Bulletin Articles
Will God Forgive Me?
Have you ever asked yourself this question? At some point in our lives, I’m sure we all have during our Christian journey. Whether it was one sin, one time or the same sin repeatedly, we’ve asked the age-old question… Will God forgive me? Let’s take a look!
God Delights in Forgiving!
It’s important to understand that God never delights in our sin. Isaiah 55:7 says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” God’s desire is for us to turn away from sin and come back to Him. However, God’s forgiveness should never encourage us to sin more often. In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asks Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus responds, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” While this passage is about forgiveness between believers, it also highlights the immeasurable forgiveness God offers us.
God Forgives Permanently
One of the most comforting promises about God’s forgiveness is its permanence. Jeremiah 31:34 declares, “No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” This verse assures us that God’s forgiveness is complete and lasting. Acts 3:19 reinforces this truth, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” When we repent and turn to God, our sins are not merely covered up but completely erased. Psalm 103:12 also paints a powerful picture of God’s forgiveness: “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” This immense distance illustrates the extent to which God removes our sins from us.
God’s Forgiveness Has Never Failed
The Bible is filled with examples of God’s unfailing forgiveness. Hebrews 7:25 assures us, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” God’s ability to forgive is limitless. The apostle Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, experienced God’s incredible grace. In 1 Timothy 1:13, he writes, “although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” If God could forgive Paul, there is no sin too great for Him to forgive.
God’s Forgiveness is Conditional
While God’s forgiveness is freely offered, it is conditional upon our repentance. Acts 2:37-38 records, “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’” This response demonstrates a recognition of sin and a desire for change. Romans 3:23 reminds us of our sinful nature, “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” This universal truth highlights the need for forgiveness. Our God is a God full of grace and mercy. Grace is receiving something we don’t deserve, like Jesus Christ. Mercy is not receiving something we do deserve, like eternal punishment. Will God forgive you? Absolutely! But it’s conditional upon your recognition of sin and turning to Him.
