Are Some Sins More Forgivable Then Others? Short Answer Yes…and No

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It only takes one sin; just one and we are denied entry to the kingdom of heaven. (James 2:10) We have essentially broken God’s law, all of it. God is holy, sinless and perfect. We are in fact told by Jesus Himself to be perfect, Matthew 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Any sin before God is breaking His law, transgressing His will. As it applies to God’s forgiveness, the exact sin we have committed does not matter. If we come before God with a repentant heart and ask His forgiveness, He is righteous and just to forgive us. Lets say that you have lied about something to a friend, ask and God will forgive you. Now lets say you have brutally abused someone, tormented them…ask and God will forgive you. Or lets say you have murdered someone, again ask God and He will forgive you…of course you have to be truly sorry for what you have done. God can and He will forgive any sin, the sin does not matter. There is one sin that is not forgivable and does carry eternal consequences and that is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. I am not going to cover that here. You can read about it here and here

Unfortunately in my experience, people are another matter. Here is a prime example, homosexuality. This is a sin let there be no doubt. So are murder, lying, and stealing. However, people being human find some sins easily forgivable, and some either very difficult to forgive if not impossible. This happens in many of today’s churches, and it ought not to be.

As Christ forgives us, we are to forgive others. There is another twist to this as well…and this is the unforgiveness of sins not even committed against us. Lets say that a person learns something about someone else in church for example. This other person has lets say abused his/her children in the past, but is no longer doing these things. Many will not forgive this; they will in fact have nothing to do with that person. This is so wrong…and the sin was not even committed against the person withholding forgiveness.

It is not our “right” to NOT forgive people. Yes we all struggle with forgiveness including me of course. What I’m saying is that we have no right to deny forgiveness. What someone has done does not matter in the slightest. We are to forgive, and that does not mean if the person asks, that does not matter. It also does not mean that we are allowed to hold things against people, or deny them fellowship because of something they have done. Consider the Apostle Paul and what he did before Jesus got a hold of him.

People change…does your attitude change with them? Again, we all for sure including me struggle at times to forgive, especially when it is intensely personal. I condemn no one here. I am pointing out that we are not allowed to do this.

What bothers me the most is the attitude of many churches today. This and that are forgivable, but if you have done THIS, or maybe THAT, then we cannot forgive that. The church might even make it known that some simply are not welcome. Now I’m not talking about the guy who shows up drunk and disrupts the service, he needs to be dealt with…but even he should be removed to a place where someone can at least try to help him, or get him home and follow up later. We are not free to decide who is forgivable and who is not! That is God’s provision, and His alone. Let us not be guilty of trying to fill God’s shoes, we cannot, nor will He take that lightly.

Back to God for a moment to wrap up this article. While God will forgive a sincere heart any sin, that does not in a different sense mean all sins are the same. While God forgives, God also punishes. We WILL receive punishment due us according to the severity of the sin while yet in the body. Lets say that you have said bad things about someone behind their back…maybe that person will “somehow” find out. Say you kill someone, you will probably get caught and go to jail. Maybe you are not who and what you say you are, people will find out.

Yes God will forgive, yes He will in a way forget your sins, (God forgets nothing) meaning that when you show up in heaven before Him, you will not be judged for those sins, rather you will be judged on what you did or did not do for His kingdom with what he gave you. Those who are still “in” their sins will not be so fortunate.

Anyone who does not have the forgiveness of God WILL be judged for their sins. Just as there are different levels of reward for the Believer in heaven, there will be different levels of punishment in hell for the unbeliever.

Do your best to be forgiving of others, be forgiving towards yourself as well. I was reminded of this truth today in fact, if God has forgiven you, then you need to forgive yourself as well.

Remember forgiveness does not mean tolerating sin, or condoning it. There is much hoopla today about homosexuality for example. Homosexuality is a sin, period. There is no arguing this; God said it is a sin so it is a sin. However, many people mistakenly decide to hold this sin against these people…and now they themselves are sinning. Hate the sin, love the person…condemn the sin, not the person. Granting forgiveness in no way makes you neither weak, nor does it mean you are ok with someone’s wrongdoing. It means you have taken a step God Himself asks of you, you have forgiven…you choose not to hold something against someone anymore.

Think of all the things only you and God know you have done, He forgave you these things…can you do any less?

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Related articles

• Are YOU committing idolatry in your walk with Christ? (believinggodtoday.com)
• “Forgive To Be Forgiven” (rcvisionministry.wordpress.com)
• About Forgiveness Of Sins- Don Robbins (Article) Poster (donrobbins.typepad.com)
• The power of forgiveness (pastormikesays.wordpress.com)
• Forgiveness (motivatingdaily.com)

Filed under: BIBLICAL ANSWERS, BODY OF CHRIST, FAMILY, OP-ED Tagged: Apostle Paul, Christianity, Faith, Forgiveness, Jesus, judgement, Sin, Unforgiveness

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