Proof: You were only forgiven of your past sins!

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Zachary

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At the moment you were born-again …
you were only forgiven of the sins you had committed up to that point in time!

“For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness,
and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his OLD sins.
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call
and election sure, for IF you do these things you will never stumble;
for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:9-11, NKJV)

“OLD sins” is also in the KJV, RSV, NLT, AMP

“having forgotten his purification from his FORMER sins.” (2 Peter 1:9, NASB)
“FORMER sins” is also in the ESV

“forgetting that they have been cleansed from their PAST sins.” (2 Peter 1:9, NIV)
“PAST sins” is also in the HCSB

Now for some confirming NT passages …

Paul wrote this to the Corinthian church concerning his words of rebuke
in 1 Corinthians that he had sent to them concerning some particular sin(s).
They really needed to be sorrowful and repent.

“… the pain (from his rebuke) caused you to repent and change your ways.
It was the kind of sorrow God wants His people to have, so you were not
harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience
leads us away from sin and results in salvation. … worldly sorrow, which lacks
repentance, results in spiritual (eternal) death.” (2 Corinthians 7:8-10, NLT)


“Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence.
And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins.
You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality,
and eagerness for lustful pleasure.” (2 Corinthians 12:21, NLT)


Peter is warning believers about God’s destruction of all ungodly and unholy people:
“Then he used the water to destroy the ancient (ungodly) world … the day of judgment,
when ungodly people will be destroyed. … He is being patient for your sake. He does not
want anyone to be destroyed (perish spiritually), but (he) wants everyone to repent.
… what holy and godly lives you should live … (you) make every effort to be found living
peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. … I am warning you ahead of time
… Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors …” (2 Peter 3:6-17, NLT)


John gives the condition for the Lord to forgive believers’ present sins:
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all wickedness (unrighteousness).” (1 John 1:9, NLT)
This is an extremely important verse … all men need to be repeatedly purified from all
unrighteousness – from all their sins … We must confess our sins and turn from them
… We must also confess them with our actions … (John) is talking here about repentance
… we must hate our sins and turn from them. This is true repentance.
(The Applied New Testament Commentary; Dr. Thomas Hale)

2 verses later, John reminds believers to ask Jesus to plead our case before the Father:
“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before
the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.” (1 John 2:1, NLT)


Believers are responsible for repenting of their sins after they are born-again!
They have been given the Holy Spirit, a totally new nature, and God’s word.
So, they have been enabled to be victorious overcomers over sin, the world,
and the devil. They have no excuse for failing to do this.
 
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VictoryinJesus

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At the moment you were born-again …
you were only forgiven of the sins you had committed up to that point in time!

“For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness,
and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his OLD sins.
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call
and election sure, for IF you do these things you will never stumble;
for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:9-11, NKJV)

“OLD sins” is also in the KJV, RSV, NLT, AMP

“having forgotten his purification from his FORMER sins.” (2 Peter 1:9, NASB)
“FORMER sins” is also in the ESV

“forgetting that they have been cleansed from their PAST sins.” (2 Peter 1:9, NIV)
“PAST sins” is also in the HCSB

Now for some confirming NT passages …

Paul wrote this to the Corinthian church concerning his words of rebuke
in 1 Corinthians that he had sent to them concerning some particular sin(s).
They really needed to be sorrowful and repent.

“… the pain (from his rebuke) caused you to repent and change your ways.
It was the kind of sorrow God wants His people to have, so you were not
harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience
leads us away from sin and results in salvation. … worldly sorrow, which lacks
repentance, results in spiritual (eternal) death.” (2 Corinthians 7:8-10, NLT)


“Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence.
And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins.
You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality,
and eagerness for lustful pleasure.” (2 Corinthians 12:21, NLT)


Peter is warning believers about God’s destruction of all ungodly and unholy people:
“Then he used the water to destroy the ancient (ungodly) world … the day of judgment,
when ungodly people will be destroyed. … He is being patient for your sake. He does not
want anyone to be destroyed (perish spiritually), but (he) wants everyone to repent.
… what holy and godly lives you should live … (you) make every effort to be found living
peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. … I am warning you ahead of time
… Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors …” (2 Peter 3:6-17, NLT)


John gives the condition for the Lord to forgive believers’ present sins:
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all wickedness (unrighteousness).” (1 John 1:9, NLT)
This is an extremely important verse … all men need to be repeatedly purified from all
unrighteousness – from all their sins … We must confess our sins and turn from them
… We must also confess them with our actions … (John) is talking here about repentance
… we must hate our sins and turn from them. This is true repentance.
(The Applied New Testament Commentary; Dr. Thomas Hale)

2 verses later, John reminds believers to ask Jesus to plead our case before the Father:
“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before
the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.” (1 John 2:1, NLT)


Believers are responsible for repenting of their sins after they are born-again!
They have been given the Holy Spirit, a totally new nature, and God’s word.
So, they have been enabled to be victorious overcomers over sin, the world,
and the devil. They have no excuse for failing to do this.

