Are a lost person's sins being held against him before he dies?
A lost person's sins are not held against him before he dies. Until death, he still has the opportunity to believe the Gospel. God in Christ is not imputing trespasses during this time. Only after death, when that opportunity is lost, are sins held.
Les explains that Paul's statement in verse 19—that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses—means exactly what it says. He teaches that until a lost person dies and thus loses his opportunity to believe the Gospel, his sins are not being held against him. Les also stresses that Jesus had to be the Creator God of Genesis 1:1 to pay the sin debt of every human being.
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
More Questions
If all the sins of the world are forgiven, why do unbelievers still face their sins at the Great White Throne?
Even though Les teaches that all the sins of the world are forgiven through the cross, lost people who never believe the Gospel will still have to face their sins as unbelievers at the Great White Throne.