Ask Your Preacher - Archives
“Real-Time Forgiveness”
Categories: GOD, RELATIONSHIPSIf you commit a sin and ask God for forgiveness, does God forgive you right away? Or does He forgive you once you have proved to Him that you won't commit that sin again?Sincerely,
Just Wondering!
Dear Just Wondering,
The Scripture gives every indication that when a christian (it is different for those who aren’t already christians) sincerely repents and asks for forgiveness, they are immediately forgiven. God tells us to confess our sins, and we will be forgiven (1 Jn 1:9). Jesus told the disciples to forgive their brother immediately if he repented and asked for forgiveness (Lk 17:3-4). If we are expected to forgive immediately, it would only make sense that the Lord works the same way. Ps 34:18 says that God desires a contrite spirit and that He is near to those with a broken heart. When we confess our sins, God is looking for an attitude of sorrow and humility. If that attitude is there, the behavior will eventually follow.
