artemicion
Golden Member
Speaking as a non-believer, but putting myself in the shoes of believers, I don't think it matters if God knows you're planning on sinning, or even planning on last-instant repentance. I think all that matters is that at the very, very end the repentance is sincere. And if one did truly believe, then I have no doubt that the repentance would be sincere.
It does matter if you're planning on sinning or planning on a last-instant repentance. Redemption in Christianity is earned through faith, not actions.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9.
You view a last-instant repentance as a discrete action taken at a discrete point in time that can be pre-planned. If it is, whatever you are thinking of is not what gets a Christian into heaven. It's merely an action, and actions are not what determine whether you get into heaven. Christians are saved by faith--i.e., what they believe in their heart. They are not saved by "repentance," or by simply saying "sorry" at the last instant of their lives.
Faith will influence your actions, but your actions do not determine your faith.
If you plan on sinning your whole life and repenting at the end, you do not have genuine faith.
I'd rather not stray too far off topic and subject everyone else to off-topic preachy-ness, so if you want to continue this debate, send me a PM.
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