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If you are born-again, you will not be held accountable for your sins on judgment day; Y’shua has all of them covered. However, that does not blot out the consequences of your sinful behavior here on earth. Simply put, “You can escape eternal condemnation for your sin, but you cannot escape sin’s earthly ramifications.” Said another way, “You may not be punished for your sins, but you will be punished by your sins!” words that represent both a sigh of relief and sober warning. And let’s be clear; there can be no relief without Christ. Absent a contrite heart and genuine repentance, your sins destine you to eternal condemnation and earthly suffering.
So, what is the subtle nuance here? When one comes to Christ, the born-again encounter is a result of a heart-change inspired by the gift of grace through faith and evidenced by repentance and confession. A contrite heart is proof of true repentance and God’s promise to all those in Christ—you are forgiven! He covers all the eternal consequences of your transgressions and you are permitted to live with God forever! In other words, “You will no longer be punished for your sins.”
However, you are not relieved of the potential devastating consequences that sin causes in this life, even when you are forgiven by God. Think of it this way; in God’s economy there are no small sins and no big sins. Any sin not covered by the blood of Y’shua will land you in eternal damnation. However, here on earth, the more serious the sin, the more serious the consequences. And here’s the rub. This is true even if those sins have been erased into eternity because you’ve repented and been forgiven.
On earth your sins have a cost. Steal bubble gum and you are condemned to hell without Christ, but here on earth, nothing will happen. Commit adultery, repent through Christ, experience His forgiveness, and your marriage is still devastated. Plus, you just might bring a child into a very damaged situation. The sin itself is the consequence. In other words, “You are punished by your sins.”
Why such a dire warning? Because although God wants you to experience the significant relief, and confidence, and certainty that in Christ your sins are forgiven, He also wants you to be horrified by the prospect of continuing to sin. And if you are a Christian, don’t see the consequences of sin on earth as God’s condemnation, nor is it necessary to carry the burden of those sins for which you have been forgiven. That is not the point! It’s best to rest in God’s forgiveness, even when sin has caused difficulties and struggles and turmoil on this side of eternity, and rather see this as a sobering warning of sin’s consequences! As a Christian, you will not be punished by God for your sins, but here on earth, your sin itself is the punishment!
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