As Christians, we are constantly faced with temptations every single minute of every single day, and that is why we are also very close to sinning. Often, we ask ourselves, does God forgive this kind of sin or not? What is the extent of God’s forgiveness?
Let us take a look at the very first sin from when it was committed by the very first humans in the Garden of Eden. This can be read in detail in Genesis 3
The woman saw that the tree’s fruit was good to eat and pleasing to look at. She also saw that it would make a person wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. And he ate it. Then both of them knew things they had never known before.
So the Lord God drove the man out of the Garden of Eden. He sent the man to farm the ground he had been made from. The Lord God drove him out and then placed angels on the east side of the garden. He also recognized there a flaming sword that flashed back and forth. The angels and the sword guarded the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:6-7, 23-24).
Adam and Eve, as stated, were the very first to sin and fell short, therefore all of us who came afterward are bound to sin in a broken world. This is emphasized in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Adam and Eve’s shared sin is the perfect example of the frailties of the human mind and humanity in general. We are always bound to sin because of our sinful nature. Evil existed before creation.
Now, this brings us back to the question, does God always forgive our sins? The answer to that is yes, God does forgive every and all sins, but it does not mean that we knowingly sin, because we have a “get out of jail” free card — forgiveness — and go on sinning over and over again. Let’s tackle the reasons why.
Does God Forgive Every Sin?
None of us will ever be able to comprehend God’s emotions or ideas. His ways are as high as the heavens, and His thoughts are higher than ours.
In Isaiah 55:8-9, the Lord says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We may have all been led to feel that the sin we commit is not as horrible as we think since we will be forgiven anyhow, our slate wiped clean. The truth of this is stated in Hebrews 10:26-27,
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
We should follow the wisdom, knowledge, and truth found in the Bible. Even though we struggle with certain sins, we can rest assured that if we ask for forgiveness, we will receive it. Our battle, on the other hand, is to turn away from our fleshly cravings and seek God and His righteousness.
If God Forgives, So Can We
Apart from assuring us that He will forgive us as long as we repent, God also commanded us to forgive our neighbors, as emphasized in Matthew 22:37-39,
Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind.’ This is the first and most important commandment. And the second is like it. ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’
Why would God not forgive us if we have been commanded to forgive others? Our minds and the enemy try to convince us that God “hates us” because of our sinful natures. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, down to earth to die for us. He did everything so that we could live and be at peace with Him. “I — yes, I alone — will blot out your crimes for my own sake and will never think of them again,” (Isaiah 43:25).
As a result, when you confess your sins to God, He forgives you and forgets about them. However, be aware that the enemy will try to persuade you to recall your transgressions to keep you in a state of unworthiness and a vicious circle of sinning, even if God does not.
Who is a God like You, who removes iniquity and overlooks rebellion to preserve His inheritance? Because He delights in true love, He does not hang on to His anger indefinitely. He will have mercy on us once more, and He will put an end to our wrongdoings. All of our sins will be hurled into the depths of the sea by you. As You promised to our fathers many years ago, you will be loyal to Jacob and faithful to Abraham (Micah 7:18-20).
So, while seeking God’s pardon, ask first, then repent. Then believe without a doubt that God has forgiven you. Doubt comes from the enemy, and it’s his job to persuade you to consider the contrary of what God has said.
Look to God’s Word if you have any doubts, for God’s Word is truth. In John 17:17, it says, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” The enemy is the father of lies and has ways to move us away from God’s love and forgiveness.
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
What Does This Mean?
Does God forgive all sins? Yes, He does, and He also expects us to forgive others. God’s ultimate example of forgiving us is through Christ’s sacrifice because we have been redeemed. This is something we can remember every time doubt arises.
For further reading:
What Is the Relationship Between Salvation and Forgiveness?
Prayers for Forgiveness — Forgive Others and You Shall Be Forgiven
What Is the Significance of Seventy Times Seven in Forgiveness?
Do Christians Have to Keep Asking for Forgiveness for Their Sins?
What Does the Phrase ‘To Err Is Human, to Forgive Is Divine’ Mean?
Does God See All Sins as Equal to One Another?
How Does Our Sin Make Salvation Necessary?
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Glory Dy has been a content creator for more than 10 years. She lives in a quiet suburb with her family and four cats.
