Originally posted by C4K:
So you can lie, have premarital sex, and even murder as long as you ask forgiveness?
Technically yes, C4K. But two really major points are being ignored in that question. The first is that if one is born again in Christ, one has a new heart and is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and one will not be doing these things. Now, I'm not sure how you can 'slip' and murder a person, so let's leave that one out, but I do know that it is possible for a Christian to slip in other areas. But the response of a Christian is to be deeply ashamed before the Lord and ask for forgiveness. And, as John tells us, He forgives. And as Paul tells us in Phil. 1:6, God is faithful to finish the good work He began in us, so that 'slip' will be dealt with in HIS economy and discipline will be there (Hebrews 12). God will raise up His own and the incidences of sinning will be seen to decrease (although elimination is only part of the new creation!).
But the other thing that seems to be ignored by some here is that it is not sinning which sends a man to hell -- it is refusing Christ! He atoned for all the sins of all men, but there is one which cannot be forgiven -- suppressing the truth (Romans 1) which, since the Holy Spirit IS the Spirit of Truth, is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. And since all Truth is in Christ, and it is Christ who forgives, then walking away from the truth is walking away from Christ and thus walking away from the source of the only forgiveness possible. Thus, that sin cannot be forgiven, atoned for or not.
Now, in regard to the subject of the thread...
We are commanded to judge actions and words. Christ tells us that and our legal systems seem to agree.
But we may never, never, pronounce judgment on another person's heart. We might have a pretty good indication of what is going on there due to actions and words, but the heart is up to God.
We can reject teachings and wonder about the teacher. We can punish crimes and wonder about the criminal. We can put people out of fellowship for causing harm in one way or another, and wonder about the state of their souls. But we do not have the wisdom or authority to judge the condition of their hearts or their final destination for eternity.
I'm deeply hoping for some surprises in heaven, myself...