Can God forgive me?
The short answer is an emphatic, ‘YES’!
And a better question is then, ‘How will God forgive me?’
The Bible provides clarity: so you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus1. We are no longer under the law but under grace2, and must not continue to sin.
Under the Old Testament covenant mankind failed to stop sinning because they were weak through the flesh3. But in the New Testament this has changed. The problem that some so-called ‘Christian’ teachings face when confronted with the Bible directive to cease from sin is that the ability to carry this out has been denied.
The Bible described anointing of someone as a Christian4 occurs at the receiving of the Holy Spirit5, the experience Jesus said would bring power6 to the receiver and forgiveness of sin.
When you receive the Holy Spirit you have the accompanying power and capability to mortify (bring into subjection) the deeds of the flesh7 and cease from sin. The power of the Holy Spirit is tangible to you, and is evidenced by speaking in tongues. Without the Holy Spirit we would remain subject to the weakness of the flesh or natural ability. It is no wonder that Christ demonstrated His love for mankind by providing access to and emphasising the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit.
It is up to us to desire righteousness. As a Spirit-filled person you have been given the ability to follow the righteous example of Christ so that others can see the effect of the Holy Spirit working in you9. This means that as a Spirit-filled person you have, and should continue in, a real relationship with God.
It is important that once you become a Spirit-filled person not to fail God by continuing to sin or by explaining away the need to receive the Holy Spirit. As a Spirit-filled person, God’s ways are now in your mind and is to be your intent8.
Having the Holy Spirit dwelling inside you means that you can consider the right decisions that need to be made and have your thoughts established by God10. As you recognise that sin has no dominion over you and have the ability to pursue God’s way you will find that you can show a consistent righteous example to others by the power of the Holy Spirit within you.
It is exciting and comforting to realise that we are not expected to not sin by our own ability. Rather Christ has provided the strength and power to live righteously through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
It is encouraging to understand that we have access to the One who is able to keep each and every one of us from falling and to present us faultless at his return11.
[ 1] Romans 6:11 ESV [ 2] Romans 6:14 [ 3] Romans 8:1-4 [ 4] 1 John 2:27 [ 5] Acts 2:4 [ 6] Acts 1:8 [ 7] Romans 8:13 [ 8] Hebrews 8:10 [ 9] 1 Peter 2:15-21 [10] John 14:26, Proverbs 16:3 [11] Jude 24