R.C. Sproul | – Will Christians who have been forgiven answer for their sins in judgment?

To be a Christian is to be forgiven. But will we still have to answer for our sins? From one of our live ask Ligonier events, Sinclair Ferguson looks at the final judgment. When you have biblical and theological questions, just ask Ligonier. Visit [support us]

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Ligonier Ministries Ligonier Ministries is an international Christian discipleship organization founded by theologian Dr. R.C. Sproul in 1971 to equip Christians to articulate what they believe, why they believe it, how to live it, and how to share it. Proclaiming God’s holiness is central to Ligonier’s purpose. Ligonier produces Renewing Your Mind radio broadcasts, the Reformation Study Bible, Tabletalk magazine, books through the Reformation Trust Publishing division, and various teaching series. It also offers academic degrees through Reformation Bible College. In addition, Ligonier hosts national and regional conferences, offers an online learning community through Ligonier Connect, streams twenty-four-hour Christian internet radio through RefNet, and makes available thousands of unique discipleship resources online at Ligonier.org. Ligonier Ministries

Comment (31)

  1. In my struggles with sin, I always fear the consequences when standing before the Lord. Though I do not live in this sin, it sometimes rears its ugly head. I am thankful for the grace of God that both grants me God's unmerited favor, and his guidance from day to day.
    I always say, the good that is done through me is the Spirit of God at work. I can only take credit for my sin.
    It is by grace through faith alone. I am ever grateful for his mercy, that is renewed every morning.

  2. Keep in mind that in the the book of Romans, Paul in a absolute sense, contrasts being justified through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ rather than the law. Since we are justified by grace, Ro 3:24, let us look at how grace justifies a person.
    Titus 2:11-12 KJVS
    [11] For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
    Grace teaches/chastises through suffering. See 12th chapter of Hebrews and 1 Pe 4:1&2. In order for a member of the body of Christ to be made righteous, work needs to be done, not by the man but by God through the Spirit.
    1 Corinthians 6:11 KJVS
    [11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
    Galatians 5:5 KJVS
    [5] For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
    Romans 8:3-4 KJVS
    [3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: [4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

    http://www.justifiedfreely.com

  3. We all answer for our sins.. The consequences are intrinsic to the sin..There is no escape..Except that we Repent. You cannot be saved from sin until you stop sinning! Jesus Righteousness Does Not Cover ours. Jesus Came to Teach us and Help us Not to Sin..and gave us Forgiveness in the meantime..because He knew this would be difficult. When we Obey Jesus Sayings and Seek Jesus and His Righteousness..as He asked us..He will Give us everything we Need and Deliver us from evil." The question is: are you Humble enough to Do it Jesus Way? Or are you looking for easy ways, substitute ways, and excuses?

  4. its a great shame that this man does not read another parable of the Lord in Matthew chapter 24v42-51, where he distinguishes between the faithful and the blessed servants , and the evil servant, who says in his heart, my Lord delays his coming, and begins to beat his fellow servants and eat and drink with the drunken, The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he is not aware of and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth

  5. I think that in some mysterious way, the degree of our faithfulness as believers will somehow translate to the degree to which we can enjoy Christ in heaven. Edwards taught something similar- that everyone’s joy will be full, but some will have the volume of a thimble and others a lake. Praying for Gods grace to remain faithful daily!

  6. A false convert won't be forgiven. Luke warm Christans will be judged. Someone hasn't truly repented let go of their sin will perish. Repent or perish . I never knew you depart from me you who practice inquity. Was talking to people that follow Christ cast into hell on judgment day . Not everyone who says Lord Lord shall enter heaven.

  7. Adam sins. The tree of life is removed. Death is eminent. He goes on to live 930yrs. Gift or Punishment? Had sin NOT entered into the World, this might be a penalty. But, with sin now pressing in from every side, on all that God had called good, we see the death of Adam as an act of God's lovinglindness. His mercy. His grace towards the 1st sinner. Yet, we have no record of Adam's repentance. Go figure. Amen. I'm SK & I Approve This Message (ATM) Amen

  8. There is no such as "sin", "law", "condemnation" and "judgment" today. These are concepts perpetuated by Christianity who suffer from a crisis of identity as a result of falsely reading themselves into the Bible audience and making its ancient history, their modern history.. 

