This is a good, practical question because we all realize that we sin even after we are saved.  We read in 1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  We recognize that this is written to believers and I’m sure we all know from our own experiences that we do sin even though we have been forgiven for our sins by the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:7 tells us, “In whom (Christ) WE HAVE REDEMPTION through his blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, according to the riches of his grace.”  It is because of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus that we have been redeemed.  To be redeemed means that the Lord has ransomed us.  We learn from 1 Timothy 2:5-6, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; WHO GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM for all, to be testified in due time.”

Having been redeemed and forgiven of our sins, we are in a state where we will NEVER face the wrath of God.  “There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1). This is the happy state of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.  “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall NEVER PERISH, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28).  The very promise of God assures us we will never receive His wrath.  Indeed, we shall NEVER PERISH.  Christ, who “knew no sin,” was “made sin for us,” so we who believe in Him are “made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).  This is a “done deal” which will never change, and which has completely taken away from us the fear of death. (Read Hebrews 2:14-16).

Now, let’s read 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Since this is written to believers, you may wonder, “I thought we had already been cleansed from all unrighteousness when we were saved and forgiven, and shall never be condemned by God.”   We are exhorted in 1 John 2:1, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”  The Lord’s desire for us is not that we sin very often, but we do not sin at all.  Yet, if we, as believers, do sin, we see that we have an advocate with the Father, even the Lord Jesus. 

What are the consequences of our sins after we have believed?  Can we lose our salvation?  Can this result in the judgment of God upon ourselves?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!  The promises of God are absolute and unbreakable as we read in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”  God CANNOT LIE (Titus 1:2) and therefore He cannot break His promises.  When believers on the Lord Jesus commit sins, it does not impact our salvation, however it can impact our fellowship with the Lord…our closeness with Him. 

Notice that the Lord forgives our sins and saves us according to “the riches of his grace.”  When, as believers, we confess our sins to Him, the Lord forgives and cleanses us because He is “faithful and just.”  He is:

FAITHFUL – He is faithful to fulfill His own promises.  He is “true” to His word.

JUST – God’s promises of mercy, to which He is faithful, are in full accordance with His justice.

We should be so thankful to the Lord for His mercy and grace whereby He saved us when we put our faith in Him as our Lord and Savior.  We should be so thankful to the Lord for His faithfulness and justice to forgive our sins in a practical sense when we confess them to Him. (CC)  (633.4)