Last night in our Bible study, we talked about judgment which I have no problems with at all. In regard to it, when we are faithful to confess our sins to God (say on a daily basis) for things we know are wrong such as envy, inappropriate words, hurtful actions, etc, will we be judged on them again when we see the Lord in the future? Since the Bible says we will be judged by every word or action, does this imply we are forgiven now but will be judged later or will God remove our transgressions as far as East is from West?
Matt. 12:36-37 says,
“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Even a sin as “small” as a careless word will be remembered and mankind will have to give account for them all. Obviously one person cannot be both acquitted and condemned, so the Lord was saying it’ll be one or the other. Some will be acquitted by having agreed to let the Lord’s death serve as payment in full for their sins. Since Jesus was already punished for them, God’s justice has been served and He cannot also punish us.
Others will be condemned because they denied the Lord and refused to let His death pay for their sins. That means they’ve agreed to pay for them personally. So by our words we will either receive the Lord’s pardon and be acquitted or reject His pardon and be condemned. But no one will be acquitted now and condemned later.