The devil would love for you to believe that you can never receive forgiveness from God. That you have messed up too many times and God is all out of chances. But that is nothing more than a well-conceived trick of the enemy. One that sadly overtakes the minds of many. Yet, I have come to declare truth to you today through the word of God. Bringing to light the message well baked into the scripture that says the Lord is willing and is able to forgive you. No matter what acts of wickedness you may have taken part in. Or how many times you have fallen back into your old sins.
But how? Why? Can we really know for sure that God really wants to forgive us? Yes, we can, because God has made it clear in his inspired word that he will always forgive all people. The Bible declares that His mercy and grace are unending and made available to all the people of the world. All that is required to receive this forgiveness is to place your faith in Christ. Turning to God in repentance and away from sin.
Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Psalm 103:8 (ESV)
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Lamentations 3:22–23 (ESV)
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
John 3:16–17 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
The misconception lies in the fact that many believe God wants to punish. That God is simply counting down the days until He can pour out wrath upon certain people. Yet, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. What we really see when we turn to the Bible is that God desires all people to be saved. Jesus declared that He came for the sick because they needed the healing only He could provide. The sick refers to those lost in sin and healing means forgiveness from these sins. Bringing them to right standing with God and able to receive the gift of eternal life in Heaven. In that same statements, Jesus even pointed out that He hadn’t come for those who think they are righteous. God made it possible to offer salvation and forgiveness to lost, sinful, and broken people. Excluding no one regardless of their past.
1 Timothy 2:4 (ESV)
4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Mark 2:16–17 (ESV)
16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
But you simply can’t understand I have lived such a wicked and sinful life. There is no way that God would be willing to look past all I have done. Oh, I do understand and have been where you are. But God made me new through His spirit. Like all Christians, I once lived in sin and had no relationship with God. I made myself the god of my own life and lived in stark contrast to God’s word. That was until I came to meet the one true God and was told that He was willing to forgive me. That He would separate me from my sins as far as the east is from the west. Blotting out every wicked act that lied in my past making it as though they never happened. All of which is willing and even hoping to do for anyone else who will turn their hearts to Him. Including you.
1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (ESV)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Psalm 103:12 (ESV)
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
Isaiah 43:25 (ESV)
25 “I, I am he
who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,
and I will not remember your sins.
Even if you believe that you are the worst sinner to ever live know that your past is no match for God’s ability to forgive. Nothing is able to keep Him from forgiving, changing, and using you for greater works than you could ever imagine. Don’t believe me? Well then just take a look at the Apostle Paul. A man who by his own admission was the chief among sinners. One of the very mean responsible for violently persecuting the first Church. Despite even standing in direct opposition to God and trying to tear down what God was building God still offered him forgiveness. But not only was Paul forgiven but God used him to take the Gospel message farther and farther. Evening using him to pen many of the New Testament books. Paul stands as the example that God truly is willing to forgive anyone for anything.
1 Timothy 1:15–16 (ESV)
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
Galatians 1:13–16 (ESV)
13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;
Even if you have fallen back into sin time and time again you can be forgiven. God does not offer only one chance to live the righteous life he desires. In fact, God goes far beyond the second chance and offers endless chances to those who turn to Him in true repentance. John wrote that our goal is to not sin. But that if we do sin we know that God is just and willing to forgive us. As we live our lives as Christians we will all at times give in to the temptations of sin. Falling in one way or another. What’s important is how we respond to our falls and get back up. We should do our best to not make a practice of sin. While knowing that if we do mess up God is waiting with arms open to accept us again. Just like we see with the prodigal son.
1 John 2:1 (ESV)
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
1 John 3:6 (ESV)
6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
Luke 15:18–24 (ESV)
18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Not only do we have that assumption from the Word of God. But we also know that God would never ask us to do what He is not willing to do Himself. So because God expects us to forgive others countless times a day we know He will forgive us just as much. If not even more. We can faithfully trust that God is always willing to give those who come to Him in true repentance another chance.
Luke 17:3–4 (ESV)
3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
I know you may still feel as though your situation is different. That you have truly done too much or failed too many times to receive God’s forgiveness. But I assure you that isn’t the case. God’s forgiveness is there waiting for you to accept it. Don’t fall prey to the lies of the enemy. God places no limits or restrictions on His willingness to forgive. If you want to experience all of God’s forgiveness you simply must turn to God in repentance. This means to admit to your sins before God and make the decision not to return to those same wicked acts. Then begin to live your new life as a redeemed Christian striving to live out God’s word in its fullness. Which starts by completing the pan of salvation as shown in scripture. You regardless of anything you have ever done can be forgiven. Just trust in God’s word and promises.
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