Expert: Joe Norman - 11/3/2009

Question
We are sorry, but Onaga Thomas wasn't able to answer your question:

Back on 11-08 you answered a question about forgiveness of willing sin.  "Paul told us there is no condemnation (judgement, penalty, awaiting wrath of God)to those who are IN Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)." was part of your answer.  This brought on a question.  I was under the impression we are told that at judgement, we will be held accountable for every thought, word, and deed done in our lifetime.  So how does this fit together.  I understand the asking for the forgiveness of our sin and repenting, and being covered by the blood of Christ, however, we will still have to "own up to it" at the day of judgement...right?  This really gets me confused.  Also with the guilt.  I ask for forgiveness, yet I feel guilty that I let God down by sinning especially if it is continual, and ask for strength and acknowledgement of what I am doing.  However, it is hard to change since I am a guilt ridden person by nature. How do I overcome this?  Please provide scriptures that will help me with this weakness.  Thank you so much.


Joe - I was reading some question & answers and this one is one I struggle with and it provoked this question.  Can you please help me understand?  Thanks so much

Answer
Hi again Deb,

I will do my best to help you here. Many people do not truly understand what takes place on judgment day. Many assume we are not even judged until that day, but this is not the case at all.
We are already judged as sinners the very moment we understand right and wrong and do wrong. This is what is called the "age of accountability".

Judgment day is NOT the day the trial begins but the day the sentence is given. This is true in our human courts even today. When the judge issues his sentence, that is called judgment day. If the person under trial was found innocent, the judge on judgment day will declare all charges dismissed and the person is free to go. If he is found guilty, that person is given punishment.

When we become Christians, we are IN Christ and we are no longer seen as sinners in God's eyes. Do we still sin after becoming a Christian? Yes we do, but there is a big difference between occasionally committing a sin and living a sinful life. Here are some scriptures that might help you understand better.

1 John 1:5-10
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

This passage has so much in it to absorb. Walking in darkness is walking in a sinful way of life. We must always strive to walk in the light as Jesus is in the light. This means living as best we can without sinning. But here is the key in the last part of verse 7. The blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin AS WE WALK IN THE LIGHT. This doesn't mean we have no sin, but rather it means as long as we are not living in a sinful manner but only occasionally sin, our sins are cleansed by Christ's blood. When we realize we have sinned, we must confess and God will forgive us and cleanse us. Yet I am convinced that if we don't realize we have sinned or if we die before we are able to ask forgiveness of a one time sin, we are still cleansed from it because we were not living a sinful life.

Does that make sense to you? I really hope so because I am not sure I can explain this any better. But let me leave you with another passage of the Bible.

Rom.5:15-21
15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I hope this passage above is something you can understand. The free gift which came from Christ Jesus is is being declared as righteous which results in eternal life or salvation. We cannot earn this gift. Also this gift results in repairing mankind's relationship with God.

Finally, I ask that you study Romans chapter 6 carefully (the whole chapter). This talks about being IN Christ and dying to sin. My thoughts and prayers are with you. May God bless you in your growth as a Christian. If there is anything else I can do to assist you, please let me know.

In Christ, Joe Norman