We are continuing our summer series on questions of the faith.  Yesterday we examined how to defeat temptations in God’s power when they come our way.  What if you don't?  Consider the consequences.  Our secret sins will be judged by God: "God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:14).  Jesus warned us: "There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs" (Luke 12:2-3).

Our words will be judged: "I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken" (Matthew 12:36-37).  After listing all sorts of unconfessed sin, Peter declared that those who do such things "will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead" (1 Peter 4:5).

What will happen to them?  "His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light.  It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work…If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames" (1 Corinthians 3:13, 15).

Ungodly, unconfessed sins, thoughts, or words will be revealed at the judgment and burned away.  Because heaven is perfect, these things cannot enter in—they must be burned off and destroyed.  Sin is purged, and reward is lost.

What if it's too late?  You fought temptation in your strength, and lost.  Now you stand guilty before the holy Lord of the universe.  We’ve all been there: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8).  Here's what we do: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (v. 9). Take your sin to your Father now.  Admit your wrong, repent of your failure, and ask his forgiveness.  Claim his promise to forgive your mistakes and sins, to wipe the slate clean and remember your failures no more.

Does God's forgiveness mean that we can simply sin and confess, then sin and confess more?  Not without consequence.  I can drive a nail into wood, and you can pull it out—but the hole remains.  Obedience refused can never be regained.  Reward for faithfulness is lost forever.  God forgives, but the pain of our sin still hurts.

Nonetheless, we can be forgiven by the One whose Son died in our place to pay our debt: "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).  Guilt is not of God.  Our Father loves every member of his family.  And we are still his children, even when we don't act like it.

Grace is getting what we don't deserve; mercy is not getting what we do deserve.  Our Father in heaven offers both.  Do you need to open his gift of forgiveness today?

Tomorrow: What is the unpardonable sin?

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