[Campion]

Where does Romans 4:8 say that Jesus doesn't take away sin? More to the point, why don't you want to believe the Gospel when it clearly says that Jesus takes away sin? Isn't it much better to have your sin taken away, than merely covered up?

[plain talk]

Romans 4:8 said "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." This states that the Lord will not count our sin against us. Also, Romans 8:10 states "But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness." These verses indicate to me that Christians still carry around a sinful body while in this world. Because of Adam not all of this sinful nature is changed. While I see the result of forgiveness to be as if we were perfect I don't see us as perfect while on this earth. Our standing is as if we were perfect yet we aren't perfect.

I agree that forgiveness results in our sin essentially being taken away and that we have a zero sin register with respect to the Lord. Our account with the Father has been cleared. The slate is cleaned. If this is the extent of your argument - I agree! I am pointing out a finer distinction which is probably way over all our heads anyway. My point is we will all be held to account for everything we do and think, good and bad, which is plainly stated in Revelations. This means works and the sins we commit are reviewed and judged and these never go away. You don't want to call these bad works and thoughts "sins" because you say they have all been removed. OK. Does this help?