BGEA: February 22: How bad do you have to be before God won't forgive you, no matter how sincere you are or how much you ask Him to?

How bad do you have to be before God won't forgive you, no matter how sincere you are or how much you ask Him to — j.McL.

No one can ever be so bad or so sinful that God will refuse to forgive him or her -- not if they are sincerely sorry for their sins and repent of them, and truly trust Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

Think, for example, of the Apostle Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples. After Jesus' arrest, Peter denied that he even knew Him -- not once, but three times -- and yet God forgave Peter when he repented and sought Christ's forgiveness. Peter went on to become a great leader in the early church.

On the other hand, Judas -- another of Jesus' 12 disciples -- was not forgiven for what he did. You'll remember that he betrayed Jesus by going to His enemies and promising to reveal where Jesus could be secretly seized by them. They paid 30 pieces of silver for his information, and Judas carried through on his promise -- resulting in Jesus' arrest and death. Later, Judas bitterly regretted what he had done -- but he never repented or turned to God, and he died unforgiven and lost.

I can't help but wonder, however, why you've asked this question. Are you afraid your sins are so great that God will never forgive you? If so, I have good news for you! God loves you, and Jesus Christ gave His life for you. Don't stay away from Him any longer, but open your heart and life to Him today. God's promise is for you: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

32 Comments

Dave says 3.1.2013, 3:39 p.m.

Paul, If you repent and follow Jesus you will be saved!

effiej says 3.1.2013, 3:01 p.m.

It truly is marvelous That God loved us so much. hard for me, now after having been saved, to understand how I could have ever rejected his Love and Grace. I am so thankful.

Charityfavour says 2.28.2013, 08:40 a.m.

God is faithful even in our unfaithfulness, to make heaven at last is my heart desire. Pls God forgive all my sins, and deliver me from power that hold me captive.

paul says 2.26.2013, 12:35 a.m.

I need jesus in my life, I don't want to go too hell

Enuma says 2.24.2013, 02:10 a.m.

The things i want to do,i dont do them,it is the thing i dont want to do that i find myself doing.how do i go abt this?i need a change.

caitlyn says 2.24.2013, 00:46 a.m.

In regards to what paul said, there's no end to the love of Christ. Many people struggle and go backwards in life and faith, but recommit themselves. I think you should pray for forgiveness and recommit yourself to Christ. He will never stop loving!!

Shane says 2.24.2013, 00:06 a.m.

I have always believed that God forgives when we repent, turn from our sins and decide to follw Christ's way of living and also continue to obey Him. Repentance establishes spiritual relationship with God. Continual Obedience etablishes eternity.

Joy says 2.23.2013, 10:42 a.m.

So glad, thankful that my Lord and Savior sent His only Begotten Son and Jesus took the cup and went to the Cross for me, my son, and my Family and whoever will receive and ask Him to come in to forgive them. Blasphemy is what is serious God knows!

Denise says 2.23.2013, 08:01 a.m.

I sometimes feel like I am not a great person I do not like myself very much I have been to confession about my past but lately I feel very alone very lonely pray for me so I can stop feeling so sad'

Mark says 2.23.2013, 07:53 a.m.

Please, Pray for me. I need God's help and vision.An I will always try to live in God's wishes to be good.

Jincy says 2.23.2013, 05:41 a.m.

Dear Sir,Thank you for this wonderful message. I am so glad that I ran towards Jesus and I choose to remain in my Lord forever. Yes, He forgave and cleansed me and I am sure He will do it for all those who run towards Him. Praise the Lord!!!!

Jincy says 2.23.2013, 05:40 a.m.

Debbie says 2.23.2013, 05:23 a.m.

Read Psalm 51 David repents before the Lord. He did try to hide sin at first but God cornered him. Repentance is to acknowledge the sin before God and have a changed mind. Jesus came to fully deal with our sin, go to Him; there is no other Savior.

NELLIE says 2.23.2013, 03:40 a.m.

Amen!

uche says 2.23.2013, 02:23 a.m.

