Some preachers rationalize "sinful Christians" by saying that Jesus died for ALL our sins... past, present and future!
I had a Christian friend who told a dirty joke. I told him that Christians were to be Christlike. His response was "Jesus died for that sin 2000 years ago!" Did He?
1 John 1:7 "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."
The answer is emphatically "Yes!". Jesus did die for ALL our sins... even future ones! Now, that's grace! Albeit, it is "grace", it is NOT a ticket to sin!
Romans 3:25 "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"
"Faith in his blood" (your salvation) is for all PAST SINS. Salvation means that you have repented:
Jesus himself said Luke 13:3 "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.".
Therefore, repentance is a condition of salvation. You have to be sorry! It's not that you only believe in Jesus, you must feel contrition for having wronged him by being a sinner (follower of Satan).
Right now; although Jesus died for sins you did long ago; yesterday, today, tomorrow and in times to come; you must not only endeavor to not sin, but if you do, you must continually ask for forgiveness when you do sin.
Confusing? Not really. We all continue to sin because we're of the seed of Adam. Even after we become Christians we still wrong our Father. God not only expects us to quit sinning, but desires us to ask for forgiveness when we do! Will we go to hell if we don't? That's contentious. Many disagree. However, Christians don't put God in a box. Some believe that we can go on sinning and get a lesser "crown" in heaven. Others believe that a life of "living in the flesh" (living for pleasure) will eventually lead to apostasy, the rejection of Jesus and a trip to hell.
Regardless, both groups of people do believe in self-control and repenting of ones sins as they occur.! If we fail to practice Christlikeness as a result of salvation, we fail to understand the concept of "justification". Justification is payment for our sins by the shedding of Christ's blood done by grace although we deserve death, and cannot save ourselves. Although that's not the dictionary definition, that's how it works! By sinning after we're saved, we're minimizing Christ's death and that's disrespectful to his sacrifice. "Justification", by the way is not "just as if we'd never sinned", but that "we sinned and Jesus' blood made the payment because we were sinners".
An analogy might be: Joe steals $1,000,000 dollars from his employer, Joshua's Company and frivously spends it on pleasurable activities. Joe gets caught by Joshua. Joshua loves Joe enough that in spite of the stealing, Joshua not only forgives Joe, but says "I will pay this back myself! I don't want you to go to jail. I want you to start over with a new life. This is your chance!" Joe feels really badly about treating Joshua badly by stealing so Joe makes a heartfelt apology and a promise to live a new life beyond reproach.
However, Joe is weak. He's stolen a long time and is tempted often because items are readily available. His friend, Stan, encourages him to forget Joshua and just take what he wants! Joe relents and steals "just a $100 bill" from Joshua. Joshua knows this, but he loves Joe enough that he wants to give him every chance in the world to succeed! Joe starts stealing more and more. After awhile Joe forgets the love and forgiveness of Joshua and goes right back to major theft. Joe not only disrespects what Joshua did for him, but now trivializes what Joshua did for him.
Likewise, a Christian who lives in the flesh, trivializes Jesus' love and sacrifice of himself! Does that Christian deserve eternal life? No! Has he condemned himself? Some say "yes", some say "no". However, I wouldn't gamble my eternal hope on an interpretation of Scripture which has proponents on both sides. I would change my life! We'll find out which doctrine was correct when we get to heaven, but until then, all that matters is that we love and honor Jesus and what he did for us.
Folks who argue over contestable doctrine have too much pride. They are today's Pharisees. Although I believe in living a sanctified life and that we can apostasize, I must realize that I have pride in my belief. Likewise, others who oppose this thought must examine the pride which they have in their own hearts regarding their interpretation.
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