“former”
“Old”
“Past”
...what is behind.

2 Corinthians 5:17
[17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Does a new creature sin?
 

VictoryinJesus

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Ideally, No. Practically, Yes.

As the OP states: “Proof you are only forgiven for past sins.”

A new creature (created in Christ by God) does not sin. And never will. There is no sacrifice remaining for a new creature. “only forgiven of past sins”. A new creature does not belong to this world but is under God.

Ezekiel 11:19-21
(The new creature) [19] And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: [20] That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (the old) [21] But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord God .

God will recompense on their “own heads”, as for the new creature created in Christ: the recompense was on their head which is Christ. It is finished.

As the OP states “Proof you are only forgiven for past sins.” What is past has passed away, all is new. There is no sacrifice for the new creature created in Christ. Hebrews 6:4-6
[4] For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, [5] And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, [6] If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Ezekiel 36:27-28
[27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them . [28] And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

If God said it then it will not fail. The new creature created in Christ does not sin.
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
 
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Zachary

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As the OP states: “Proof you are only forgiven for past sins.”
A new creature (created in Christ by God) does not sin. And never will.
You are directly contradicting John who said several times
in 1 John that the believers he was writing to do indeed sin!
I thought all believers knew that fact.
 
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VictoryinJesus

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You are directly contradicting John who said several times
in 1 John that the believers he was writing to do indeed sin!
I thought all believers knew that fact.

I’m well aware of the conflict. I experience it too. But, careful, in saying a new creature created in Christ sins...meaning sin will carry on into the new creation. To imply all remains under Adam instead of under Christ rule. God says sin will be no more in the new creation; no more raging seas. Peace.

Ephesians 2:8-12
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. [11] Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; [12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Philippians 3:17-21
[17] Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. [18] (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: [19] Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) [20] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: [21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Hebrews 11:15-16
[15] And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.(to the old) [16] But now they desire a better country , that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Philippians 2:4-5
[4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. [5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
—how can you look on the things of others while you mind what you came out of and left behind as if you desire to return to the old? If you are always minding the flesh instead of mindful of the power and Spirit of God.

Consider: your OP shows there is no forgiven sins (future) in a new creature...all has been made new in Christ. Don’t dirty it by calling what is created in Christ unclean.
 
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Dave L

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The way I understand is we have eternal life. In this we are a new creation with a desire for holiness and a bias against sin. We normally do not sin outwardly. But we battle impure thoughts, memories, and imaginations. These remain temptation and not sin unless we indulge them. But if we sin, God will forgive those who repent. If we do not repent, God will chastise us. The Corinthian brother who had an incestuous life style eventually repented. But only after Paul turned him over to Satan for the destruction of his body so he would no longer sin but go to heaven.
 
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Episkopos

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The way I understand is we have eternal life. In this we are a new creation with a desire for holiness and a bias against sin. We normally do not sin outwardly. But we battle impure thoughts, memories, and imaginations. These remain temptation and not sin unless we indulge them. But if we sin, God will forgive those who repent. If we do not repent, God will chastise us. The Corinthian brother who had an incestuous life style eventually repented. But only after Paul turned him over to Satan for the destruction of his body so he would no longer sin but go to heaven.

We are being prepared and trained for an eternal life in God's presence. There are many things to overcome in these bodies and in this world in preparation of that. We will fail at times...even with the best of intentions. Jesus is there to help us through these trials and tribulations.

I think that if a person lives long enough after an initial walk in the holiness of the first time in the Spirit...impurities are bound to come to the surface. This is nothing to be panicky about. That is God doing the purifying in us. In fact, the more deeply we are called to holiness the more God will raise the temperature, so to speak, to bring these impurities out.

So we must be careful how we judge others...if at all.

Sometimes the person who is struggling just has a deeper calling than a person who seems to never struggle at all.
 