Jesus died for our sins and He is our advocate. Though we sin everyday, we should know that we have an advocate and intercessor who is always interceding for us. So we should have faith and believe dat our sins are always forgiven both the ones we remember to confess and the ones we dont remember because Jesus intercedes for us. But being conscious of this dosen't mean we should dwell in sin that His grace may abound............xoxo

Wally says 2.22.2013, 9:37 p.m.

I think there are more than a few of us who have accepted Christ as our savior and have later fallen short of being (as we see it) worthy of His forgiveness. We fear for our security though we have repented and have sincerely changed.

Donna says 2.22.2013, 8:32 p.m.

Dear Paul, I used to be Baptist, and have been Cumberland Presbyterian for 33 years. We believe in "once saved, always saved" in both denominations, based on John 6:37. Read it and pray. I pray for you to find new joy and peace in Christ.

Charles says 2.22.2013, 6:30 p.m.

The unforgivable sin mentioned in the Bible is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. That is basically accrediting God's actions through the Holy Spirit as Satan's works. If a person does this, their heart is so hard they would never ask 4 forgiveness.

Jeanie says 2.22.2013, 5:37 p.m.

Can God forgive u if u committ suicide?

Sherrie says 2.22.2013, 3:49 p.m.

To Paul: God is encouraging you to come back home where you belong and to receive His forgiveness for the wrong choices you made in the past. He is not the accuser of the brethren. See Romans Chapter 8

juneva namchie says 2.22.2013, 3:34 p.m.

i want to stay close to God n leave all the bad things... please pray for me..

paul says 2.22.2013, 3:28 p.m.

I ACCEPTED CHRIST INTO MY HEART IN 91 BUT BACKSLID FOR YEARS.am i still Saved if i died today? nobody will tell me a straight answer.

Terri says 2.22.2013, 3:05 p.m.

I have read that there is an unpardonable sin of blasphemy of the Holy Ghost??

Reb says 2.22.2013, 2:58 p.m.

I have accepted Christ as Savior. However, I have a really bad habit of cutting remarks. I realize it when I do it and I feel badly and it almost makes me worse. I pray that the Lord will take this awful habit from me because it hurts my spouse.

Kathie says 2.22.2013, 2:57 p.m.

I just want to take a moment to Thank-You for being the incredible example that you have been! You are truly one of my biggest super hero's!! May God continue to bless you!Xo

Jai Kumar says 2.22.2013, 2:55 p.m.

Lord Jesus would have forgiven even Judas also.But he didnot come back.Lord Jesus said on the cross, Father forgive them they donot know what they are doing,and in John 6:37 says All that the Father giveth me shall come to me;and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. We should learn to come to God immediately, immediately,immediately with repentance. Defenetely God will forgive us. Actually I am more worse than Judas Ischariot.

Bianca says 2.22.2013, 2:53 p.m.

I THANKGOD FOR A POWERFUL MAN LIKE U BILLY ,U ARE MIgHTY AND WORTHY TO BE APPRECIATED WITH THE Work of god that u do.U ARE A BLESsing to all .

Antony says 2.22.2013, 2:45 p.m.

What a revalatory passage, so great and helpful to a stubbon and doubting sinners.

Martha says 2.22.2013, 2:43 p.m.

if Judas regretted what he did would that not be his hheart and be forgiven. I know we all sin everyday and fall short.. what if you die before you repent would you be eternally seperated from God and be deniged heaven? thank you I am born again.

KATHIE says 2.22.2013, 2:43 p.m.

God knows the particular problem I'm dealing with that makes me uncertain of my Relationship with Him but I rather not tell the world.

duke says 2.22.2013, 2:43 p.m.

amen. This also assures us that God has put value in us to be worthy of His forgiveness though how sinful we may be. Lets go before His throne knowing that Christ is interceding for us always and He has faith in us that we will make it.

Derrick says 2.22.2013, 2:32 p.m.

Am a big sinner in kenya and i have this demon in me making me so sinfull in the part of adultry,am praying everytime to stop adultry.please can you pray with me