Podcast Summary: Grace in Focus

Episode: Have Our Future Sins Already Been Forgiven?

Date: September 30, 2025
Host(s): Bob Wilkin (A), Ken Yates (C)
Guest Mentioned: Kathryn (Bob's daughter), Sid (Listener, question contributor)

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode tackles a foundational but controversial question in Free Grace theology: “Have our future sins already been forgiven?” Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates probe the theological distinction between positional and experiential forgiveness, discussing biblical passages often cited on the subject. They clarify their evolving position that Scripture does not teach all a believer’s sins—past, present, and future—are automatically forgiven at the moment of belief, challenging a widely held evangelical doctrine.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction and Listener Question

• Bob introduces Sid’s question, noting it was prompted by Bob’s article on forgiveness of sins.
• Bob and Ken admit their view diverges from the broader Grace Evangelical Society and typical evangelical teachings.
• Bob: “I do not believe the New Testament teaches that ... all the sins of the believer have been forgiven.” (01:24)
• Ken: “How do you forgive something before it's happened? ... All forgiveness is once there's something to forgive.” (01:42)
• They explain most teach that at belief, all sins are forgiven “positionally,” but ongoing confession is required for “experiential” or “fellowship” forgiveness.

2. Clarifying Terminology: Positional vs. Experiential Forgiveness

• Many teach that believers receive positional forgiveness for all sins (past, present, future) but must confess for experiential/fellowship forgiveness (02:37).
• Ken and Bob challenge even the positional/experiential duality, positing all forgiveness is about current or past sins, not future ones.

3. Examining Key Scriptures

They systematically review popular “forgiveness proof texts,” offering alternative readings:

a. John 1:29 – “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

• Ken: “Where's forgiveness there?...The sins of the world haven't been forgiven. So that's not what John is saying.” (03:19-03:24)
• Bob: “The unbeliever’s sin is not forgiven, but the unbeliever’s sin has been taken away in this sense: Christ’s death ... removed the barrier of sin so that he can give eternal life to anyone who believes in him.” (03:46-04:01)
• The verse refers to Jesus removing the barrier of sin, not automatic worldwide forgiveness.

b. Psalm 103:11-12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far he has removed our transgressions from us.”

• Bob: “This is [for] those who confess their sins.... Even his people in the Old Testament... didn't have animal sacrifices that went forward [for future sins].” (04:55-05:11)
• Forgiveness/removal here is for past and confessed sins, not all sins—including future ones.

c. John 19:30 (“It is finished”/Tetelestai)

• Ken: When Jesus says “it is finished,” it means “I finished the work the Father sent me to do.” (07:18-07:33)
• The phrase may mean “paid in full,” but contextually, it is primarily about completing his mission, not declaring blanket future forgiveness for every believer—or everyone universally.
• Bob: “If you hold the view that this refers to the forgiveness of sins past, present, and future, then ... every single person who has ever lived is forgiven...” (08:22)
• Forgiveness and eternal life are related, but not identical; not all whose sins are paid for automatically receive life.

4. Redefining the Relationship Between Forgiveness and Eternal Life

• Ken: “It's not that forgiveness of sins gives us eternal life, it's eternal life gives us the forgiveness of sins. ... so that we begin the Christian life with a clean slate.” (09:09)
• New believers aren’t expected to confess every sin they’ve ever done; belief brings forgiveness up to that point and access to fellowship with God.

5. Ongoing Confession: The Role of 1 John 1:7-10

• Ken: “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, then the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” (10:55)
• Bob: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, 10:55-11:14)
• These passages, the hosts argue, refer to ongoing and future sins—requiring ongoing confession for continued fellowship and forgiveness.

6. Colossians 1 & 2 Revisited

• Bob and Ken contest that these don’t teach blanket future forgiveness either:
  Ken: “When it says he has forgiven us all our trespasses, he means all our trespasses up to this point.” (12:01)

7. Encouragement to Listeners

• The hosts urge listeners to study, pray, and think through the topic for themselves, acknowledging their view is a minority even within Free Grace circles.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ken (On Preemptive Forgiveness):
  “Do you forgive your children in advance? Do you forgive your spouse in advance? No. All forgiveness is once there’s something to forgive.” —(01:42)
• Bob (On Common Evangelical Teaching):
  “We turn right around and teach the new believer but you need to confess your sins to have the forgiveness of sins.” —(02:37)
• Ken (On “It Is Finished”):
  “He means I finished the work the Father sent me to do. … It culminated in his death on the cross.” —(07:18)
• Ken (On Forgiveness vs. Life):
  “If you’re spiritually dead… your name’s not written in the book of life…” —(08:33)
• Bob (On What Forgiveness Provides):
  “When you believe in Jesus, all your past sins have been forgiven… but that’s not your future sins. When I sin in the future, if I want that fellowship… I have to confess those sins.” —(10:06)
• Ken (On Colossians):
  “He’s not saying he’s forgiven all our future transgressions. … Whether I’m going to be forgiven tomorrow depends on whether I continue to walk in the light and confess my sins.” —(12:01)
• Bob (Final Advice):
  “Is it proper to say positionally we’ve been forgiven, but experientially we haven’t? That’s the normal view.” —(12:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:56 – Listener question introduction; hosts depart from majority view.
• 01:42 – Ken explains logic of forgiveness after—not before—sin is committed.
• 03:19 – John 1:29 discussed; removal of sin barrier vs. forgiveness.
• 04:04 – Psalm 103: Historic forgiveness applied to confessed, past sins.
• 06:10 – John 19:30 (“It is finished”); what did Jesus complete?
• 08:22 – Theology of forgiveness, eternal life, and the lake of fire.
• 09:09 – Forgiveness follows eternal life, not vice versa.
• 10:06 – Forgiveness of past sins at conversion; future sins require confession.
• 10:55 – 1 John’s teaching on ongoing confession and cleansing.
• 12:01 – Colossians’ scope of forgiveness—up to present, not future.
• 12:39 – Summary, encouragement to study and think independently.

Tone & Language

The tone is collegial, thoughtful, and gently challenging. Bob and Ken display theological humility, encouraging study and dialogue over dogma. They readily admit their view is a minority and gently push against established Free Grace and evangelical traditions.

Conclusion

This episode provides a clear, stepwise argument for re-examining whether all of a believer’s sins—future included—are truly and automatically forgiven at conversion. Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates challenge standard Free Grace doctrines, offering scriptural reasoning and practical implications for ongoing confession in the Christian life. Listeners are invited to prayerfully study the subject themselves, keeping “Grace in focus.”