It means that being reconciled to God through repentance and faith is meant to be a one time deal.
A good parallel would be an adulterous husband who is an illicit relationship with another women. The husband and wife need to be reconciled but this cannot occur whilst the husband is still engaged in the illicit relationship.
The first thing the husband must do is clear himself of the wrongdoing before he can approach his wife for reconciliation.
We this clearing of wrong doing illustrated by Paul where he clearly shows the connection between "godly sorrow" which works "repentance" unto "salvation."
2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2Co 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
If the above verse is examined carefully it is clearly seen that the "repentance" that leads to salvation is not to be repented of or not to be regretted. It is not something that an individual is to go back on.
A godly sorrow is what "works" or "fashions" or "causes" the "repentance that leads to salvation" to take place.
In verse 11 Paul lists the fruit of godly sorrow. We clearly see that it produces a vehement desire to turn from sin and to serve God.
Repentance is a mind change but a true mind change will produce a change in actions. If the actions do not change then the mind has not really changed. That is why in Acts it says that "repentance is proven by deeds" (Act 26:20) and that works worthy of repentance must be produced (Mat 3:8).
The adulterous husband who is seeking reconciliation with his wife must first repent of his adultery (change his mind about it) and this "change of mind" must be worked by a "sorrow" where the indignation over his conduct manifests whereby he has a vehement desire to do what is right.
We see this evidence in the parable of the Prodigal Son who was living in sin in the pig pen. He came to himself realising that what he was doing was wrong and that he had sinned. He had a godly sorrow that worked a repentance (change of mind) and this change of mind led him to forsake the pig pen and return to the father. THIS DID NOT SAVE HIM but it had to occur.
In the same way, an adulterous husband by forsaking his adultery to be reconciled to his wife DOES NOT MERIT FORGIVENESS. It is simply the fulfilling of a condition that must take place.
The husband was alienated from his wife because of his wicked works. Sinners are alienated from God because of their wicked works.
Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Paul taught that the "carnal mind is at emnity with God."
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
For the sin to be remitted there must be repentance. The mind must TRULY change. A true mind change will ALWAYS be evidenced by a change in action. The only exception would be if the "mind change" occurred in a situation where "action is restricted" such as the example with the thief on the cross.
Mar 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Notice again in this passage that the "godly sorrow that works repentance unto salvation" which is not to be regretted produces a CLEARING IN THIS MATTER.
2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2Co 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
The word for clear is...
G53
CLEAR - hagnos
From the same as G40; properly clean, that is, (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect: - chaste, clean, pure.
The wicked conduct STOPPED because they approved themselves pure, chaste and clean in the matter. In other words they are not engaged in the behaviour which they changed their mind about anymore. Hence "repentance is proven by deeds."
Just like the Prodigal Son or the parable of the servant who at first "did not" but then "repented" and "did." Jesus stated that Nineveh repented and we see the same pattern that deeds proved repentance.
So now that the adulterous husband approaches his wife seeking reconciliation so does a sinner when he or she approaches God.
It is through Jesus Christ that this reconciliation takes place.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that hemightreconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
The ministration of righteousness is through abiding in Him whereby the "former sinner" has come into agreement with God and is enjoined into Jesus Christ.
2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
2Co 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
2Co 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
2Co 3:8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
2Co 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
Examine the passage below very carefully. Note how those who are "IN" Christ Jesus are under the law of the "Spirit of life" for it is the Spirit which "GIVES" life (2 Cor 3:6). When we are "IN CHRIST" we are WALKING (DEEDS) after the Spirit and the "righteousness of the law" is FULFILLED IN US.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us when we walk after the Spirit BY FAITH. Look at what Paul wrote...
Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Righteousness is through the Spirit when the heart of a man is yielding to God. This is the Ministration of Righteousness.
Look at the comparison Paulk makes here....
