Although mankind continues to rebel against a holy God, He still offers His free gift of forgiveness and salvation to anyone who asks, no matter the sin. And even when we do sin, as Christians, God promises to forgive us when we confess our sins to Him.
Throughout Scripture, there is no mistaking the fact that mankind has perfected the art of sinful disobedience against God. There is virtually no end to the depths of depravity we can invent out of our selfish desires. Yet one thing that remains constant is God’s infinite capacity to love and forgive us every single moment of every day.
Scripture records some of the darkest, evil people in history, but because of God’s mercy He called them away from their sinful lives and forgave them for living apart from Him. We are promised the same forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus Christ which removes our guilt and shame and restores us to a relationship with the Father.
God clothed Adam and Eve and promised them a savior after they fell into sin (Genesis 3:15, 21).
God forgave Abraham for his pagan worship (Joshua 24:2), using of his wife for deceitful purposes(Genesis 12:19; Genesis 20:6), and for doubting the promise of the birth of a son, Isaac, in his old age (Genesis 17:17; Genesis 18:12).
Jacob was forgiven after swindling his brother Esau twice (Genesis 25:29-34, 27:1-40).
David was forgiven for committing adultery with Bathsheba and killing her husband (2 Samuel 12:9-13).
David understood forgiveness and said in his psalm: “...as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12).
Zacchaeus was a dishonest tax collector who was forgiven for cheating his people (Luke 19:2-10).
Jesus forgave the woman accused of adultery (John 8:3-11).
The thief on the cross was forgiven when he realized who Jesus really was and asked Jesus to remember him (Luke 23:39-43).
Peter was forgiven for denying Christ three times (John 21:15-17).
Paul was forgiven for persecuting the church (Acts 9:1-6).
John says that when we confess our sins to God, He “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
God's offer of forgiveness through Jesus Christ extends to everyone who trusts in Him, regardless of past mistakes or failures. No matter the weight of our sins or the depth of our shortcomings, God is ready to forgive and restore us. Embracing this truth invites us to approach God with a heart of repentance and faith, knowing that His forgiveness is not based on our merit but on His boundless love and mercy. This assurance encourages us to extend the same grace to others, reflecting the transformative power of God’s forgiveness in our own lives.
If you are struggling with guilt and shame over your sin, God invites you to accept His offer of forgiveness. You can begin your journey with God by praying something like this:"Dear God, I believe that you sent your Son Jesus Christ to live a perfect life and then die on a cross as punishment for my sin. I believe that He rose from the dead, verifying that He is who He says He is and proclaiming victory over sin and death, so I could be forgiven. I confess my sin to you and ask you to forgive me, because of Jesus. Come into my life and change my heart so that I can love you more. I surrender myself to you and ask you to save me and make me your child. Thank you for loving me, for saving me, and for giving me eternal life with you. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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