God Forgives ALL, Doesn't He?
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin M Overfield
Date: Sat, 20 May 2000
God Forgives ALL, Doesn't He?
Recently, I was out knocking on new doors -- a little scary.
A man told me that he has not been attending church, but if he
ever does it will be the church in which his wife was brought up.
The following is the essence of the remainder of our conversion:
Me: "Well, the main thing is that we make it to Heaven."
Man: "He forgives ALL, doesn't He?"
Me: "That's not what the Bible says."
Man: "Doesn't It say, 'He forgives ALL our sins.'?"
Me: "IF ..."
Man: "I don't want to talk about it."
I then told him that I would pray for him, but I could tell
that he wanted to argue and to justify himself.
This man was apparently trying to hide under the old false
teaching of Universalism (the idea that everyone will be saved
regardless of how they live or what they believe), or some
variation of it, because he portrayed a feeling of false hope.
He was trusting that God was too nice to forgive some people
and/or sins, and not to forgive ALL others. But, God does NOT
unconditionally forgive ALL the sins of ALL people. The Bible
does NOT make any such blanket statement. What we really
find therein is that God will forgive all the sins of any individual in
answer to his prayer, true repentance, and simple faith in Christ. *
Many people are afraid to have their questions answered or
their assertions challenged, because they do not want to face their
personal responsibility for their sins. It is a very sad fact that they
are willing to run the risk of forfeiting Heaven and being cast into
the Lake of Fire, where, as Jesus thrice repeated, "the fire is not
quenched" (Mark 9:44-48).
Oh, dear people, it is God Who alone can justify us and give
us a safe entry into that eternal city of God. And, we must listen
to what He has said in His Word, if we expect to be forgiven of
our sins and justified before Him.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)
Yes, God will and He DOES forgive all people of all their sins IF
they will truly meet His conditions, come to His terms, or surrender
to His requirements (different ways of saying the same thing).
IT MATTERS NOT HOW WICKED THE SINNER MAY BE
IT DOES NOT MATTER --
How MANY sins he has committed,
How AWFUL his sins may be,
How LONG he has been sinning,
How HOPELESS his case may seem,
How IMPOSSIBLE it is for him break his sinful habits,
How UNFORGIVING people may be toward him,
How much LIGHT he has SINNED AGAINST,
Nor
How CONVINCING the feeling of "God could never forgive me.",
IF -- IF -- IF ONLY that sinner will come to God through
Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no
wise cast out." (John6:37).
"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have
mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
(Isaiah 55:7).
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they
be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
* See Bible Note titles, "What Must I Do to Be Saved?", "Except You
Repent", and the series on Repentance.
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
Please send this Bible Note to everyone who may be interested or helped by
it. To subscribe to these FREE Bible Notes please send a blank e-mail to
[email protected]