Can I be Forgiven? Am I in Sin?

Choco143

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I am new here and do not know where to place this.
Christ saved me about a year ago. I know that I am saved, and forgiven of all of my sins. Yet, as a teenager, I was in the wrong crowd and got drug into crime. This would include smoking, stealing, and drinking. I never paid the price.
As an adult, I continuously feel like God will not forgive me unless I confess against the people I committed the crimes against and pay the price. I went to a local police officer that I know, who also happens to be a pastor, and confessed what I did. He said that Jesus paid my debt and that I should move on. But how? I did not pay. He said Jesus paid.
Am I being sinful by not confessing? I just feel so dirty. I was only a teenager, but I was still rebellious.
 

eleos1954

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I am new here and do not know where to place this.
Christ saved me about a year ago. I know that I am saved, and forgiven of all of my sins. Yet, as a teenager, I was in the wrong crowd and got drug into crime. This would include smoking, stealing, and drinking. I never paid the price.
As an adult, I continuously feel like God will not forgive me unless I confess against the people I committed the crimes against and pay the price. I went to a local police officer that I know, who also happens to be a pastor, and confessed what I did. He said that Jesus paid my debt and that I should move on. But how? I did not pay. He said Jesus paid.
Am I being sinful by not confessing? I just feel so dirty. I was only a teenager, but I was still rebellious.

You pastor/police friend is correct. Confess all your sin to the Lord and receive His forgiveness ... that means let the guilt go (know you ARE forgiven). Remain in the Lord and walk in His ways.

God Bless.
 
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Emmylouwho

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I am new here and do not know where to place this.
Christ saved me about a year ago. I know that I am saved, and forgiven of all of my sins. Yet, as a teenager, I was in the wrong crowd and got drug into crime. This would include smoking, stealing, and drinking. I never paid the price.
As an adult, I continuously feel like God will not forgive me unless I confess against the people I committed the crimes against and pay the price. I went to a local police officer that I know, who also happens to be a pastor, and confessed what I did. He said that Jesus paid my debt and that I should move on. But how? I did not pay. He said Jesus paid.
Am I being sinful by not confessing? I just feel so dirty. I was only a teenager, but I was still rebellious.
Did you commit a crime? Is that why you called the police?
 
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Tempura

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I'm always sinful, no matter if I feel and know it or not.

If I were in that situation, I'd think it like this: Christ carries my sins every day, He is my righteousness, as I have none of my own. I am safely Hid with Him. That's all I would think about when it comes to God and my sin. I am forgiven because of His grace through Christ.

But if I have stolen from someone, and I know where they live, I could always return whatever I stole, or if I don't have it anymore, then perhaps go with money, or just to go tell them that I am sorry for what I did. Not out of fear of being punished for my sins, because Christ is surely enough for me, but it would be a good thing to do for my neighbor. If you want to do this, you absolutely can, if it's possible without you going for a 30-year hunt for these people.

If you take the pastor-policeman's advice, which isn't a bad one (and I would probably take it myself), you can think it like this: when someone needs something, and you have something to give, then you give without wanting none of it back. But none of this is about buying God's forgiveness or grace, it's already given for you, and it's not a burden you should feel either.

About smoking and drinking, I drank like a madman for about 10+ years, I was a full-blown alcoholic. I still smoke, even though I don't drink anymore. Of course I could pile up tons of my other (and far worse) sins on the table too, but this thread isn't for that purpose. But I don't have to run around in fear, I just trust Christ with all of this, hang on Him and calm myself with it.

Teens do all kinds of dumb stuff (I have no excuse, I was already an adult). But I wouldn't take these things, sins of our youth, too seriously. No reason to torture yourself with them.
 
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Emmylouwho

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From when I was a teenager before my faith. I did not call, my pastor and I went to see him and talked together.
Was it something serious that would have involved jail time? Is that the penalty you want to pay?
 
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Emmylouwho

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No, and not jail time. May have been on my record.
So, do you just want to tell the victims that you committed an offense against them? And pay them back in some way? What’s wrong with that? I think that seems very conscientious and mature.
 
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JIMINZ

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I continuously feel like God will not forgive me unless I confess against the people I committed the crimes against and pay the price.

Jesus did pay the price, for everything.

Rom. 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

What kind of sins?

Isa. 1:18
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.

What your feeling is Condemnation for your past sins.

Rom. 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

You have been Forgiven, Reconciled to God, through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

But if you feel as though you need to face people and apologize, have at it.
You are not required to but if you feel that strongly about it do it.

Those people who you are not able to reach then let it go, your forgiven.

One question, you said you were Saved, about a year ago, when were you Baptized, it does have a direct bearing on your feelings.

Mar. 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believeth not shall be damned.
 