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
There are "works of the flesh" and there are "works of the spirit." The Ministration of Righteousness is through the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ (Rom 8:2) by which WE FULFILL the "righteousness of the law" (Rom 8:4). We are not UNDER the law because the law is simply an outward DESCRIPTION of "good conduct" which FLOWS FROM a PURE HEART OF LOVE hence FAITH WORKS BY LOVE (Gal 5:6) and LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW (Gal 5:14).
When a person approaches God having "changed their mind" and "their conduct" they are approaching God HAVING CRUCIFIED THEIR FLESH WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES (Gal 5:24). In other words, the CARNAL MIND that is at EMNITY WITH GOD and CANNOT PLEASE GOD (Rom 8:7-9) has been CRUCIFIED or LAID ASIDE. This MUST OCCUR in order that one may be IN Christ, in the Spirit of Life IN Jesus Christ (Rom 8:2) by which we FULFILL the righteousness of the law.
The other aspect of all this is the sin offering of Jesus Christ. Look at this passage...
Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
A repentant sinner cannot purge his own conscience of his former dead works. A repentance sinner cannot cleanse himself from all sin. A repentance sinner is GUILTY before God and HE KNOWS IT. The former life of rebellion CANNOT be undone by anything the repentant sinner can do. His OWN CONSCIENCE convicts him.
It is through the blood of Jesus Christ that our consciences are PURGED of what we have done previously. This is why the Bible teaches the forgiveness of PAST SINS. Being reconciled to God is meant to be a ONE TIME DEAL and not something you do OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
Let's say an adulterous husband forsakes his illicit relationship and returns to his wife seeking forgiveness and reconciliation. The wife grants him favour and forgives him and they are both reconciled to each other (note it was the conduct of the man that had to change, not the wife). Now if the husband is to return to the illicit relationship is he still reconciled to the wife? No way. It is EXACTLY the same with God.
This is why the author of Hebrews wrote this...
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
If an individual, who has been sanctified by the blood and brought into reconciliation with God, willfully goes back to the conduct which created the emnity (and the need for the sacrifice) in the first place then he is DESPISING THE SPIRIT OF GRACE.
The writer of Hebrews gives us a further insight when he writes in the context of someone who "falls away" where he writes...
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
The writer of Hebrews speaks AGAINST re-crucifying Christ. It is an ABOMINATION to treat the sin offering of Jesus Christ as a "get out of jail free card" which you can use over and over again. It is meant to be a ONE TIME OFFER through which God gives men the OPPORTUNITY to forsake their rebellion and return to Him and be forgiven. It is not meant to be some sort of "wrath protection plan" which one can appeal to again and again as they go back or persist in their rebellion.
Any individual who treats it as such CANNOT REPENT because they have no true sorrow. This is why it is VERY DANGEROUS to believe that once a truly saved person can willfully sin and simply repent again. It is not that simple.
If you read the writings of the early church you will clearly see that MANY of the early Christian completely DENIED the possibility of a second repentance. A second repentance was VERY RARE. The reason is because the conviction wrought through a godly sorrow that leads to repentance and the resulting "eyes being opened" by God as one goes from DARKNESS TO LIGHT puts the repentance sinner in a state WHERE THEY ARE NOT IGNORANT. When a truly redeemed person turns back to their sin they are doing it WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE and such an action defiles the heart completely. That person has despised the truth not from a place of darkness, but from a place of light.
This is why Peter would write...
2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
A person in this situation is WORSE OFF than when they were under condemnation in darkness. When conviction is first wrought the light being revealed by God to the sinner is a powerful contrast to the darkness. This powerful effect is lacking a second time around.
The above verses DO NOT APPLY to most who profess Jesus Christ because MOST who profess Jesus Christ HAVE NEVER truly repented and crucified their flesh with the passions and desires. Thus those verses do not apply to them. You have to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust by the power of God BEFORE you could EVER find yourself in such a situation.
All this relates to "past sins being forgiven." If one believes that "future sins are forgiven in advance" then everything I write will mean absolutely nothing to them.