Knowing that future sins are forgiven is a common question and concern for many Christians. The Bible provides encouraging truths about God’s grace and forgiveness that can bring assurance to believers worried about sins they may commit in the future.
First, it’s important to understand that all sins – past, present and future – can be forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ. When we put our trust in Christ, we are completely justified before God (Romans 5:1). This justification is not just for the sins we’ve already committed, but for the sins we will commit in the future as well. God’s grace is sufficient to cover all our shortcomings.
Romans 8:1 says “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This verse confirms that Christians are free from condemnation for their sins – even sins committed after conversion. As long as we remain “in Christ”, trusting in Him, we can have confidence that grace covers our sins.
Does this give us a license to sin freely? Absolutely not. Paul addresses this question in Romans 6, explaining that followers of Christ should not continue in sin but instead live righteous lives out of gratitude for God’s mercy. However, when we do stumble and fall, forgiveness and cleansing are available to us (1 John 1:9).
God’s grace is so abundant that He made provision for our future failings. His mercy endures forever and His love never fails (Psalm 100:5, 1 Corinthians 13:8). Unlike human love and forgiveness which have limits, God’s forgiveness is bottomless for those who belong to Him.
Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was sufficient payment for all our sins – past, present and future. Hebrews 10:10 says “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Note the emphasis on “once for all.” Christ’s death does not just cover sins up until the moment of conversion. It sanctifies believers for their whole lives the moment they trust in Him.
As Ephesians 1:7 expresses, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” According to the riches of His grace, all our sins are forgiven – even those future sins that we cannot yet foresee.
God’s grace is linked to His omniscience. He exists outside of time and can see our lives from beginning to end. Our future is known to Him. And in His love, He offered us redemption for all our sins – past, present and future – through the blood of Jesus. What amazing grace!
Some additional verses to meditate on about future forgiveness include:
- Psalm 103:12 – as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us
- Isaiah 43:25 – I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
- Micah 7:18-19 – He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
God knew we would stumble and fall, even after becoming Christians. But He loved us enough to make a way for all sins to be washed away through Christ’s redeeming blood. As believers, we do not need to be haunted by future sins. We can have confidence that His grace is sufficient to cover whatever mistakes lie ahead.
This does not mean future sins have no consequences. We may still have to face discipline ornatural outcomes for choosing to disobey God (Hebrews 12:5-11, Galatians 6:7-8). But our relationship with the Lord remains intact. We do not lose our salvation each time we sin. He remains faithful even when we are unfaithful (2 Timothy 2:13).
By God’s grace, our eternal security is not compromised by sins we have yet to commit. As Romans 8:30 affirms, “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” Our glorification is so certain that Paul speaks of it in the past tense.
Does this truth motivate you to take sin lightly? On the contrary, knowing the depth of God’s love and mercy should compel us to live in holiness and obedience. The more we grow in relationship with Jesus, the more we see sin as He does – and the less we desire it (1 John 3:6-9). Our hearts change as we encounter His grace.
When doubts or worries arise over future sins, remember these key truths:
- Jesus died once for all sins – past, present and future
- God’s grace is deeper than any mistakes we could make
- There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ
- We are justified and secured by faith from start to finish
- Freedom from sin comes through relationship with Christ
The accuser wants us to doubt God’s love and the sufficiency of the cross. But Scripture gives reassurance that for believers, all sins are covered – even those committed after conversion. As Hudson Taylor said, “Our Father has forgiven us already for the sins we have yet to commit.” Through faith in Jesus, we can cling to this astonishing grace.
Now, what should be our response to this grace? Should we abuse it and keep sinning more freely? Paul provided a strong rebuttal to this attitude in Romans 6:
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)
True grace results in a transformed heart that hates sin and desires holiness. Our lives characterized by obedience and gratitude, even though imperfect. Despite stumbles along the way, the trajectory of a Christian’s life points toward increased Christlikeness through the Spirit’s work.
As J.I. Packer explained, “The true Christian hates sin not primarily because of fear of hell, but because he sees it as an insult to his Savior’s sacrifice and a contradiction of his better self.” Our response to grace and forgiveness should be a forsaking of sin inasmuch as possible, knowing we have security in Christ when we fall short.
Additionally, we must avoid using grace as a license for carelessness. Paul confronts this attitude as well:
“What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” (Romans 6:15)
God’s abundant grace is not a free pass to live complacently in sin. Rather, it empowers us to walk in righteousness, knowing Christ’s redemption covers us when we stumble.
So in summary, Christians can have full assurance that future sins are completely forgiven through trusting in Jesus Christ. This grace is freeing and empowering. It motivates grateful obedience while covering failures along the way. We do not need to anxiously wonder whether we’ve exhausted God’s mercy for the future. The cross is more than sufficient for all our sins – past, present and future.
As Jude 1:24-25 declares, our faithful God is able to keep us from stumbling into sin and will present us blameless before His throne. What joy and hope this brings!
“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”