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"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He
removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father
has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion
on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust." Psalm 103:12-14 When a child of God sins and confesses his sin, we know that God will forgive him: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9). Of course, God's forgiveness is just as complete for His children who sin as it was for us when we became His children. |
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The only sin God will not forgive is a sin that we fail
to confess and repent of. Failure to repent of known sin
is rebellion against God. If we persist in sinning, God
will not forgive us. Furthermore, we face the possibility
of being "given over" to the sin (Romans 1:24-28) or of
becoming so desensitized by it that we no longer even
recognize it as sin (see Eph. 4:19). If we desire to be
forgiven, we must give up the sin. When we do, God forgets
it. God will also forgive only those who are willing to
forgive others. Jesus made this clear in the model prayer
of Matt. 6:9-15. In vv. 14-15, he said that if we forgive
men their trespasses, God will forgive us; if we do not,
He will not. We cannot expect forgiveness from God if we
harbor ill feelings toward those who may have hurt us in
the past. Jesus told Peter to forgive even up to "seventy
times seventy," if necessary. There can be no limit to
our forgiveness even as there is no limit to Christ's
(see Col. 3:12-15). |
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We have a hard time forgiving other because we often fail
to love others like we should. We therefore have a
difficult time accepting the idea that someone can love
us so much that he will forgive the most terrible sins
against him. But God is like that. His love is so deep
and wide that we can scarcely comprehend it. Perhaps we
shouldn't worry about comprehending it. Have faith in
God-accept it and thank Him for it. We see the love of
God in graphic detail in the cross of Christ. The fact
that Christ was there at all demonstrates the great love
God had for you and me (Rom. 5:6-10). Only great love
would cause God to send His only Son to die for a world
full of arrogant sinners like us. But God is love
(I Jn. 4:8). Christ showed His love for us by voluntarily
giving up His life for us. What a Savior! Even when on
the cross, with those who had driven the spikes into his
flesh still at his feet mocking Him and deriding Him, He
said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they
do" (Lk. 23:34). A Savior who would do that would surely
forgive you of anything you might have done. |
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If you're a child of God-that is, if you've repented and
been baptized for forgiveness of sins and are living by
faith in Christ-God has forgiven every sin committed
prior to your baptism. Not one sin of the past should
still be haunting you. And if you're a child of God then
you have God for your Father-He who did not spare His
own Son! Therefore, there is no reason for anyone to be
burdened with guilt. If there is some sin that you need
to give up, then do it! (See Mt. 5:29-30). If you need
to forgive someone who hurt you in the past, then do it!
But if you've done those things, then enjoy the refreshing
truth that there is "no condemnation for those who are
in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). You are forgiven!
Praise God for His indescribable gift! (2 Cor. 9:15). |
