Bible Studies/Hi there

Advertisement

Expert: - 4/12/2010


Question
Hope your doing great! I want to know if you could help me something please - when you read the Bible there are parts that sound like if you commit that sin that it will have eternal consequences then.
Like the sin in Matthew 18:6 what about that? And also is there something like sin that can be forgiven like in the example above that can be forgiven but you still need to pay the consequence of it after you died even.
Thanks

Answer
I think that you hit the nail on the head. Many people like to think that if you are forgiven your sins that you avoid all consequences, but that is not true. For example, if a person has sex outside of marriage and a pregnancy results, after one in all sincerity goes to God to repent and seek forgiveness, the child will still be born and the consequences of that act will be eternal. There are many examples in scripture. This does not mean that we have anything to pay, or to pay the consequences, but it just means that the impact of some of things that we say and do carry on afterward. It is something that give us all pause to thing carefully about the possible importance of everything that we say and do.

So what does the forgiveness mean? Sin separates us from God, and sends us on the road to hell. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, it gave us the opportunity to have those sins wiped clean, and in so doing to clean the slate between us and God, allowing us to be restored to a right relationship with God; and thus by receiving Christ as Saviour to have His righteousness imputed to us, and change our destination for eternity from hell to eternity with God.

Bible Studies

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Tom Smith

Expertise

I am able to answer a wide range of questions regarding orthodox Christian theology as well as those of many of the more common cults and religious movements (inside and outside of the church). This includes Protestantism, Charismatic movement, New Apostolic Reformation, Strategic Prayer/Spiritual Warfare, Catholicism, Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, Calvinism, Reformed Church, Baptist Church, Pentecostalism, and Oneness Pentecostalism. I have been a member of or have attended many of the above. I have studied the beliefs and literature of the remaining through a variety of means, including in most cases interacting with members and/or leaders in these organizations. I also maintain a significant library/resource of information on these movements and organizations.

Experience

I have been a lifelong student of the Bible. In addition, I have been saved through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, and believe in the truth of God's Holy word in the Bible as the inerrant and infallible word of God. I have been a believer for over 43 years. Other qualifications include:

- Former member of the counril of a local church
- Speaker at the "Last Days Bible Conference" and other functions.
- Researcher into religious movements and cults (maintain website with information on some of these movements and cults)
- Member of the Apologetics Coordination Team

I hold to the view that the Bible is inerrant and infallible, and I belief that the Bible is our sole authority on matters of faith and doctrine (Sola Scripture, Sola Fide).

Organizations
Apologetics Coordination Team (http://op.50megs.com/act/) Network of Christian Apologists in Calgary (http://www.whyjesus.ca)

Publications
Website, accessible by means of http://discern.ca or http://www.religioninfo.org; and Audio files of talks at Last Days Bible Conference available at http://ldbc.ca

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.)

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.