Can God forgiven anything? Absolutely, there is nothing that can separate us from the grace of God. How is sin forgiven? We ask God to forgive us because of His Son Jesus Christ.
Can I sin all I want? Yes?? If that’s my view of grace, then sinning makes God be all the more graceful and forgiving. That’s not the purpose of grace! Can you imagine taking the chains off a prisoner only to have them put them back on? Can you imagine a sick person discovering the source of the poison that is causing them to suffer only to take it again? That’s sin, a slavery that captures us, chains that can only be removed by forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Paul says in Romans chapter 6:
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him [Jesus] in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
Forgiveness is being set free. Forgiveness is what God created in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ’s purpose was to created that forgiveness on the cross for us by living a perfect life and dying an innocent death. Amazingly because of God’s grace our purpose is forgiveness however it is not to create opportunities for God to forgive us. It is our purpose to share that forgiveness with others to give forgiveness away instead of taking God’s forgiveness for ourselves.
When something is free we should be more willing to give it away. Give away what God gives us – forgiveness. Forgiveness is the opposite of being enslaved. What enslaves you? What thoughts, memories, or history is constantly bothering and taking all your energy? What wrongs have you received from others are you ready to be freed from by forgiveness? God’s power takes away their power and you are free. May that peace be yours I pray!
From an email:
I have a question. I thought that there is one sin that cannot be forgiven. In the book of Matthew I remember there is a passage that says that blasephamy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this age and any age to come . . . something like that, anyway. I never understood why there would be any unforgiveable sin. If you can spare a few minutes, could you clue in me some time?
Comment by trinityhawaii — January 11, 2008 @ 7:27 pm
My response:
That is true that the Bible points to that sin as unforgiveable (Matthew 12:31, Mark 3:29, Luke 12:10) but if a person repents they haven’t commited that sin so it is a strange puzzle. Blasphemy of the Spirit is continued, deliberate rejection of the working of the Spirit. So if a person responds to the call to repent of their sin they are responding to and affirming the work of the Holy Spirit (opposite of blasphemy). Does that help?
Comment by trinityhawaii — January 11, 2008 @ 7:27 pm