    "Sin" was a religious term under a religious law and the only religious law was that pertaining to Ancient Israel. We are not Ancient Israelites. I know I'm not.  And that law was made obsolete by Jesus when he removed sin from Israel. once-and-for-all, through himself. Sin is not imputed by God to anyone today. Christians don't believe this because they don't believe what Jesus did through the Cross (and also His Mediation as High Priest, and his role as Judge) was all fulfilled by AD 70. They have hijacked the Israelites' old covenant identity of sin-law-condemnation-death identity "in Adam".   

    No, Jesus removed sin from Israel, just as Daniel predicted (Dan 9:24). He set the Jews free from the condemnation of the law (Rom 8:1-3) 

    By removing sin in himself (as we know from Hebrews 9-10), Jesus was the end goal of the law for righteousness. Righteousness was gifted to the man of Israel through Christ Jesus. This is what made the law obsolete. No man would ever again be held culpable by God, for wrong-doing and it be charged by God to his account as a de facto "sin". Then, because there is no law, there is no sin anyway,  Conversely, no imputation of sin exists, because there is no law anyway. God would never again see any man (or woman) according to that old covenant identity "in Adam".  God made all dead to Adam, and made all alive with Christ (Rom 6:1-6) and they had to believe it, to make it real in their lives..   

    Today, as Sons and Daughters of God (Acts 17:28) we are all under a universal ethic of Unconditional Love. As Sons of God we are self-accountable. This is because, as Sons, we are led by our Spirit and not by our flesh and ego  Our Spirit is one Spirit with Christ in God (Spirit).

    We all get things wrong, that is true, but not as "sin" under "law". Rather we do harm to ourselves or to our neighbour. And we do wrong because our minds are fallible and finite. God knows this. He knows we are learning from our wrongs. Our children get things wrong all the time and this is a normal part of their growth, but we wouldn't dream of judging and condemning them because of it. Same with us and God. God wouldn't dream of judging and condemning us because of it. We are His Children and we are learning from our wrongs. (Or, at least we should be!)

    No, getting things wrong is a natural part of human growth and development, implicit to beings who will always be fallible.

  9. What an ego, this guy actually thinks he knows what happens after we die. Not only that, he thinks he knows how god (if there is a god) will look upon EVERY human being after death. The world would be a much better place without these self important gas bags.

  10. If You Have Been Forgiven For Your Sins Why would Almighty GOD Make You Answer For Them ? If You Owe me a hundred Dollars And I Forgive You The Debt ! Do You Still Owe me A Hundred Dollars ? No ! And When Almighty GOD Forgives Your Sins They Are Completely Forgotten !

  11. In Christianity a perfect lie was born and much blood was shed. Many suffered for not agreeing to add coin to the church and many more died very brutal deaths simply for not sharing the same belief…still today, non-christains are been prosecuted in many ways and settings. Where is god who swore that he would care for us like the birds of the field? Well, ask the birds, no one is "providing for them". Time to wake up and take responsibility for yourself — not rely on a lie.

  12. This is an absolutely erroneous teaching, and whosoever walks in it will not make heaven at last. Justification applies ONLY to sins the preceded redemption..see Romans 3:25. By the Scriptures, salvation is a journey, not an end…and no man or woman can cross the gates of heaven with an unrepented sin. Nothing that offends enters heaven. A believer who continues in sin only tries to crucify Christ the second time, with all eternal consequences. The soul that sinneth shall die, and that spiritual death – and that applies to believers.

  13. Yes, for with sin, there is both Eternal and temporaral punishments, such as King David, who was forgiven, but punished for his sins by having his firstborn child die to Bathsheba.
    Here on earth, we can atone for the temporaral punishments due to our sins, ( 1 Perer 4:8, Daniel 4:27, Proverbs 16:6, James 5:20), as Jesus Christ our Great and Kind God and Savior, teaches, "Give alms and all shall be clean within ", ( Luke 11:41), as we must all strive for that holiness without which no one shall see the Lord, ( Hebrews 12:14), for after death, we shall each be held accountable for every careless word we have uttered and shall be judged as we have judged others, ( Matthew 12:36, Luke 6:37,48), for after death, some shall suffer loss and be saved Only as through fire, ( 1 Corinthians 3:15), where the Spirits of the just are MADE PERFECT,, ( Hebrews 12:14). Peace always in Jesus Christ our Great and Kind God and Savior, He whose Flesh is True food and Blood True drink

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