wait a minute! god will forgive you more than once for the same sin?

Question

i just read the answers to this question about whether you can be forgiven more than once for the same sin.

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aqe5kN4dBgICkI4s6k2lcX7lPhV.?qid=20070413122636AAtHIAh

christians were saying yes!

this doesn't make sense! i have been told that if you truly repent something then you will be forgiven. and that to truly repent means there is no way you will do it again because you were so repulsed by your actions, and you wholy give your heart to god.

so why is it that christians are saying YES, you will be forgiven if you truly repent again? isn't this just a scape goat to do whatevery you want?

i'm pagan and just trying to make some sense of things.

GARY - that's my point! if you no longer want to sin, then why would you have to be forgiven more than once for the same sin? or for other sins for that matter

Answer 1

You make a very valid point my friend.
In my opinion it's because everyone is on a different learning curve, so what one person interprets to be true isn't neccesarily agreed upon by others within the christian community. So much of their beliefs are left to personal interpretation. Just so you know, I was born and raised Christian, Catholic in fact, and I've turned away from those beliefs and found more harmony in pagan and buddhist principles simply because no one under the Christian umbrella ever agrees and that to me basically says that there isn't very much truth in it.

Answer 2

I can understand how you might be feeling confused by this statement although it is true and I will try to explain.

Christians (those that truly accept Christ as their savior and redeemer) are no more capable of living a sin free life than anyone else...thus they will sin.

Being saved is simply being saved from the eternal damnation in hell that those who do not accept Jesus will face. However, we WILL BE JUDGED for our sins just like everyone else. Exactly what the punishment for sins of believers will be I do not know...It does not say...but it is clear that even believers will be judged.

In the Bible...Jesus was preaching to a crowd of people and he made the statement "the meek shall inherit the earth". Perhaps this means that those Christians that do not meet a specific level of goodness will remain on the new earth after the second coming of Christ. Those that surpass the specific level will go to heaven. (I am not stating this as what it means ....only that it could mean that)

However, it is also stated in the Bible that God tells us to forgive seventy times seven if someone sins against us...so I have to assume that is what he will do also.

Answer 3

So what is sin to you then? Sin is just that you are not right with God. We would never make it by law. If you break even one law, you are a law breaker and you would not make it.

Repentance is the change that produces the desire to be right with God. Like overeating is a sin. Do you think God would be just He only forgave more than once for that. We are saved by the mercy and grace only. Jesus is the way.

You might not forgive more than once, but you are not God.And if you are not willing to forgive, how can you ask forgiveness from God?

Surrendering to God means that we are not capable of living up to our commitment. God forgives. We need to let Him to be in control. Then He forgives. He knows our hearts. I do not know how this all would work any other way. Love is a choice. : )

Answer 4

It is 100% possible to feel so ashamed and revolted by your actions at one point, but as time moves on and the memory of your previous action becomes distant, as well as the feeling of disgust that you experienced, you do the same act of sin once again. It is possible that afterwards, once again, you are truly disgusted and repent whole-heartedly. True repentance is not easy, it doesn't just mean a shrug of your shoulders and saying I am sorry. You actually have to feel ashamed of your sin and you have to leave believing that you will try all your best to avoid it in the future.

Answer 5

Many people repent and try not to. And they fail and they try again.

It is nature of man to sin. If we sinned twice after we repented then are we not forgiven?

We are all struggling. Everyone.

Christians, repent and fail again.

Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

The fact of the matter is that we all fail. In failure, our true person comes out. If we decide we had it and just don't try any more then that person has decided to move away from God.

As long as we have the humbleness to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit we'll see that it's "God's kindness that leads us to repentance."

Answer 6

God looks at the heart! Jesus told His followers to forgive people 70 x 7. Don't you think God is just as generous? Not that we should willingly take advantage of His graciousness! But sometimes we struggle with certain sins for a season and God does not throw us away because of it. We must remember that God is the one who works in us to do what He desires. He is the one that makes us righteous and cleans us up. We choose to walk in step with Him, but we can never obey God apart from His grace. Being sanctified is a process and doesn't happen overnight; there's too much to be cleaned up and God does that step by step. It's important that we do the thing He's workin' on in us at the moment.
He is very patient and loving Father and part of that love is discipline when needed. He will discipline those He loves as Heb. 12:6 says. But yes, He is the greatest forgiver! He isn't a strike-three and you're out type of God but neither will He just ignore our rebellion forever. God loves us enough to move us to live Holy lives!

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:6;&version=

Answer 7

So long as the love of God remains, Christians will be able to apologize, repent, and receive forgiveness for sin as many times as necessary, until our earthly existence is at an end.

And since God is love ... there's no question at all about the continued availability of his mercy and his grace.

Catholics, all around the world, celebrate God's Divine Mercy every year, on the first Sunday after Easter.

It's not a license to sin. It is what it is ... abundant mercy, granted to all the faithful, simply because God desires all to be saved from their sins, and to personally come to the knowledge of his grace, his truth, and his love.

Answer 8

Yes, you will be forgiven if you are in Christ Jesus. There is not too many sins or a sin too bad that cannot be forgiven through the grace of God that is in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Repentance, is a change of mind and heart. When one becomes a believer in Jesus Christ they receive the Holy Spirit to be their counselor. The Holy Spirit changes their mind and heart to the things of God. Those who follow the Spirit are under grace. However, we sometimes fall into sin because we follow the flesh and not the Spirit. When this happens we have a mediator in Heaven who is true and faithful and will forgive us our sin, Jesus Christ. After we are forgiven by Christ Jesus he picks us back up again by the power of the Holy Spirit so we may continue to strive for prize of eternal life that is in Jesus Christ. A true believer has a heart of repentance and reverence towards God because of the Holy Spirit, and the only way to receive the Holy Spirit is to have faith in Jesus Christ and all He has done for us. My friend I pray you will accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior so you too may experience eternal life and worship the only true living God. Peace be with you.

Answer 9

some human beings, Mafia mobsters frequently, wait until eventually they are on their deathbeds and then call for a priest to come back and forgive them for a whole life of evil deeds. i'm uncertain how that contraptions with God or if that's what Jesus had in suggestions. i think of you would be extra forward by questioning of the human beings you would be hurting, by stealing from them, case in point, and then no longer doing the deed, and per risk doing a charitable deed fairly, like status up for somebody who's being picked on in school or paying for somebody's lunch with your very own funds. by the way, you do no longer ought to be forgiven for masturbating. that's so which you will delight in all you desire. that's common, organic, and harms no person, which includes you. One much less element to sense to blame approximately. circulate forth and sin not greater.

Answer 10

God will forgive for numerous sins, as long as there is true repentance. You have the wrong definition of repentance. It is regret for sinning, and a true want to not to repeat it. But, humans are flawed beings, and will continue to sin and seek repentance. As long as you are not asking for forgiveness as a "get out of jail free" card and you intent is to make a conscious decision to live your life as morally correct as you can, you will be forgiven. You cannot live your life w/o repeating sins, like lying. As much as you try, there will always be slip ups. You just have to keep trying to live in a better way. Repentance is asking forgiveness with regret with good intentions for your future actions, but everyone sins...everyday. You just try again, and ask for forgiveness with each misstep,

Answer 11

No one is perfect and we will all fall to temptation. I think you can truly repent from something but end up doing it again. It is not a scape goat to do whatever you want because you have to truly regret your actions. You should not do something simply because you know God will forgive you for it but God will even forgive you for that. It is hard to believe that you can be accepted by God no matter what you have done.