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TANYA - If the Lord forgives us of our sins, then why at the Judgment is everyone going to be judged by their thoughts and actions.
If HF forgives and forgets our sins then what are these scripture about. How can we be judged if he has already forgive and forgotten our idles thoughts, actions, etc. (If we have asked forgiveness). Could you please explain. here are some scriptures:
Matt 12:36-37
Alma 12:14
JOEL - Matt 12:36-37 says:
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."
Even though it doesn't say it here, repentence for such things is always posible. You need to consider the audience that Jesus was speaking to in this case. It was not His faithful followers; it was made up of scribes and Pharasees (See verse 38) who often rejected the word of God and who were not likely to be repentent of the sins Jesus accused them of having.
In Alma 12:14 you need to consider the full context by reading the surrounding scriptures:
13 Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned.
14 For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence.
15 But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame that all his judgments are just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that believeth on his name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance. (Alma 12:13-15)
Our thoughts and words will condemn us if we harden our hearts, but God's mercy and power will save us if we believe in Him and repent as explained in verse 15. This applies to the Matthew 12 scriptures as well.
In order for God to be both merciful and righteous in His judgement, all mankind will be judged according to our works; both good and bad. Not everyone has asked for forgiveness of their sins. If we have repented of our sins they will be blotted out and will not factor in when God makes His judgment on us. But the judgment is not just to determine who has or has not repented of their sins. There are many levels of heaven and the main reason for the judgment is for God to decide which level of heaven we belong in based, not only on what we have done or not done in our lives, but more importantly on what we have become.
God said:
"For they shall be judged according to their works, and every man shall receive according to his own works, his own dominion, in the mansions which are prepared;" (D&C 76: 111, See also John 14: 2, D&C 59: 2)
TANYA - but don't you think most of us will die in some form or small form of unrepented sin?
JOEL - It would be nearly impossible to remember and repent for every single little sin we have ever committed. I would suspect that the most righteous of people commit some kind of sin every day; both sins of commission and sins of omission. But if we keep ourselves close to the spirit, God will let us know when we have sin that needs repentance. If we keep God's commandments and have an attitude of humility and a broken heart and a contrite spirit, realizing that we are all sinners, and communicate our remorse generally for sins we commit to God through prayer, His grace will be powerful enough to bring forgiveness for all our sins; regardless of our ability to remember and to list every single one.
The story of Enos is a good example to follow:
"And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.
Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the ajoy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.
And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.
And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.
And I, Enos, knew that God acould not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.
And I said: Lord, how is it done?
And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen." (Enos 1:2-8)
I very much doubt that Enos was able to remember and confess to God every single sin he committed his entire life to that point. It was his realization of his sinful nature, the guilt he felt, and humble pleading to God that brought about a forgiveness of all his sins. We can do the same.
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