Sin and Asking Forgiveness

He knows it is a terrible sin. Yet he thinks it is ok.

He has to repent and not visit that sin again. He needs to turn to God and ask for forgiveness and mercy and sin no more. Its not an easy road we walk on. Its one that the devil has laid many traps on for us!

God bless you, and him.

Phil99 said:

If I were to die today, how do I know that the sins that I haven't repented from are forgiven? A

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By exercising your faith in God's promises

I think he already knows the answer to this question.

There are two parts to this question. a) "If I were to die today, how do I know that the sins that I haven't repented from are forgiven?", and b) what about your friend who is committing adultery unrepentantly.

First, a Christian is 100% saved by grace. If I sin today, I am forgiven, while I maintain faith in Jesus. So the question if you died today, and had faith in Jesus you would be saved. Even if you had committed 5 sins during the day.

This might seem counter-intuitive, we know instinctively that if we sin there is a judgment. So how does faith, and works work together?

The fact is that sin leads to a hardening of the heart. We are warned in Hebrews of this. When we sin, we take on a form of spiritual blindness. If we persist in willful, deliberate sin, we can become blind to the fact that faith saves us. This is how we lose salvation. The bible says it this way:

2Th 2:11 And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:

Faith is all about believing, it is what you believe that ultimately saves, or damns you, but your works work hand in hand with bringing salvation.

Gal 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

As for your friend, he needs to repent and turn from his sin. Jesus says:

Rev 3:16 So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

If he does not repent God may send him the "working of error", and he will become blind.

Phil99 said:

If I were to die today, how do I know that the sins that I haven't repented from are forgiven? And are there opinions on the types of sins that may keep us from Heaven if unrepented? Jealousy versus murder. I know those are two extremes, but the question came up when talking with my friend. He is a Christian and knows that having an affair is wrong, however he doesn't want to stop. But, he is also concerned about his salvation. I tried to explain that if we have a repentant heart towards God with our actions, that is really important. If we know what God is telling us and actively sinning without remorse or care to repent, is that different than just a sin that we fall into out of weakness? I honestly didn't know what to tell him though about him having an affair....and what if something were to happen to him....how would God view that sin when it comes to him going to heaven or hell?

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In respect of your friend, scripture tells us there is no place in Heaven for him, unless he ceases his adulterous behaviour and asks God to forgive him for committing the sin of adultery.

As far as the other is concerned, I think it could be argued that we all sin in some shape or form each day, and we wouldn't necessarily be aware of it.

If we think about what the Lord said regarding what we should be considering when we pray, He used catchall terminology.... "forgive us our sins as we forgive those that have sinned against us"......, so He wasn't suggesting we ought be referencing specific sins as such, just 'all' sins we have committed 'this' day as well as those from our past.

That's not to say it is wrong to pray about any specific wrong doings we have done of course. In fact I would suspect that if we use specifics in our prayer, God might feel more confident that we are learning the lessons.

I think it is good for us to remember that we are saved from God's wrath by our faith in Jesus, and that faith was given us because of God's graciousness.

Phil99 said:

If I were to die today, how do I know that the sins that I haven't repented from are forgiven? And are there opinions on the types of sins that may keep us from Heaven if unrepented? Jealousy versus murder. I know those are two extremes, but the question came up when talking with my friend. He is a Christian and knows that having an affair is wrong, however he doesn't want to stop. But, he is also concerned about his salvation. I tried to explain that if we have a repentant heart towards God with our actions, that is really important. If we know what God is telling us and actively sinning without remorse or care to repent, is that different than just a sin that we fall into out of weakness? I honestly didn't know what to tell him though about him having an affair....and what if something were to happen to him....how would God view that sin when it comes to him going to heaven or hell?

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If he truly is a Christian and a child of God, then...

Hebrews 12:6-8 NKJV
[6] For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." [7] If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? [8] But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

IOW, he can't game God and God WILL show him the answer one way or the other.

Much good advice is given here in trusting God; however, I would emphasize that a soul ONLY IN JESUS CHRIST will be saved for Heaven (note John 14:6; Romans 8; Galatians 2:20; etc.). That means a personal relationship with Him and making Him Lord of one's life. Its all about that relationship and not religious beliefs, practices, and intellectual ideas.

Our sins are all forgiven if we trust that the Lord Jesus paid the price for Heaven and we have Him in our heart ---which means 'walking and talking with Him' daily. Such a one will be "sealed" by the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.