We ALL live sinful lives.
There’s not a one of us who doesn’t sin.
And even if we could live an otherwise perfect life from here on out, the sin record of our past is already enough to condemn us. Unless we are FORGIVEN, freely and without obligation on our part, by God Himself.
ONE sin is all it takes to damn someone.
That is so wonderful about the Sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation.
God forgives the sin as evidenced in the prayer of absolution said by the priest. And then God forgets the sin.
The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: The Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:
God, the Father of mercies, through the death and the resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
That’s correct MM. How many sins did Adam and Eve commit, before they stood condemned? One. Just one. They didn’t commit murder, or abort their baby. They didn’t assault anyone, or commit adultery. They just ate the fruit, but that one, little, seemingly innocuous sin, immediately condemned them to Hell, unless they had a savior.
No doubt some people think one can be truly saved, and use that as an excuse for wickedness. I think that is what the natural man of 1 Corinthians 2:14 thinks. It’s not true, of course. If a true Christian DOES fall into sin, they could end up like Ananias and Sapphira. Only God knows for sure, whether they were truly saved or not. I tend to think they were, but got taken out, for lying to the Holy Spirit.