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I'm reposting @ToBeLoved's (excellent) question since there were 159 posts in between it and the original comment I made.
Has God forgiven a person their sins before they are saved?
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
(John 3:16-18, 1984 NIV)
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
(James 2:19, 1984 NIV)
1. What is different between these two kinds of belief?
2. What is the event (or events) that are required for a human to be saved? (A change of heart would be an event.)
3. Do the event(s) affect our legal standing with God or his heart for us (or both)?
4. What is it exactly that happens (at the point one accepts God's unmerited gift of salvation) that makes a person change from unsaved to saved?
5. Would it be true for a Christian to tell a non-Christian that his or her sins have been forgiven?
All sin debt has been paid.I'm reposting @ToBeLoved's (excellent) question since there were 159 posts in between it and the original comment I made.
Has God forgiven a person their sins before they are saved?
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18, 1984 NIV)
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:19, 1984 NIV)
1. What is different between these two kinds of belief?
2. What is the event (or events) that are required for a human to be saved? (A change of heart would be an event.)
3. Do the event(s) affect our legal standing with God or his heart for us (or both)?
4. What is it exactly that happens (at the point one accepts God's unmerited gift of salvation) that makes a person change from unsaved to saved?
5. Would it be true for a Christian to tell a non-Christian that his or her sins have been forgiven?
I think this is wrong.We might ask - from what are we saved? And even another question - from Whom are we saved? First of all, we are saved from the righteous judgment of God. God is loving, kind, and gracious, and He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23). But, He does judge, because He is the righteous and holy Judge, and He must punish the sinner. He cannot let rebellion against His Holy Law go unpunished. If He did, then how could He be just? Therefore, God's righteous judgment is upon all who break the Law: all who are sinners. To be saved, is to be saved from the righteous judgment of God. It means to be saved from the damning work of condemnation, that God will impose upon all who have not found forgiveness in Christ.
I think the perspectives in this thread can be boiled down to one of the following:But that does not mean that someone's sins are forgiven.
Look in Romans 5, 6 and 7I think the perspectives in this thread can be boiled down to one of the following:
1. Some people consider it a legal transaction which occurred when Jesus died—that is when the payment was made. But a person that does not yield to the Lord cannot experience that gift. God will not force a person to yield to him, even though he is forgiven.
2. Other people consider it a condition of God's heart, such that He knows the price has already been paid, but people are not forgiven by him until they genuinely believe in him.
I need to study Scripture to see if I can find verses that make it clear which interpretation is justified. I don't yet have verses off the top of my head. From what I understand at the moment, I conclude that Scripture backs up #1 and not #2. That is, at the point of salvation, the change is in us (we believe) rather than in God (he decides to forgive), because God had already decided to forgive when he sent Jesus to earth. Jesus' death then fulfilled the necessary legal requirement, but God's heart for us didn't change. God is love.
There is a question that needs to be asked...not my pov, but a common theological question.Yes Jesus provided salvation once and for all for every person who ever has or ever will exist . The question is who believes and accepts this free gift to be covered by the blood of the Lamb of God .. Either let Jesus pay for your sin or pay your own debt ..
I think this is wrong.
Saying God must punish the sinner is not really correct. What actually happens is sin separates God and man. God being righteous, just and holy cannot abide in sin. So mankind, being sinful must be cleansed of their sin to reside and be reconciled back to God.
Jesus is our Advocate wtih the Father because Jesus GIVES US His righteousness. He imputes His righteousness to us and He can do that because He conquered and overcame sin, through His living a life on earth and having no sin.
We are righteous and just and able to be reconciled to God because of Jesus imputing His righteousness to us and the Father is well pleased with the Son.
Your first part is correct only in that God because he is righteous will save man.
and that man must be cleansed of their sins...your right...what about those who refuse to do so?
Your right Jesus is our Advocate...the key word there is OUR....He's not the sinners advocate...
We are not righteous, none of us are. Christ is,He is the author and finisher of our faith. Everything that happens with us and to us in our lives as Born Again servants of God...Is because of HIm. Because it's not about us. It's all about Him.
We are that just either. How many times have you judged someone incorrectly...I would say you have in your post...judged incorrectly. Christ, never is wrong. He judges, righteously and with authority. God judges, righteously, Authority and with wrath. We are only made worthy through Christ.
I didn't say that Jesus is the Advocate of those who are not saved. I'm not sure where you got that from.
Amein.I was agreeing with you.
He is our advocate, right?
He just isn't the advocate of those lost in this world, who rebel against Him. If they stand before God in their sins...they will face an Angry God....alone.
I was agreeing with you.
He is our advocate, right?
He just isn't the advocate of those lost in this world, who rebel against Him. If they stand before God in their sins...they will face an Angry God....alone.
I was agreeing with you.
He is our advocate, right?
He just isn't the advocate of those lost in this world, who rebel against Him. If they stand before God in their sins...they will face an Angry God....alone.
So you do not consider yourself to be a sinner?Your first part is correct only in that God because he is righteous will save man.
and that man must be cleansed of their sins...your right...what about those who refuse to do so?
Your right Jesus is our Advocate...the key word there is OUR....He's not the sinners advocate...
That brings up an interesting point. Will god be happy or sad that He has to sentence those who are still dead in their sins to eternity apart from Him?I think He would be sad rather than angry.