I am having trouble with the concept of "forgiveness" as it pertains to God's forgiveness towards myself.

Question

I have not lived a good life and have recently thinking about all of the bad things I've done. I am very depressed as I feel I have not done the "good things" in life. I am not a criminal or anything like that but I have sinned many times and I'm just feeling as if there is no hope for me.

Answer 1

While living do not lost your hope in life. You ask forgiveness of your sins to God and pray for a help from God. Get a bible and read it
jtm

Answer 2

No, don`t give up! Do you know, I think it`s true to say that all of us have things in our lives that we regret doing.
Look, I suggest that you keep aside a moment in the day or night when you pray that all those people you may have harmed, in some way or other, should forgive you. Try to put yourself at peace with them all. Imagine you are speaking to them and saying to them you are sorry, that you love them and want them to forgive you. You will actually feel Love flowing out of yourself towards them! Yes! You will, if you try.
This will make you feel so much happier, as at some time or another they will "know" that you are saying sorry and wanting to make peace with them. If they can`t forgive you then that is their problem, not yours. You`ve done your best.
It`s never too late to change. That is what living this life is about...Living and experiencing it, making mistakes but trying to learn from them and becoming, as a result, wiser and better people.
Why not try reading and consulting the I Ching? It`s amazing, and so wise! If you get into the habit of consulting this wonderful book of Wisdom it will change you and help you to live a very different life which you can then be proud of.
Good luck with the new and happier YOU !

Answer 3

This is the kind of question asked by someone on the verge of making some serious life changes for the better, so let me see if I can help the process along a little bit.

God's forgiveness is all about the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord in the person of Jesus Christ. "He died for our sins." The forgiveness of the Lord is therefore something YOU ALREADY HAVE.

Read that again: The forgiveness of the Lord is therefore something YOU ALREADY HAVE.

No matter how good I am, I will never earn God's forgiveness -it is a gift, period. That's pretty profound because on the one hand it means you are accepted as you are, but on the other hand, it frees and empowers you to do good, to start anew as an agent of God's love -not simply to "pay off" an old debt.

That's the God part. Now on to the people part. Asking their forgiveness, or acceptance of your apology, may or may not be well-received. But that's not the point. It is your CONFESSION of what you have done to wrong them and your ASKING for acceptance of your apology (or forgiveness) that is important. This is where you do your inventory-taking of all the actions (or failures to take action) that have injured or wronged other people. Confronting them honestly with your self-assessment is some of the early evidence that God has, indeed, forgiven you. Trust me, like-minded people of faith, character and good will will "get it." The others will not, and in fact may take the opportunity to really tell you what they think of you. That, too, can help wash your soul. Either way, you owe them you confession and apology. That's the people part.

Now, let's tie these two together with the bed-rock commandments of the Christian faith (and most others, as well): When our Lord was asked, as a test by the pharisees, for the greatest commandment in Jewish law, he said: "Love God and love your neighbor as yourself." He drew the material straight out of scripture, and there were actually TWO commandments: 1) Love God and, 2) love your neighbor. THEN he astounded them all by adding this: "On these two commandments hang all the law and ther prophets." He was referring to the 600+ OTHER Jewish laws and regulations which, over time, had become the underpinning of right living for the devout believers of that day.

Back to your "sin" concerns. As you can see, the 2 great commandments cover it all -the sins against God for which you are already forgiven, and the sins against people (love your neighbor) which you will own up to.

So, what about the part that says, "on these 2 commandments hang all the law and the prophets?" If your concern over your life leads you to seek out a faith community -a church- you will find that, no matter WHAT church you join or belong to, it will have many customs, beliefs, traditions, doctrines, etc. And furthermore, that these will differ from other churches. And worse, yet, some church leaders and followers will insist that the OTHER churches have it all wrong. Not much has changed since the day our Lord walked, has it? But all that argument and controversy is just today's version of "all the law and prophets." And, as Jesus told us, NONE of it matters UNLESS it upholds and advances the two great commandments. And so, not eating meat because today is Friday may be a good thing if this mild fasting helps you focus on your faith, but it might be a bad thing if you refused to share a meal at your neighbor's table. After all is said and done in the church community, what matters is what's in YOUR heart -not theirs.

Now as to doing "good things." The very first good thing you can do is the one you ARE doing: thinking about your relationship with God. The idea is (and it is the FIRST idea in the Bible) is that we're supposed to have a good time! As you "get right" in your relationship with God, you will also get right with other people and the world itself. You will naturally and automatically do "good things" and take great joy in the smallest acts of kindness given and received.

Did you say "no hope?" Are you reading this ...getting my drift. Poof! There goes the hope problem.

I've taken a lot of words to say a few simple things, so let me close with this summary:

1. You are already forgiven by God, no matter how bad you haver been.

2. If you've wronged people, 'fess up, apologize.

3. 2 rules: Love God and love your neighbor.

4. All the other rules depend on #3.

5. You're already doing good.

6. Enjoy yourself.

Have a great day!

Edit: Having just submitted this to your question, I see all the other responses. What more evidence of God's love and forgiveness do you need? We are all so ready to help each other! Go thou ...and do likewise. Welcome home.

Answer 4

No matter what you have done Jesus will forgive you, if you ask in sincerity.

