Christians: How do I know that I've been forgiven of my sins?

Question

I've accepted Christ as my savior and recently rededicated my life to the Lord. Today, I've been trying to get my mind around the idea that God has forgiven me of my sins. Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood for my sins ... but I'm having trouble getting my mind around how this works. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not doubting my faith at all ... I just somehow don't understand the mechanics of this.

Answer 1

Imho, in a nutshell, the mechanics go like this:

1. God has set an axiom: The wages of sin is death.
2a. We all have sinned so we all deserve death.
2b. Nothing else can satisfy Gods righteousness but death
3. since the sin and consequential death came from man, righteousness and consequential restoration and life needed to come through man as well. But since man was "infected", unable and even unwilling to undertake such a task, he was fatefully lost. The only one qualified was God himself, so God himself manifested in the flesh and accomplished everything as a man and that is why "the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh". Romans 5:18-19 says “So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life. For as through the <> many were made sinners, even so through <> will many be made righteous.
4. Now (and if I have understood correctly, this is your main area of struggle) the “problem” is “how can an innocent person die for a guilty one?”
Jesus died because he took our place. That is what the Scripture announces. He was not merely a substitute. It is always difficult for us to understand how an innocent person can die for a guilty one, and set him free. But the Scriptures do not really teach that he was only a substitute, in that sense. There is an identity involved. What Scripture says is that he actually BECAME US: "He who knew no sin, was made sin for us," {cf, 2 Cor 5:21}. And when he became what we are, God put him to death, because that is what we deserve. Scripture honestly faces right up to the fact of our guilt.
5. Now God’s justice is satisfied for all who accept this sacrifice. If you are born again, you no longer are the person you used to be. That person died, the moment Jesus died on the cross. God does not see any of the sins of the person you were. They are paid. It’s over. It’s like you never did them in the eyes of God. He threw them to the depths of the oceans. He chooses not to remember them any more. After all it is not the NEW “you” that did them. It is the OLD “you” that did them but now the OLD “you” is dead (and so God’s justice ware satisfied). From now on, if you unintentionally sin you have the prerogative to repent and invoke the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His blood to cleanse you

Remember that Spiritual things are Spiritually discerned, so keep prayerfully studying your Bible and God will teach you through His Holly Spirit the truth of His Son.
God bless you

Answer 2

I had the same problem for a while--but then I realized that God said "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Acts 2:21. Now, if you've been reading the Bible you know that there are many verses promising salvation to those who yield to the Lord and the point is that these are PROMISES.
You have to ask yourself "Is He capable of doing what He says He will do?" The answer, of course, is Yes.
This means that you will have to trust Him to do what He says He will do whether you "feel" saved or not. This isn't about how you feel, or what you understand, or how He does it. It has everything to do with believing that He will do it because He's promised to do it and He cannot and will not go back on His word.
Don't depend of your emotions or thoughts, depend on His word.

Answer 3

sorry to break this to you dude, but there are no mechanics or reason behind the ways and teachings in the bible. You sound a bit confused about it all, i know i would be if i was in your shoes.

Looked at under the glaring light of reason, the bible really makes no sense what so ever. just because a lot people 'believe' in jesus and god does not actually mean they exist. Get this - more people in this world dont believe in christianity than do ... stats

6 billion people in this world
2 billion people believe in jesus
4 BILLION PEOPLE DONT BELIEVE IN JESUS

The numbers say it all really... the evidence points to the fact that "god" does not exist (god, a concept created by mankind for his own ends) If god was real then everyone in the world would have aligned to the one true god... but seeing as no god exists, there is just a mixed up mess of religions out there in the world

I am sure in a 1000 years or so christianity will be a relic of a forgotten time... just the same way we dont mummify our dead and bury them in pyramids anymore...

All the best... but dont expect to get to this 'heaven' that everyone goes on about... although when you die it's all too late to cry "what a scam chritianity is!"

I have just seen that repenting sin in your religion means slaughtering innocent animals - you better sharpen your machette :-)

Answer 4

Hello my friend.I'm a Muslim.From an Islamic point of view,there's is no specific way to tell you if there is any sign that your sins has been forgiven by the Lord.I guess the most important thing is to stay away anything that is religiously and morally wrong.Just do a good and right things the right way.If you're sincere enough,i believe God will show you a right path.

Answer 5

If you accepted Christ and you were uncondionally saved, then what is the use of disseminating so many many Bibles?
The Bible is the teaching of the meaning of acceptance, of sin and of salvation.
Acceptance of Him means that you promise to obey Him, you repent from sins.
Sin is to act against His commandments.
Salvation is your complete abandonment of all wrong actions of the past and TO DO HIS BIDDINGS from now on, based on the teachings in the Bible.
So, the conclusion about salvation is your knowledge of the Bible and your observance of the teachings of Christ. It is not an unconditional thing or a blind mechanism.

This is what Christ has clearly said:
7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
(King James Bible, Matthew)

Answer 6

You pray for forgiveness and thank God through his Son Jesus Christ for all the blessings you receive. What ever it was that you did and asked to be forgiven for, you should not do it again. You should learn by your mistake. But you should also forgive yourself. Pray again, don't carry this burden around. Pray for understanding and keep the faith.

Answer 7

I have only been a christian for 2 yrs,before that I done my share of sinning,and asked god for forgiveness,and I would wonder the same thing pertaining to your question.and now I know why,You cannot pretend with God,nor can you with most people.If you ask for forgiveness because your head tell's you to,what you are really asking is for God or other's to cut you some slack for your benifit.It has to come from the heart and not the head.Down on my knee's with tear's flowing,filled with remorse and sorrow,for breaking god's heart or somebody's.When you feel pain then you can rid yourself of guilt,And feel the grace of god upon you,or somebody,and know you have been forgiven.please don't be offended by anything I've said,I'm just another opinion.God Bless to you.

Answer 8

I do not agree with your idea on prophet Jesus (pbuh) as I am not a Christian. But I believe in the one God Almighty and I believe that His forgiveness cannot be doubted.
There is no mechanism to run this.
Never doubt the power of God to forgive. And you will know in heart that you're forgiven when you repent of your sins sincerely: When you mean what you pray and when you STOP the wrong doing forever.

We are all bound to make mistakes, but he who repents and corrects himself and goes back to the path of righteousness with all heart is saved.

Answer 9

When you ask for forgiveness from God, do you truly mean it from your heart (are you sincere?)? If so you truly will be forgiven. Have heart , it just takes a little faith. Don't try understanding the mechanics try to accept it and hold on to what you know is the truth.

Answer 10

Dear brother the thought of GOD is not like human beings, JESUS has died for sins that you have not done yet, but.
1 John 2
1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for[a] the sins of the whole world.

And do not under valuate the blood of JESUS