The Unconfessed Sin
Exploration of faith and forgiveness
The Tuesday Night Bible Study at the Channel of Grace Worship Center constantly challenges me. Still, this week’s session, led by our lead pastor, Bishop Kenneth Harper, left me with some philosophical thoughts I’ve been wrestling with for the past few days.
We tackled a question that many of us have probably asked ourselves before: If you’re saved but sin and die before you can repent, do you go to heaven or hell? Talk about a heavy topic that gets right to the heart of our faith!
Let me tell you, this sparked quite a lively debate in our congregation. We had folks flipping through their Bibles faster than you can say “Amen,” quoting scripture and sharing personal insights. Seeing everyone engaged with God’s Word and wrestling with these deep spiritual truths was beautiful.
First things first, we all agreed that salvation is a gift from God, not something we earn through our own efforts. Ephesians 2:8–9 (NLT) beautifully puts it, “8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” This passage is pretty consistent across different biblical translations, emphasizing that salvation comes from God’s grace, not our actions. It’s a humbling reminder that we can’t earn our way into heaven — it’s all about God’s love and mercy.
But then we got into the nitty-gritty. What about those sins we commit after we’re saved? We’re human, after all, and we all stumble occasionally, at least I do! Some of us might think about 1 John 1:9 (KJV), which states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The NIV version is similar but uses “purify” instead of “cleanse,” giving it a slightly different feel. Either way, the message is clear: confession and repentance are crucial in our ongoing relationship with God.
This verse suggests that confession and repentance are crucial for maintaining our relationship with God. But what if we sin and don’t repent before we die? That’s where things got really interesting, and the discussion heated in November in Maryland!
In digging deeper into our post-bible study discussion, I turned to Romans 8:38–39 (NLT): “38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below — indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This passage comforts me. It suggests that God’s love for us is unshakeable once we’re saved. Even if we slip up (and let’s be real, we all do), His love remains constant. It’s like a spiritual safety net, catching us when we fall.
However, some of our members raised the importance of living a life reflecting our faith. James 2:14 (NLT) asks, “14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?” This verse reminds me that true faith should lead to a transformed life. It’s not just about saying we believe but about living out that belief in our day-to-day actions.
Let’s remember the final judgment parable of the sheep and the goats from Matthew 25:31–46. In this story, Jesus separates people based on how they treated “the least of these.” It’s a powerful reminder that our faith should manifest in how we treat others, especially those in need.
The Final Judgment
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
But my post-bible study journey didn’t stop there; I also explored Romans 6:1–2 (NLT), which says, “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” This passage emphasizes that while God’s grace is abundant, it’s not a license to sin freely. Instead, our salvation should motivate us to turn away from sin and live righteously.
As I continued digging deeper into this discussion, I was led to 1 Corinthians 3:11–15 (NLT), which talks about our works being tested by fire on the day of judgment. It suggests that while we may be saved, our actions still matter and will be scrutinized. This brought an important layer to my study, highlighting the importance of living a life that reflects our faith.
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have — Jesus Christ.
12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials — gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
We can’t ignore the powerful message in Hebrews 10:26–27 (NLT) either: “26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.” This verse is a sobering reminder that grace is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for habitual sin.
Throughout our discussion, Bishop Harper emphasized the importance of repentance, righteous living, and God’s incredible mercy and grace. We may not have all the answers about what happens in those final moments, but we can trust in God’s character — that He is both just and loving.
I completely trust that God’s grace is sufficient and transformative. It’s meant to change us from the inside out, guiding us to live lives that honor Him. I hope this resonates deeply with many of us, reinforcing that while we are saved by grace, grace calls us to a higher standard of living.
So, what’s my takeaway from Tuesday night’s powerful Bible study discussion? Here’s what I’m walking away with: Our salvation is secure in Christ, but it’s not a license to live recklessly. Instead, it should inspire us to live in a way that reflects our gratitude for His sacrifice. We must continually seek God, repent when we fall short, and trust His boundless mercy.
God’s love is bigger than our mistakes, and His grace catches us when we stumble. Let’s keep seeking, growing, and loving, knowing that our faith journey involves continual transformation and deeper understanding.
It’s a Great Day to Be Alive!
Todd C. Pittman
Disclaimer: This article represents my personal views and understanding and does not necessarily reflect the beliefs or positions of the Channel of Grace Worship Center.
