If our sins are forgiven, then why not continue in sin?

As Christians, our past, present and future sins are completely forgiven, because Jesus Christ has already made sufficient payment for our sins. The fact that we are saved, and our sins are forgiven does not mean we can live anyhow we want. Many of our fellow Christian brethren, thinks that if our sins are forgiven, then it implies that we now have the liberty to lead a licentious lifestyle. But such thinking is erroneous and it stems from a wrong understanding of the eternal nature of our forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Cavilers will always cavil against what the bible really teaches respecting the blessedness of the forgiveness of our past, present and future sins.

You are truly forgiven of all your sins

The moment we trusted in Christ for salvation, all the benefits of the redemptive work of Christ, including perpetual forgiveness of our sins was deposited into our account. The precious blood of Christ has wiped away every debt we owe, for in Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace, see (Ephesians 1; 7). Not that we will have, no, but in Christ we have forgiveness of sins. This means that even when we sin, we have forgiveness and this blessing avails not only in our present, but continues into our future, throughout our Christian journey. In the book of Hebrews, it is also written: And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more (Hebrews 10: 17). The question is, why will God remember no more, our past, present and the sins we are yet to commit? The answer is that God has already imputed our sins on the body of Christ and punished him on our behalf. Jesus Christ stood as our substitute, and paid the debt we could never pay of ourselves. Because Christ death propitiated God's wrath against sin and satisfied his justice, therefore God no longer remember our sins anymore. In Christ Jesus we are forgiven beyond measure. 

In the book of Romans, it is written: Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account (Romans 4: 7- 8). In the verse eight, it says: Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account." The Greek word for "not" is ''ou me'' which means, " not at all, never, in no wise". It has a double negative strengthening the denial. This means that we are forgiven, and God will never, will in no wise take into account any sin we have committed, whether in the past, present or the ones we are yet to commit. For a detailed study of this important subject matter, you can read my article; "Is it true that our past, present and future sins are forgiven? and it will be a great blessing to you.

Shall we sin that grace may abound?

Unfortunately, many Christians thinks that when we believe that our sins are forgiven, then it means we can continue to live carelessly and still be saved. Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Romans anticipated this same objection, and he asked a rhetorical question: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? And in the verse two he answered his question by saying, "May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6: 1-2). Though we are saved and forgiven, but God forbid that we will ever take advantage of the grace of God to lead a wanton lifestyle.

 We are dead to sin, which means that the domineering power of sin have been broken over our lives. In our unregenerate state, we were dead in sin, but having been born again we are now dead to sin. Jesus Christ has rescued us from prison, from what held us captive, and we will never go back to the same prison that kept us bound. Does that mean we cease to sin as Christians? Certainly not, we will struggle with sin for as long as we dwell in this earthly tabernacle, but the good news is that our heart of stone has been taken away and we now have a heart of flesh, in whom the Spirit of God lives, and our heartfelt desire now is to live for the One who died as our substitute.

A doctrine according to godliness 

Jesus Christ did not wash away our sins, so we can live to please ourselves, but saved us and forgave us of all our sins, so we can live for the glory of God. We have  the person of the Holy Spirit in us who enables us to bear the fruit of the Spirit, see (Galatians 5; 22). Before, we were devoid of the Spirit, so we lived a loosed life, but have been regenerated we now live to please the one who loved us and gave himself for us. This doctrine does not produce licentious living, no, rather it produces godliness. 

If you know how much you are loved and forgiven by God, if you know what Jesus Christ went through in order to secure your salvation, I don't think any Christian in whom the Spirit of God dwells will turn the grace of God into lasciviousness. A proper understanding of this glorious doctrine will birth forth in you a deep love for the One who gave himself for you. This teaching is a teaching according to godliness. However, those who claim to be Christian's and yet there is no distinction between them and the heathens out there in the way they conduct themselves, should examine themselves to see whether they are truly in the faith. Beloved in Christ Jesus, our past, present and future sins are forgiven, but does that give us the freedom to live anyhow we want? Certainly not, our heartfelt desire is to live for Jesus Christ alone. 

A thought to ponder

Those who claim to be Christian's and yet there is no distinction between them and the heathens out there in the way they conduct themselves, should examine themselves to see whether they are truly in the faith

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