Does God deny forgiveness?

[DawnTillery]

Hello Everyone!!!!
I was sitting in Sunday School Class a few weeks ago, and a comment came up that God isn't going to keep forgiving you. I found that rather bazaar. Noone really agreed or disagreed with the comment the lady made, but I thought wow! Is this biblical? Does God chose not to forgive sin if you ask after your saved.
I thought on this a long time and started comparing sins (if u can really call it that) God is awesome and can do all things, this I know.
I started thinking about cleptos and compulsive liars - This is a disease just as cancer. People spend all their lives in this situation and they find the Lord and get saved, but still they struggle daily with this "Disease".. So if what this person said is TRUE, then God only will forgive them so many times and they are OUT? This lady later added that if they were really living for God, they could stop doing this sin, then of course someone with terminal cancer should be able to overcome it, because they are saved? (Cancer isnt a sin, but being a compulsive liar or a clepto is just as much as a disease as cancer is) Yes! If God wants to heal them, He could do that, I believe in Healing.
I know there is probably a fine line here on somethings.
This is how I seen it.. Lets say your saved when your 20, and now your 60 yrs old, thats 40 years of sinning and repenting, by then you should definetely be "PERFECT", cause even if your living a GOOD MORAL LIFE, you have commited some sins and repented now you cant do that again, so you should not be able to commit anymore sins ever, because God will not forgive you.
To me this JUST DOESNT MAKE SENSE.. IF someone has some "WISDOM" on this and scripture, id love to see it.
I know Repentance means to turn away from sin, but we aren't perfect, if we were able to be perfect then the "PLAN" of Jesus to die on the Cross for us would not of happened. There would of been no need of the "new law", because we have the ability to be perfect.

I truly think that People have to change their lives and God knows their heart and the ability they have, which my ability may not be the same as yours.
I am not saying you can keep on living just like you did prior to salvation, please dont think im saying that. But to me you cant blanket the entire world on one thing, there are too many circumstances and we can see pass our own perspective and know that others have different struggles then you or I do. Thanks a bunch...

 

[Macca]

Hello Everyone!!!!
I was sitting in Sunday School Class a few weeks ago, and a comment came up that God isn't going to keep forgiving you. I found that rather bazaar. Noone really agreed or disagreed with the comment the lady made, but I thought wow! Is this biblical? Does God chose not to forgive sin if you ask after your saved.
I thought on this a long time and started comparing sins (if u can really call it that) God is awesome and can do all things, this I know.
I started thinking about cleptos and compulsive liars - This is a disease just as cancer. People spend all their lives in this situation and they find the Lord and get saved, but still they struggle daily with this "Disease".. So if what this person said is TRUE, then God only will forgive them so many times and they are OUT? This lady later added that if they were really living for God, they could stop doing this sin, then of course someone with terminal cancer should be able to overcome it, because they are saved? (Cancer isnt a sin, but being a compulsive liar or a clepto is just as much as a disease as cancer is) Yes! If God wants to heal them, He could do that, I believe in Healing.
I know there is probably a fine line here on somethings.
This is how I seen it.. Lets say your saved when your 20, and now your 60 yrs old, thats 40 years of sinning and repenting, by then you should definetely be "PERFECT", cause even if your living a GOOD MORAL LIFE, you have commited some sins and repented now you cant do that again, so you should not be able to commit anymore sins ever, because God will not forgive you.
To me this JUST DOESNT MAKE SENSE.. IF someone has some "WISDOM" on this and scripture, id love to see it.
I know Repentance means to turn away from sin, but we aren't perfect, if we were able to be perfect then the "PLAN" of Jesus to die on the Cross for us would not of happened. There would of been no need of the "new law", because we have the ability to be perfect.

I truly think that People have to change their lives and God knows their heart and the ability they have, which my ability may not be the same as yours.
I am not saying you can keep on living just like you did prior to salvation, please dont think im saying that. But to me you cant blanket the entire world on one thing, there are too many circumstances and we can see pass our own perspective and know that others have different struggles then you or I do. Thanks a bunch...

A big question Dawn. I know that in the O.T. (Ezekiel 33ff) God says that He will do something similar to what you quote, but that is O.T.
! John says that we can't say we have no sin, or we are liars. New Testament.
So while we do improve, we will always have sin of some sort in our lives, and God will forgive them when we repent 1 Jn 1: 9
Macca.

 

[vinc]

No. God does not deny forgiveness to any person who asks Him for forgiveness of his/her sins (how much ever great their sins might have been).

