For instance, a person accepts Jesus as the payment for their sins. they believe in him now, but still have chosen to keep stealing things. They live a lifestyle of stealing. Will God let that person into heaven even though they did not truly repent of their sins?
2007-09-25 06:50:01 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Please include Bible verses. Thank you
2007-09-25 06:50:55 · update #1
Just to let you know, I am Christian. I had an idea that was not of God yesterday, but the reason I didn't post It up was because I didn't want you to judge me.
2007-09-25 06:55:08 · update #2
Exodus 20:15
Thou shalt not steal.
1 John 3:4-9
4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
That person has not truely repented of their sins. Jesus told the woman who was caught in adultery "Go and sin no more."
If this person born of God he can not sin because the spirit of God is in him.
James 1:15
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
2007-09-25 07:37:27 · answer #1 · answered by Old Hickory 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with most of the previous Yahoo members: if one has truly accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior then their life goals should be identical to His. Since "Thou shalt not steal," is one of the ten commandments, stealing is obviously not part of God's plan. Now, the Bible is the word and God and it is pretty clear about what happens to a person if he or she keeps on sinning after accepting Jesus:
26If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
~Hebrews 10:26-27 (New International Version)~
However, God is a God of grace and mercy and He knows the hearts of everyone. I can't say whether or not a person who keeps on stealing will go to Heaven because only God knows that. It's His decision and His alone. I hope I was able to help.
God Bless!
2007-09-25 14:22:47 · answer #2 · answered by Kori spelled backwards is Irok 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I don't see how this is possible. A truly born again Christian does not "choose" to keep sinning. We sin, yes, but it's not something we get up in the morning and say, "I don't care what God's word says, I'm going to steal today, and tomorrow also". This would be a person who has no idea what repentance, and following Jesus, means.
2007-09-25 13:54:10 · answer #3 · answered by Esther 7 · 7⤊ 1⤋
Everybody sins, that is one thing that God makes perfectly clear throughout the entire bible. He gave Jesus to us to pay for our sins so that we could go to heaven. This does not make us any less human, so we are still going to sin. However, God can see into our hearts and knows if we really love him and want to change. Although outward actions can mean alot on earth and help us along with our inward struggles, God looks at our heart to judge us.
2007-09-25 14:34:56 · answer #4 · answered by Kisses & Hugs 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the person sincerely placed his faith in Christ as Lord, then his lifestyle will reflect a changed life. One follows the other. That is not to say that Christians are without sin; rather, when Christians sin, they will be bothered and convicted. Th idea is to stop the sin.
Given your hypothetical situation, I would question whether or not the person was actually sincere in giving his life to the Lord.
Nevertheless, the imputed righteousness of Christ covers all sins and saves the soul, except for blasphame against the Holy Spirit.
2007-09-25 13:56:29 · answer #5 · answered by BowtiePasta 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋
If one continues to sin without asking for forgiveness and repenting after accepting Jesus, they are in fact putting their eternal life in danger. There is no "once saved always saved" in the bible. Salvation is an on going process, not just saying " i believe in Jesus" and bam your off the hook, it doesnt work that way,there is alot more to one's salvation then just saying something. One must work on their salvation daily, seeking forgiveness and repentance, and being sincere in your relationship with Jesus.. If you love Jesus you will keep His commandments.
Scripture teaches that one’s final salvation depends on the state of the soul at death. As Jesus himself tells us, "He who endures to the end will be saved" (Matt. 24:13; cf. 25:31–46). One who dies in the state of friendship with God (the state of grace) will go to heaven. The one who dies in a state of enmity and rebellion against God (the state of mortal sin) will go to hell.
"As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13)."
2007-09-25 14:00:49 · answer #6 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You know the verse where Jesus says " Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matt 7:21-23
By that alone...He is refering to people who actually did the work of the church..preachers, teachers, apostles..etc. So if God can look on them...and say that they practiced lawlessness and tell them "I NEVER knew you"...then I would guess that the 'average everyday saint' who keeps stealing stuff...(obvious lawlessness) needs to think about that.
The bible says "go and sin no more" and Paul talked about how grace was not license to sin....
all that said...do you really want to bank your salvation on getting clemency for something inane like....downloading iTunes?
2007-09-25 14:08:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Paul speaks about this in the NT. How important repentence is! When someone is truly saved, they are changed, renewed. They are given a new heart in Christ....they no longer DESIRE to steal--- Paul speaks about this about how we are NOT to go on sinning. Of course we can fall into sin at times, but this is a struggle, not something we believe we are going to be ok to do, because we are forgiven--- that is taking God's grace for granted.
Hebrews 10:26
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,
1 John 3:6
No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
Romans 6:1-4
1What shall we say then?(A) Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2By no means! How can(B) we who died to sin still live in it? 3Do you not know that all of us(C) who have been baptized(D) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were(E) buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as(F) Christ was raised from the dead by(G) the glory of the Father, we too might walk in(H) newness of life.
-sin is now something we struggle with, but do not deliberately keep doing- does that make sense?
If someone says "It's ok if I sin, because I am forgiven" -- they do not understand the grace of God, and therefore their conversion was false.They do not know God if they want to keep sinning. If I fall into sin, I am convicted, and I feel HORRIBLE. I know when I am in the wrong and I do NOT want to sin. I hate sin! See the difference? I want to please God and live for Him- God has changed me, and I do not have a taste for sin at all. Sin disgusts me. I want to live for the Lord!
2007-09-25 14:04:17 · answer #8 · answered by Mandolyn Monkey Munch 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If they did not repent they are doing no more than kidding them selves.
15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked
2007-09-25 14:03:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The wicked should stop doing wrong, and they should stop their evil thoughts. They should return to the Lord so he may have mercy on them. They should come to our God, because he will freely forgive them.
Isaiah 55:7
When people are tempted, they should not say "God is tempting me." Evil cannot tempt God, and God himself does not tempt anyone. But people are tempted when their own evil desire leads them away and traps them.
James 1:13-14
If you hide your sins, you will not succeed. If you confess and reject them, you will recieve mercy.
Proverbs 28:13
2007-09-25 13:59:15 · answer #10 · answered by Mommabear 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