What does the Bible say about unrepented sin?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible warns that persistent, unrepentant sin is incompatible with a life transformed by Christ, yet God freely forgives all who truly confess and turn to him through faith. First John 1:8-10 teaches that believers must not deny their sin but confess it, trusting God’s faithfulness and cleansing. First John 3:8-10 and Romans 6:1-23 show that union with Christ breaks sin’s ruling power, so grace is never a license to continue in rebellion. Hebrews 10:26 and Romans 2:6-8 soberly warn against hardened, willful persistence in evil. Genuine repentance, described in 2 Corinthians 7:10, is God-centered sorrow that produces a changed life, as Christ calls the church to remember, repent, and return in Revelation 2:5.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 1 John 3:8-10
[8] He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil. [9] Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can't sin, because he is born of God. [10] In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn't do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn't love his brother.
- Hebrews 10:26
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,
- Revelation 2:5
Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent.
- 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- 1 John 1:10
If we say that we haven't sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
- 2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world works death.
- 1 John 1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- Romans 2:6-8
[6] who "will pay back to everyone according to their works:" [7] to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruptibility, eternal life; [8] but to those who are self-seeking, and don't obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation,
- Romans 6:1-23
[1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [2] May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer? [3] Or don't you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection; [6] knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin. [7] For he who has died has been freed from sin. [8] But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him; [9] knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him! [10] For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God. [11] Thus also consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. [12] Therefore don't let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. [13] Neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. [14] For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace. [15] What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be! [16] Don't you know that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obedience, his servants you are whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? [17] But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto you were delivered. [18] Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness. [19] I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification. [20] For when you were servants of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. [21] What fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. [22] But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life. [23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- John 20:19-24
[19] When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be to you." [20] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus therefore said to them again, "Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." [22] When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit! [23] Whoever's sins you forgive, they are forgiven them. Whoever's sins you retain, they have been retained." [24] But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn't with them when Jesus came.
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