You said, “When did you become a Christian? About 2,000 years ago… “.

I confess I don’t really understand what you were trying to say by that.

I think my point still stands: the division between belief and obedience that exists in people’s minds which allows this conversation to take place at all did not exist for Jesus and his contemporaries. It wasn’t until some time later (I’m sure someone here knows about when) that James had to address this divorce between faith and deeds (James 2:14-26). He’s pretty clear that these two things are not and can not be separated.

Thank you for that summary of Wright. Which is, I think, a far more accurate reading of the reality presented to us than the Reformation Project.

What I have never understood is how the Reformed-minded figure that the Apostles got everything so horribly wrong, and no one figured it out for 1500 years.

I still don’t get it.

This is a belated comment regarding the Update to your initial post in which you write:

UPDATE: I realized that I should say something about the main question: What about those who die with unconfessed sin? I know that some of you belong to churches where you’re terrorized by this.

First, read Hebrews 10 a couple of times. Then Read I John 1:8 and realize that confession is for YOUR sake. Not God’s. Agreeing with God that sin is sin doesn’t forgive it. It allows the experience of forgiveness to happen.

As you suggest I’ve read Hebrews 10 a couple of times. Do you care to comment on verses 26-31 — verses addressed to those who have been sanctified by the blood of Jesus’ one-off sacrifice?

Also, I read 1 John 1:8. But I went farther and read 1 John 1:9 which clearly links forgiveness to confession. I’m not sure how this addresses “experience of forgiveness” only. I’d like to hear your exegesis of this passage, again noting that it is written to the church and not to those who do not know Jesus.

Thanks for keeping us thinking with provocative posts.

Peace of Christ,

John

I think I’m going to do what I did with Spong’s book – display a book about Christianity next to it…

I realized that I should say something about the main question: What about those who die with unconfessed sin? I know that some of you belong to churches where you’re terrorized by this.

I am privileged to count Rod as a friend and mentor, and your quote above touches one of his life passions- proclaiming “that the death of Christ is enough even for Christians.” I have spent many late nights on his back balcony, with good drinks and food discussing this very thing. A good portion of his career has been spent pulling believers( like myself) back from the brink of despair concerning their faith and standing before God. Every time he teaches or speaks, he never fails to address the despairing believer with the grace and forgiveness of Christ. Thank God for faithful men like him in whose breast burns the Gospel of Christ.

Yes, the works must be done (but by whom), and our righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees (but how do we get that righteousness), but Jesus and John both answered “believe” to the direct question of what must *I do*.

You see this not just in Salvation, but in the things of ordinary life. People get envious when they see some kind of success (in business, or in art, or whatever) and think that imitation of the real thing *is* the real thing. “Fake it until you make it.”

People (okay, *I*) get nervous and don’t always rest in the finished work of Christ, and start thinking about the checklist.

We proclaim the Gospel as the mediator and the mediation. (Person and work.) We proclaim the Gospel as faith receiving, repentance turning, confession proclaiming, works evidencing, but it is justification by FAITH alone, but not by faith that is alone.

If I start dissecting the will, it’s Jesus + the paperwork. Theologians get to do that, but I’m telling my students to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Cross and Kingdom) and to believe (trust, depend, give worth to) it.

We join the church, are baptized and come to the table for assurance. We go to the cross and the Gospel for remaining sin.