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:1 - My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Psalms 34:18 - The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

The complete Psalms Chapter 136 describes that "His mercy of endures forever".

Proverbs 24:16 - For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Matthew 18:21 - Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Matthew 18:22 - Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

I am sure our Lord Jesus Christ would not say anything which He did not practice Himself. Therefore, if He can say that we have to forgive other humans not 7 times but 490 times, then, surely Father-God and His Son Jesus Christ would forgive us even more than 490 times (if we seek His forgiveness).

God's disapproval would be on those who go on sinning without repenting, those who go on sinning without the fear of God and those who go on sinning without having the right relationship with God. Even this kind of people are forgiven by God, if they seek His forgiveness with a sincere heart.

God forgave Rahab the harlot because she feared God and helped a Man of God Joshua. God forgave King David for the Bathsheba case but punished him for the sin. God forgave King Solomon for indulging in heathen practices alongwith his heathen wives because of his love for them. God forgave the Israelites for 40 years in the wilderness and provided them with shelter, heavenly manna, meat and even footwear. He did great miracles for them for 40 years even though they were grumbling and complaining against Him and His Prophet Moses. Take for example, the thief on the cross who recieved forgiveness at the last moment because his heart was repentant enough at the *** end of his life before our Lord Jesus Christ. He was not only forgiven but was able to enter heaven along with the Lord. Take for example, the parable of the prodigal son whose father was more than happy to recieve him back home. This is the mind of our Heavenly Father too.

We say that "God doesn't keep on forgiving you" to someone only to make him/her more serious to walk in the Spirit. This is more of a human exhortation so as not to encourage a person who has a careless attitude towards sin for there is nothing good in continuing in sin.

A true christian would never want to sin willingly unless s(he) does not know that what s(he) is doing is a sin.

Then, there are some christians who are struggling with "besetting sins". They find a few sins extremely difficult to overcome and usually they take a long period of time (usaully many years) to overcome. God shows mercy to such christians if their heart is right in His sight. God will continue to bless them, use them and delight in them even though they are struggling with their "besetting sins" as He is a merciful God. God knows that we are a work-in-progress and are walking in the path of perfection and that our goal is spiritual perfection.

Apostle Paul describes this struggle between his flesh and his spirit in Romans 7:14-25 and exhorts us to walk in the spirit so that we don't fulfill the lusts of flesh. And to be spiritually-minded instead of being carnally-minded.

" 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."

Apostle Paul also explains this to the Church at Galatia in Galatians 5:17 - "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."

Greatly Blessed are those who are able to overcome their flesh (or carnal self) and are able to walk in the Spirit (or higher self) continually.

 

[sincerebliss]

The lady who spoke those words was probably trying to convey that if you keep on sinning with the hidden intention to ask God for forgiveness after your sin, then your really not living the right way. It's like lying all the time and thinking it is okay because you know God will forgive you at the end of the day. God knows your motivations.

 

[Sketcher]

As long as you sincerily repent, God will ALWAYS forgive you. If you do any "pretend repentance," He sees right through that. If you are stubborn in your sin He may discipline you a bit more harshly to get the message through your thick skull, but you can never outsin His grace. Look at the verses vinc posted.

 

[Radagast]

As long as you sincerily repent, God will ALWAYS forgive you...

And God expects the same from us:

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy [times] seven times. (Matt 18:21-22)

-- Radagast

 

[Simonline]

Hello Everyone!!!!
I was sitting in Sunday School Class a few weeks ago, and a comment came up that God isn't going to keep forgiving you. I found that rather bazaar. Noone really agreed or disagreed with the comment the lady made, but I thought wow! Is this biblical? Does God chose not to forgive sin if you ask after your saved.
I thought on this a long time and started comparing sins (if u can really call it that) God is awesome and can do all things, this I know.
I started thinking about cleptos and compulsive liars - This is a disease just as cancer. People spend all their lives in this situation and they find the Lord and get saved, but still they struggle daily with this "Disease".. So if what this person said is TRUE, then God only will forgive them so many times and they are OUT? This lady later added that if they were really living for God, they could stop doing this sin, then of course someone with terminal cancer should be able to overcome it, because they are saved? (Cancer isnt a sin, but being a compulsive liar or a clepto is just as much as a disease as cancer is) Yes! If God wants to heal them, He could do that, I believe in Healing.
I know there is probably a fine line here on somethings.
This is how I seen it.. