Are We Forgiven Past, Present, and Future?

After writing We Need It: Repentance, several readers asked where the Bible teaches that a Christian’s sins are forgiven past, present, and future. Great question!

When we genuinely come to Christ, all of our sins—past, present, and future—are legally forgiven.(1)

Genuine believers still sin, still need to repent, still face earthly consequences, and still experience God’s discipline (1 John 1:8-10; Hebrews 12:4-11). But when we stand before God at the final judgment, we will be counted “sinless” because we have genuinely followed Christ (John 3:16).

“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14

Please note that this verse says Christ-followers are perfected, i.e., legally sanctified (holy, sinless) before God. Nothing else is required to save us.(2) 

However, in our earthly life we are “those who are being sanctified.” Genuine believers are participating in a lifetime process of "working out our salvation" (Philippians 2:12).

If we die suddenly before asking forgiveness for a sin, we know we'll stand sinless before God, but we prove that we're genuinely saved by taking our sins seriously here on earth.(3)

💙Beyond 1-minute for those who want more:

(1) Here are some additional Scriptures showing Christ has paid for all of our sins.

Hebrews 7:27: "Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself."

Hebrews 9:11-12: "Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever." 

(2) Our desire to obey God isn't what saves us, but it's a sign that we are saved. Anyone who continues to live a sinful lifestyle proves they are not saved. Anyone who refuses to repent of their sins proves they are not saved.

1 John 2:4: "Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person." 

1 John 1:8: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." 

(3) The Apostle Paul explains this lifetime process of sanctification.

Philippians 2:12-13: "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."

Philippians 3:12-14: "I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

For more clarification see Saved - Past, Present, Future.

FREE E-BOOKLET:

Why not add some more of God's Word to your schedule by having a 1-minute devotion like this one delivered to your email each weekday. Sign up for a free subscription to Bible Love Notes and get a free e-booklet that will help you add joy and depth to your Quiet Time. Find out more HERE.

 

Bible Love Notes