Question 10
The Correct Answer Is: FALSE
1 Timothy 1:12-16: "12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life."
Even though all sins carry the same punishment in Hell (eternal separation from God), we do recognize that some sins carry especially heinous earthly consequences. When someone murders another person, the person who was murdered loses their life. When someone rapes another person, the person raped oftentimes will suffer severe physiological damage that may be difficult to overcome. In both of those cases, it is hopeful that the perpetrator is caught and has to pay the appropriate consequence. But even murderers and rapists are not irredeemable before God. The Apostle Paul, before he became a Christian was responsible for the imprisonment and (indirectly) the murder of many innocent Christians. He blasphemed the name of God, and persecuted Jesus' church. Yet, when he believed in Jesus, repented of his sins, and was baptized for the remission of his sins, his sins were forgiven by the blood of Christ and he obtained the hope of eternal life in Heaven. And did the families of the Christians whom Paul persecuted accept him as a member of Christ's church? Not immediately, for they weren't certain his conversion was genuine, but after Barnabas, a fellow Christian, spoke on Paul's behalf, the Christians forgave Paul, and he became part of their fellowship (Acts 9:26-30). If God could save Paul, who was an evil man at the time, by grace through faith, he could save the most evil person today the same way. Nobody's sin is too great for God to forgive, if a person will obey Him. Might we still have to suffer earthly consequences for our sins? Yes, and such would still be just. But in doing so, we wouldn't lose our hope of Heaven as long as we remained faithful.