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Dave L

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We are being prepared and trained for an eternal life in God's presence. There are many things to overcome in these bodies and in this world in preparation of that. We will fail at times...even with the best of intentions. Jesus is there to help us through these trials and tribulations.

I think that if a person lives long enough after an initial walk in the holiness of the first time in the Spirit...impurities are bound to come to the surface. This is nothing to be panicky about. That is God doing the purifying in us. In fact, the more deeply we are called to holiness the more God will raise the temperature, so to speak, to bring these impurities out.

So we must be careful how we judge others...if at all.

Sometimes the person who is struggling just has a deeper calling than a person who seems to never struggle at all.
I look at it this way. When we die, the soil erases all of the bad. Our spirit goes to heaven where we become perfect. On the last day God resurrects are new spiritual bodies and reunites us with them.
 

Episkopos

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I look at it this way. When we die, the soil erases all of the bad. Our spirit goes to heaven where we become perfect. On the last day God resurrects are new spiritual bodies and reunites us with them.


That's quite the theory!

We are to be perfected here...in these mortal bodies. We are being perfected in the soul...the part that is "us".

Our bodies die...our spirits return to God...but what is to be judged...is what the soul has become. So then the word of God and the spiritual walk are there to help in the saving of our souls.
 
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Dave L

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That's quite the theory!

We are to be perfected here...in these mortal bodies. We are being perfected in the soul...the part that is "us".

Our bodies die...our spirits return to God...but what is to be judged...is what the soul has become. So then the word of God and the spiritual walk are there to help in the saving of our souls.
If you are perfect, you will not be tempted.
 

Episkopos

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If you are perfect, you will not be tempted.


Jesus was tempted but He always overcame it.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet he did not sin.
 
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Dave L

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Jesus was tempted but He always overcame it.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet he did not sin.
Jesus is God. How can Satan tempt God? How about tempt = tested

27.46 πειράζωa; πειρασμόςa, οῦ m; ἐκπειράζωa: to try to learn the nature or character of someone or something by submitting such to thorough and extensive testing—‘to test, to examine, to put to the test, examination, testing.’

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 331). New York: United Bible Societies.
 

Episkopos

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Jesus is God. How can Satan tempt God? How about tempt = tested

27.46 πειράζωa; πειρασμόςa, οῦ m; ἐκπειράζωa: to try to learn the nature or character of someone or something by submitting such to thorough and extensive testing—‘to test, to examine, to put to the test, examination, testing.’

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 331). New York: United Bible Societies.


Aha! So you don't see Jesus as a real human being?

It usually comes down to this...

Most "believers" have a real difficulty with Jesus. They stumble over either His divinity...like the Jews...or His humanity...like so many believers.

But Jesus gives us His divine nature at regeneration. After that we are just to put on Christ...to walk EXACTLY as He walked.

That is what is written in the word.

Are you still walking in the power of the flesh? Then you will die in your sins.

Strive to put on Christ...and remain IN Him.
 
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Dave L

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Aha! So you don't see Jesus as a real human being?

It usually comes down to this...

Most "believers" have a real difficulty with Jesus. They stumble over either His divinity...like the Jews...or His humanity...like so many believers.

But Jesus gives us His divine nature at regeneration. After that we are just to put on Christ...to walk EXACTLY as He walked.

That is what is written in the word.

Are you still walking in the power of the flesh? Then you will die in your sins.

Strive to put on Christ...and remain IN Him.
Jesus is God in person. He has a fully divine nature and a fully human nature (without sin).
 
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Episkopos

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Jesus is God in person. He has a fully divine nature and a fully human nature (without sin).


And we are called to put on Christ. A disciple is not above His Master. But when a disciple is fully trained....he shall be just as His Master.

Do you know who said that?

Hint: it wasn't Yoda.
 
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Episkopos

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Jesus is God in person. He has a fully divine nature and a fully human nature (without sin).


Not only do you deny the maturity in holiness of the disciple of Christ....but ALSO you deny any natural righteousness on the part of men who have a heart that is without guile.

A double step into error.

You are flying too low and can't discern that many unbelievers are actually flying higher than you are.
 
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Dave L

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Not only do you deny the maturity in holiness of the disciple of Christ....but ALSO you deny any natural righteousness on the part of men who have a heart that is without guile.

A double step into error.

You are flying too low and can't discern that many unbelievers are actually flying higher than you are.
You don't understand that God uses the wicked flesh to form our character. If it was refined, we would not have character.