When Jesus gave his life, he gave as a sacrifice for all. That means you to. It doesn't matter if we haven't done the good things before. Once we are saved we are forgiven and the Lord does not remember the sinful things anymore. Your slate is wiped clean.

The devil is an accuser of the brethren. That is including you. As long as he keep accusing you and you keep listening to him he will keep you down. Tell him to get thee behind me Satan.

Don't let him stop you. Read the Bible daily. Go to church. Pray daily. Remember you are only defeated if you let the devil tell you that you are. You have been bought by the blood of Jesus. He did not die in vain, the blood he shed was for you. For your salvation. Keep you eyes on Jesus and he will help you.

Everyone that is born into this world has sinned. From the smallest to the greatest we have sinned. No matter even if you are a mass murderer. The Lord will forgive you. He said he would. Just have faith. The Lord has given to every man the measure of faith. That faith is in you right now you just have to find it. That's why I say read your Bible. Because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

I'll pray for you. Have faith and doubt not.

Answer 5

Do not feel bad because there are a lot of human beings in this world who did a lot of bad things, I think that you should confess your sins and pray for God's forgiveness, if God can forgive all of those people who murdered and destroyed other people, I think that He can cut you some slack, just change your ways and try to become a good person.

Answer 6

You are exactly on the right track!!

Yes, you have sinned - and so have we ALL. "There is none righteous, no, not one"

And that is exactly why God sent Jesus to be the payment for all of our sins. Through Him we are justified. That means that you are absolved of your sins if you only repent of them (repent - acknowledge that you are sorry, that you chose sin over the greater good God has for you, and then turn from your ways) . He really does remove them from you! And He forgets them. He looks at you and He sees Jesus.

Do you believe this? If so, you are saved. And 'there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus".

Have you read the book of Romans? Actually... the whole New Testament - it totally freed me.

And if your feelings still condemn you, think about it this way. A man runs over his neighbor's cat. He feels horrible, he pulls over and picks up the cat and carries it to his neighbor and they both cry and the man profusely apologizes. The neighbor says, I know you're sorry, I forgive you. The man says, can I help you bury your cat? And so they do. The neighbor hugs the man, tells him not to worry any longer, that it's ok, that he still considers him his friend.

Well, the next day, the man is still wracked with guilt... and so he goes, and digs up the cat, and brings it back to the neighbor, and says, "i just couldn't sleep all night, I feel so bad, can I help you bury him again?"

And so on... so it doesn't make sense to keep digging up your sins. Once you're forgiven, that's it. You're forgiven - you're justified - you're received just as if you had never sinned. Not because of who you are, but because of who HE is.

I'd recommend you read Desiring God by John Piper.

Psalm 103
10 He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him;

14 for He knows how we are formed,
He remembers that we are dust.

Answer 7

All Christians must strive for purity and holiness. However, all sin and cannot prevent this!

We can and must prevent the willful practice of sin.

However, for those that feel overly depressed there is this to say, most need to read about the terrible crimes of King Manasseh -- an evildoer, mass murderer, etc.

Still, God forgave him because of genuine repentance. Are you a mass murderer -- you said it yourself -- you are not a criminal. Then cheer up. Do good Christians work that befit repentance, and have faith that if you do what you can to serve God, he will forgive you through the blood of Christ.

See Christian Good Works
http://www.bythebible.page.tl/

Answer 8

First - if you're not a criminal, then you're no worse than me. No one's perfect, no matter how some people may think they are. Perhaps there is a medical explanation for your depression, and you should talk to your doctor about it.

Second - I hate to preach, and I'm in no position to speak for God, but something tells me nothing would make Him (or Her, or Whoever) happier than for you to repent for whatever it is you feel is wrong. You're His child, why on earth would He turn you away if you're sorry in your heart?

The best thing to do is learn from your mistakes, and move on from them. Mistakes are not necessarily bad things, as long as you take a lesson away from them. Do something nice for someone today, no matter how small it may seem - hold the door open for someone, or just smile at them and brighten their day a little. Also, talk to God, tell Him you're sorry, and know in your heart that you just made His day as well!

Answer 9

We all were born in sin and shape in iniquity non of us are perfect Jesus did not come because we were righteous he came to redeem sinners to him. There is always hope where there is life there is hope and God is our hope. The thing is we can ask Him to forgive us of the sins that we have committed and for him to give us the strength not to do it anymore He is there with open arms to forgive us. If you do not want to continue to fall prey to your weaknesses just ask Him to lead and guide you in the right direction. Pray for that spirit of depression to be removed from you. Please do not give up Draw close to God and He will Draw close to you. I will be praying for you. God Bless

Answer 10

Then you have not been to the cross. Its at the cross that ones burdens are lifted. God is perfectly just and rightly so does the conscious bother us with guilt. But at the cross we see all our sin paid for in full. A truly righteous man was there on our behalf paying for our sin so that the justice of God would be upheld completely. His sacrifice is an atonement for sin. Not only that but those who are united to Him by faith receive His perfect righteousness. That is why He had to be without sin. It is a substitution. He gets and pays for our sin, we get His perfect righteousness. You will never live a life good enough to sooth the heart but in Christ all our burdens are lifted.