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Kris Jordan

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I am new here and do not know where to place this.
Christ saved me about a year ago. I know that I am saved, and forgiven of all of my sins. Yet, as a teenager, I was in the wrong crowd and got drug into crime. This would include smoking, stealing, and drinking. I never paid the price.
As an adult, I continuously feel like God will not forgive me unless I confess against the people I committed the crimes against and pay the price. I went to a local police officer that I know, who also happens to be a pastor, and confessed what I did. He said that Jesus paid my debt and that I should move on. But how? I did not pay. He said Jesus paid.
Am I being sinful by not confessing? I just feel so dirty. I was only a teenager, but I was still rebellious.

Choco143,

If we all went back to everyone we wronged in our lives before coming to Christ, we'd be spending all of our waking time doing that. Jesus paid it all - He paid the price and suffered for your sin debt on the cross. Receive it and walk in the freedom He has given you by His grace. Remind yourself of the truth of God's Word on this when you're tempted to wallow in guilt and shame from your past. That's where Satan wants to keep you bound so you don't move forward and grow in your faith and freedom in Jesus. Resist him. The Bible says in James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Satan wants nothing more than to keep you walking in condemnation and in the guilt and shame Jesus already paid for on your behalf.

It's time to let it go, brother... :)
 
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Maria Billingsley

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I am new here and do not know where to place this.
Christ saved me about a year ago. I know that I am saved, and forgiven of all of my sins. Yet, as a teenager, I was in the wrong crowd and got drug into crime. This would include smoking, stealing, and drinking. I never paid the price.
As an adult, I continuously feel like God will not forgive me unless I confess against the people I committed the crimes against and pay the price. I went to a local police officer that I know, who also happens to be a pastor, and confessed what I did. He said that Jesus paid my debt and that I should move on. But how? I did not pay. He said Jesus paid.
Am I being sinful by not confessing? I just feel so dirty. I was only a teenager, but I was still rebellious.
Jesus Christ of Nazareth already paid for your sin. Now you need to accept it. Restitution is a whole different matter. There is a price to pay for sin which can be considered as a thorn in one's side. This may not go away, ever. Somethings can not be reconciled because too much time has passed or it is just not possible to pay back or admit it to the victim. BUT, if you have the opportunity to revisit your sin and make restitution then by all means do it! It will not only be edifying to you but it will be edifying to the victims and who knows they may come to the Lord because of your humble actions.
Blessings
 
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Emmylouwho

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I am new here and do not know where to place this.
Christ saved me about a year ago. I know that I am saved, and forgiven of all of my sins. Yet, as a teenager, I was in the wrong crowd and got drug into crime. This would include smoking, stealing, and drinking. I never paid the price.
As an adult, I continuously feel like God will not forgive me unless I confess against the people I committed the crimes against and pay the price. I went to a local police officer that I know, who also happens to be a pastor, and confessed what I did. He said that Jesus paid my debt and that I should move on. But how? I did not pay. He said Jesus paid.
Am I being sinful by not confessing? I just feel so dirty. I was only a teenager, but I was still rebellious.
I think you’re having a hard time forgiving yourself for past transgressions. Your desire to make reparations to those you have hurt is commendable. I really don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t try to make reparations unless doing so would hurt them further.
 
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Emmylouwho

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Choco143,

If we all went back to everyone we wronged in our lives before coming to Christ, we'd be spending all of our waking time doing that. Jesus paid it all - He paid the price and suffered for your sin debt on the cross. Receive it and walk in the freedom He has given you by His grace. Remind yourself of the truth of God's Word on this when you're tempted to wallow in guilt and shame from your past. That's where Satan wants to keep you bound so you don't move forward and grow in is really trying to grow as a person your faith and freedom in Jesus. Resist him. The Bible says in James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Satan wants nothing more than to keep you walking in condemnation and in the guilt and shame Jesus already paid for on your behalf.

It's time to let it go, brother... :)
It seems to me as though Chico has a very developed conscience and rejects the idea that he or she should be let Jesus or anyone else be a scapegoat for Chico’s actions. Sorry about the weird pronouns but I don’t know if Chico is a man or a woman.
 
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Choco143

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I think you’re having a hard time forgiving yourself for past transgressions. Your desire to make reparations to those you have hurt is commendable. I really don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t try to make reparations unless doing so would hurt them further.
My Pastor was afraid that, if I confessed, I would get in trouble for something Christ has already forgiven me for. It would go on my record, most likely. Or it would not. I cannot say. But he said it is better to accept the forgiveness and move on than jeopardize my life over young mistakes.
 
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Emmylouwho

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My Pastor was afraid that, if I confessed, I would get in trouble for something Christ has already forgiven me for. It would go on my record, most likely. Or it would not. I cannot say. But he said it is better to accept the forgiveness and move on than jeopardize my life over young mistakes.
 
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Choco143

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I think the problem is, you haven’t forgiven yourself. Whatever you did as a teen probably isn’t nearly as bad as you think it is.
I just feel awful that I legally never paid for what I did. Thank you, though. I will try to move on.
 
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