“I’ll just sin now and ask for forgiveness later.” Have you ever been tempted with that thought?

The deceitfulness of sin tells us that we can go ahead and sin even though we know it’s wrong, then we can ask God to forgive us and that’s all there is to it! But that’s rebellion against God and you can’t be both rebellious (determined to go your own way) and repentant (turning to go God’s way) at the same time. But there’s an even bigger problem with this kind of thinking. What is it?

Also, in today’s post, read about chocolate-covered dirt, foolish talk, and dirty jokes.

Today’s Readings:

Isaiah 57 & 58
Psalm 114.1-8
Proverbs 26.22
Ephesians 5.1-15

Can I Sin Now & Ask for Forgiveness Later?

Isaiah 57 & 58:

Abusing God’s Patience & Mercy

In chapter 57, God, through the prophet, is rebuking his people for their continued turning to and reliance on false gods. He poses the question, “Is it not because I have held My peace from of old that you do not fear Me?” We might say it this way, “Do you keep sinning because I haven’t been hard enough on you?”

Is that true of us? Do we abuse God’s patience and mercy by thinking we can live any way we want in the belief that He isn’t going to deal with sin and faithlessness? Hebrews 3.13 says:

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

The deceitfulness of sin tells us that we can sin now and ask for forgiveness later, even though we know it’s wrong as if asking for forgiveness involves some magic incantation or get out of jail free card. That’s rebellion against God and His Word. We can’t be both rebellious (determined to go our own way) and repentant (turning to go God’s way) at the same time.

Genuine Repentance

That’s not to say that we don’t sin and later experience genuine repentance. God certainly forgives us when we do. I’m speaking here about a person who calculatingly plans to sin while thinking he or she can simultaneously plan to ask for forgiveness later.

There are other times when we understand the choice to sin will have consequences. Yet we can be like a stubborn, rebellious child, determined to do it anyway and just “take our licks.” The problem is that, while we can choose to sin, we don’t get to choose our consequences.

A Bigger Problem

But there’s an even bigger problem with this thinking. It may be an indication that we’re not really saved. Oh, we may have “prayed a prayer” or “walked an aisle” or “gone forward at youth camp,” but if we were never genuinely broken over our sin (not just tired of the consequences), if we never really had saving faith, and if we weren’t regenerated by the Spirit of God (2 Cor. 5.17), we’re not saved.

Genuine salvation will produce the fruit of a changed life. It may not happen all at once and it doesn’t look the same in every life, but change should be apparent and growth should be continuous. John the Baptist said, “… bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Lk. 3.8).

And in Matthew 7.21-24 Jesus said:

21 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. 22 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?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

“Many,” Jesus said, “… will say on that day” (the day of judgment), “Lord, Lord, …” But I will say, “I never knew you“ (you never really had a relationship with me) “depart from me …”

2 Corinthians 13.5 says:

5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

Do you see fruit in your own life? This doesn’t mean perfection. Christians can and do sin at times. But is the direction of your life one of growth? And do you experience conviction when you sin?

If not, ask God for His help and seek godly counsel. Don’t wait!

Today’s Other Readings:

Psalm 114.1-8: 

Even Creation

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
At the presence of the God of Jacob,
Who turned the rock into a pool of water,
The flint into a fountain of waters (vv. 7-8).

Even creation obeys the voice of God.

Proverbs 26.22:

Chocolate Covered Dirt

The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body.

One problem with gossip is that it “tastes” so good. Most of us have this appetite to know the “dirt” on someone else. It’s what fuels the sale of tabloids and gossip magazines. But it’s not just the racks at the supermarket that entice us with the latest gossip. It can be our friend or co-worker. It can even be disguised as something spiritual, “Pray for so-and-so …” But gossip by any other name and no matter what the justification is still sin.

Ephesians 5.1-15:

Foolish Talk, Dirty Jokes, Uncleanness, Covetousness & Filthiness

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them (vv. 3-7).

Notice that God puts sins of the tongue right in the middle of almost every list of sins, along with, in this case, uncleanness, covetousness, fornication, and idolatry!

So let’s examine our lives today. What does the fruit of your life and mine look like? What is the fruit of our lips and the attitude of our hearts toward God and others?

Coming Up:

In the next few days, we’ll talk about angry children, hypocrisy, the armor of God, and more.

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Blessings as you grow in Christ,

Donna ♥

Note about this post:

I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer. 

A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”

I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.