The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God forgives all our sins – including those we commit repeatedly.
Some sins, like extramarital sex and lying, may seem beyond redemption; but experts from the Bible say otherwise: nothing so offensive can’t be covered by Christ’s blood.
Table of Contents
1. He forgave you once
The New Testament makes it abundantly clear that God pardons anyone who repents of their sin and turns from it. Those whom he refuses to forgive include those who continue rejecting God’s grace and refuse to change their ways, thus breaking his Law against blasphemy against Holy Spirit, which cannot be tolerated.
Once forgiven, the Holy Spirit will assist in keeping past sins at bay by helping you to forget them in future. Because, as a new creature, old ways won’t seem appealing anymore and your appreciation of Who forgave you will have increased substantially; thus prompting you to work towards pleasing Him in all that you do.
As well, you will gain a clearer understanding of Jesus’ parable about the prodigal son which will enable you to let go of your sin and not hold grudges against others. Finally, to truly know if God has forgiven you is to pray about it and trust in the Lord.
When praying, scripture can help you express yourself more accurately to God. Search the bible for verses about asking for forgiveness and include these in your prayer.
If you are having difficulty believing that God can forgive your transgressions, remember that His blood covers every kind of sin; even those considered the worst ones. That’s why scripture offers numerous examples of people who had committed horrible deeds – such as murdering, raping or idol worshiping – yet were accepted back into God’s fold upon repenting their actions.
2. He forgave you a second time
At the time of Jesus, Pharisees were some of the most dedicated Bible-believing individuals. They were very strict when it came to following the Law – for instance one law required people to forgive one another twice before receiving justice (to keep up with but not exceed) this requirement; otherwise they risked becoming hypocrites (only obeying it without truly fulfilling it).
Peter asked Jesus how many times they should forgive someone who wronged them, and Jesus replied with, “Not seven times but seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22). This answer underscores Jesus’s teaching that forgiveness should be limitless.
When we sin, the first step towards finding forgiveness from God is acknowledging and repenting of our wrongdoings. Next we must believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the grave.
Once someone believes, they must live according to God. The Holy Spirit will motivate them toward holiness and daily Bible reading; hidden sin will no longer reside within their hearts; instead they’ll feel liberation and joy from forgiveness.
Some Christians misunderstand the nature of forgiveness, suggesting that one should forgive others regardless of whether or not they repent of their sins. This advice is unbiblical and self-serving: forgiveness is given by God as a gift that benefits both the receiver and giver alike. Scripture instructs that to receive this mercy we must confess our sin and believe in Christ, whereupon our sins will be immediately forgiven bringing peace and joy back into our hearts with an increased desire to please Him in all that we do.
3. He forgave you a third time
As Peter was listening to Jesus speak, he inquired whether forgiveness should be extended seven times over. Jesus responded by suggesting seventy times seven was more suitable – an astounding figure which left Peter speechless.
One author suggests that Jesus’ response may have been intentional wordplay, playing on the belief that rabbis taught that in order to receive forgiveness for multiple offenses from a fellow believer before punishment would be inflicted – such as when one party repeatedly committed sin against the victim but professed repentance on each occasion.
But God doesn’t punish or hold grudges against our repeated sins; rather, He shows His great love and patience by continually forgiving us! Joseph’s brothers tried to kill and sell him into slavery on several occasions but instead showed mercy and forbearance toward him instead – something evidenced throughout the Old Testament!
4. He forgave you a fourth time
The rabbis taught that God forgives up to three offenses before seeking revenge against those responsible. When Peter brought this subject up with Jesus, Jesus replied by asking Peter whether they could forgive an offender after seven offenses had taken place against them. Peter inquired of Jesus: If someone had committed seven sins against you should they forgive?
Peter likely intended for his suggestion to be magnanimous; seven is an ancient Biblical number which symbolizes completeness, fullness and fulfillment.
Jesus answered with something far beyond human comprehension: not seven times but seventy-seven times! That answer truly shows God’s extravagant mercy and show of forgiveness.
Hearers of this Gospel parable, especially those who know Jesus personally, will be reminded that His forgiveness knows no bounds and that we too must show similar kindness toward others. This theme echoes Matthew 5:7’s beatitude: Those who show mercy will find mercy shown back to them.”
Forgiveness can bring freedom, but holding onto anger only brings more pain. Holding onto bitterness and hatred only leads to illness and even death – as shown by this parable where King Uriel dismissed a debt equivalent to thousands of years of daily wages for one person.
One way we can comprehend how great God’s forgiveness is is by considering all He has forgiven us: of past, present and future sin; He has shown unrivalled kindness by forgiving our trespasses; through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice we are whole again – as His kingdom comes nearer than ever! God promises eternal life if we believe in His promise of mercy; therefore He forgives our sins while remaining true to his word.
5. He forgave you a fifth time
“Forgive and forget” is an often-heard expression used to define forgiveness. When someone forgives you, they choose not to hold your past mistakes against you or consider them when dealing with you in future interactions. God does the same when He forgives us: He remembers our wrongdoing but chooses not punish or hold it against us – which demonstrates His great love! Jesus told us we should extend grace just as freely.
Some interpreters have misunderstood Jesus’ words on forgiveness into a teaching about forgiving those who continue to wrong us, suggesting we should forgive them as long as they profess repentance. Such interpretation is contrary to other New Testament passages that speak about the grace and forgiveness of God as well as those that illustrate that someone who hard-heartedly rejects faith cannot ever be forgiven – also, Christ paid for all our sins once and for all when He died on the cross, so the only time He will forgive us is once.
