Many people ask this question: ‘If someone knows they are going to paradise,
can they just do whatever they want, yet still be saved?’
We find the answer in the Bible: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we (Christians) who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Injil, Romans 6:1-2).
Jesus’ death and resurrection were the focus of God’s perfect plan to save sinners AND SET THEM FREE FROM SLAVERY TO SIN. The Bible says that the moment a person sincerely puts his trust in Jesus Christ and receives Him as Saviour and Lord, three great things happen:
1. He is saved (or set free) from the penalty of sin: God forgives all of that person’s sin. God is just and fair. He must punish all the wrong things we do. But Jesus took the punishment that we deserve. The price has been paid. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Injil, Romans 8:1).
2. He is saved (or delivered) from the power of sin: God gives that person a new heart. Then He comes to live in it through His Holy Spirit. The person starts to look at life in a radically new way. He now hates sin and loves what is true and right. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The Bible also says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23). These things will start to characterize that person’s life because he has been made new and clean on the inside.
3. He shall be saved (or freed) from the presence of sin. One
day Jesus Christ will come back to judge the world. On that day, He will punish those who rejected Him, but those who trusted in Him and followed His commands will be rewarded. He will deliver them from the presence of sin.
So anyone who says ‘I am forgiven and can do anything I like,’ cannot be a real Christian, since there is no evidence that the Holy Spirit is working in his life.
Will you be there?
My friend, God has given us a way to be saved from slavery to sin and from His judgment; a way to paradise. In paradise there is no sin, so there will be none of the sad and bad things that make life on earth so tough. This is what Jesus says to everyone who believes in Him: “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (Injil, John 14:2-3). You can see why no Christian is afraid of the Day of Judgement! In fact Christians look forward to Jesus’ return. On that day He will send to hell all those who refused His free offer of salvation, but He will take His people home to paradise.
Jesus lived the blameless life that you and I should have lived, and He succeeded where you and I have failed. People mocked Him. They crucified Him. Yet all this fulfilled God’s plan to rescue us from sin. Sin was undone. Sin was defeated. When sin came to into the world everything became disorderly; work became toil, life ends in death. But that was put right at the cross. The whole equation was solved. Adam’s fall was put right. The last Adam (Jesus) reversed the whole process. He succeeded where the first Adam had failed. He triumphed where the first Adam had fallen and sinned. It is because the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we have the promise of resurrection day. It is because of the cross that at last there will be a place devoid of sin, and therefore devoid of sickness and death for the followers of Jesus. It all happened at the cross.
Will you confess your guilt to God and give your heart and life to Jesus Christ? Once you do that (like that thief), God promises to give you a new heart… and to reserve a place for you in paradise!