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From: pellegri@ittral.UUCP (Dan Pellegrino)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: A question for Paul and others
Message-ID: <475@ittral.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Nov-84 13:09:17 EST
Article-I.D.: ittral.475
Posted: Mon Nov 12 13:09:17 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 13-Nov-84 08:23:12 EST
Lines: 32



> A man who has sinned his whole life can be saved at the
> last minute by accepting Christ and trusting in his mercy.
 
> Doesn't this imply that a Christian never really needs to do
> anything good and is free to be as evil as he feels, as long
> as he repents before dying?


God will forgive those that are TRULY repentant, regardless of the type or
magnitude of their sin.  By TRULY repentant, I mean from one's heart (not the
blood-pumping organ).  It is man who looks at the outer appearance.  God
looks at the heart.  Insincere word or actions do not fool God.  I don't think
that one who commits premeditated sin throughout one's life, intending to
cash-in on God's mercy later, would be TRULY repentant.  God cannot be conned
and there are no loop holes in His commands.  God knows the heart of each of us,
he knows our every intention.  

Another point is that there will be the time when every person must stand
before the judgement seat of Christ and give account of his actions.  Judgement
will be made based upon the knowledge that the person had at the time of the
particular action being judged.  Two may have sinned in the same manner - one
with full knowledge of his sin and another in ignorance.  Each has indeed
sinned but the one with knowledge is far more accountable.

Those who knowingly sin and try to pull one over on God are in for a big
surprise.  They are definitely playing way out of their league.


Dan Pellegrino
ittvax!ittral!sysdev!pellegri