut in Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Meaning that all the Prophets and righteous people back then, would have been in the second death.

Again Paul said in (Rom. 3:23-25) (v.23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (v.24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (v.25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. So the bible tells you to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Romans 3:23–25 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.”

Some interpret this to mean Christ only died for past sins. But that misses Paul’s point. Paul highlights two things at once: (1) God’s justice required a payment even for sins before the cross, and (2) Christ’s sacrifice provides justification “for all who believe” (v.22), which is a present and ongoing reality. The reference to “sins committed beforehand” does not restrict the scope of the atonement but demonstrates that the cross reached backward as well as forward. If Jesus’ death only covered past sins, then believers would stand condemned the moment they sinned again. Yet Paul immediately stresses that justification is by faith apart from works of the law (v.28), meaning it rests on Christ’s once-for-all atonement (cf. Hebrews 10:12, 14). Therefore, Romans 3:23–25 is not narrowing Christ’s death to past sins but showing that His sacrifice is sufficient for all sins—past, present, and future.