When someone behaves unfairly toward another individual, it strains their connection and puts the offender in debt to the victim. He must make up for whatever harm or loss the other person has experienced, whether it is materially or psychologically. Giving up any demand for payment, letting go of any animosity toward the offender, and attempting to mend the relationship are all part of forgiving the wrongdoer.
In Luke 15:11–32, Jesus shares a touching parable of a father and son as an illustration of forgiveness. By claiming the portion of his father’s property that he is entitled to in the future, traveling abroad, and squandering the money there, the son has caused much pain to his father. The father is no longer hopeful that he will see his son again. However, the son goes home after realizing his mistake and finds himself in serious danger. Instead of rejecting him, the father gives him hugs, kisses, and a joyous dinner. He gives his son his whole forgiveness.
We are in debt to God
According to the Bible, all people owe something to the Almighty God. God is entitled to expect our perfect devotion because He created us as good and righteous individuals whose mission it was to exalt Him. However, ever since the first humans chose to reject their Creator, they have all become sinners. According to Romans 3:23, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Sin affects all of us; we consistently disobey God’s demand to love Him above all else and to love other people as ourselves, and we deny God the respect He deserves. That makes us guilty and strains our bond with the Almighty.
God wants to forgive us
God, being righteous, will not merely “forget about it” and pardon our transgression. Eliminating all debt is the only way to mend the relationship between God and humanity. However, no human being is capable of doing this—not even the most well-known religious authority. Forgiveness is something we cannot “buy” with cash, goods, or anything else. God already owns the entire globe; He doesn’t need anything from us.
We cannot live exceptionally virtuous lives to atone for our transgressions. Even our excellent deeds are not pure, according to the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 64:6). When we keep failing to live up to God’s expectations, it only gets worse. Paul the apostle affirms this in Romans 3:20, saying that “no human being will be justified by works of the law.” The law merely reveals our true sinfulness. The depressing conclusion is that we are unable to reconcile with God on our own.
The Lord knows that we are unable to make amends with Him. But because He does not want humanity to perish, He provides a remedy on His own. God the Son was prepared to bear the sin and guilt load and [to pay the price by giving His life in lieu of ours]. For the redemption of sins, He shed His blood on behalf of many (Matthew 26:28). The issue of human sin could only be resolved by the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. Hebrews 9:22 states, “There is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood; only a perfect sacrifice would suffice.” Thus, in order to atone for sins, God the Son took on the form of a man.
How can we be forgiven?
Our sin has been paid for by Jesus. The only thing left to do is to acknowledge and apologize for our transgressions, or to confess our sins. God desires our forgiveness and the mending of our connection if we accomplish this. He is comparable to the father in Luke 15’s narrative. He enjoys pardoning! According to Luke 15:7, there is happiness in heaven for every sinner who turns from their ways.
What if I sin again?
Seeking and being granted forgiveness is a continuous process. We are prone to sin as long as we are here on earth. The Bible says, “If we say we have no sins, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us,” which is a pretty realistic statement. John 1:8. However, the next line makes it plain that we do not have to let our sin keep us from God: “God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to clean us from all unrighteousness if we confess our sins.” (1 John 1:9). We are set free when we own up to our sins. God will pardon us if we really feel guilty for our transgression.
Do we need to confess every sin in order to be forgiven?
The scriptures mentioned above raise the following query: Will God pardon me if I pass away before confessing a specific sin? Or will these unrepentant acts force me to lose everything? You don’t have to worry about losing your salvation, no. No one is able to admit to all of their transgressions. Many of our sins are readily forgotten. Our relationship with God is only hampered when we willfully choose not to confess specific sins because we find great satisfaction in them and do not want to give them up. Our connection with the Lord suffers as a result.
Relationship with God
Allow me to cite several Bible verses that speak to the profound transformation of your connection with God that occurs upon becoming a believer.
- God takes you in as a child: “Look at the love the Father has for us, that we might be called His children.” John 3:1.
- You were once darkness, but you are now light: “Because you were once darkness.” Ephesians 5:8 says, “But now you are light in the Lord.”
- God raised you from spiritual death, where you were before. “God raised us with Christ from the dead, even when we were dead in our sins,” Ephesians 2:1–4.
- As stated in 1 Corinthians 12:27, “Now you are the body of Christ,” you have joined the church, which is the body of Christ.
- All of your sins have been forgiven: Acts 10:43 states, “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
- You hold a unique status and are God’s property: “But you are a royal priesthood, a chosen race. 1 Peter 2:9 “A holy nation, a people for His own possession.”
- In Jesus’ hands, you have an eternally safe place as a sheep: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.” John 10:28 states, “And no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
Does all of this alter when we as Christians commit sins? No, it is still true. Does it make a difference if we die without confessing that sin? No, it is still true. These all represent God’s children’s status in his eyes and are promises made to them without condition.
Confess your sins to God
Our position as a child of God has not changed. But the relationship has changed. A child can do something to make his parents angry or sad. But it does not mean he is not their child anymore. Yet he needs to confess and to better his life to repair his relationship with his parents. The same is true for God’s children. God’s love for you has not changed. You have not lost your salvation through sinning. But to be close to God again, to restore the relationship, you need to confess your sin and receive His forgiveness. Besides, when you are aware of a certain sin, why would you refrain from confessing it to God? Read Psalm 32 to find out how much hindrance it gave David, all the time he didn’t confess his sin with Bathsheba. We are called to confess our sins and break with them.
You won’t go to hell if you are a believer and you have unconfessed crimes when you pass away, so why would you do that? Don’t put off admitting them! You can live a happy and fulfilling life with the Lord if you confess your sins and accept God’s pardon.
