Question from a WordTruth.Com friend:
>>> Is it true that once you have accepted Christ as your Savior and then
>>> willfully sin, you will not be forgiven (see 1 John 3:6)?WordTruth.Com Response:
No, this is not true. The verse you refer to reads: "whoever sins has neither seen Him [Christ] nor known Him" (1 John 3:6, NKJV). Later in that same chapter, the Bible says, "whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in Him and he cannot sin..." (1 John 3:9, NKJV). These are difficult to understand because the English translation does not fully explain the meaning of the original Greek words. Basically it means the Christian will not "continue to sin".The answer is that once you have turned from sin and put your trust in Christ you become a child of God (John 1:12), a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), holy and blameless before God (Ephesians 1:4), and receive eternal life (John 3:16). There is no undoing what our LORD Jesus Christ has done for you! Eternal life is forever. Refer to John 5:24 -- once you cross over the bridge [Jesus Christ] there is no going back.
Now also it is true that Christians sometimes sin. Sometimes they sin in big ways. But your sins have been forgiven at the cross of Calvary 2,000 years ago. When God forgave you in Christ, He forgave all your sins. Your position before Him is holy. On a practical level, you do not learn to follow Christ perfectly the moment you trust in Him. It is a day by day experience of walking with Him. When you stray or fall into sin, the Bible says to the Christian: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9, NIV).
When the Christian sins, he/she does not become disowned from the family of God -- you are still a child of God. Sin breaks your fellowship with God but not your union with Him through Christ. Nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ!
May God bless you with His wisdom and the courage to follow Jesus!
Randy Lariscy :-)
Director - WordTruth Ministries
Our Creator God loves you and wants you to know Him! If you would like to contact this ministry for further information or questions, please send your e-mail to:
Email: ministryrequest1@WordTruth.Com
Web Site: WordTruth.ComCopyright 4/28/2002, Randy Lariscy.
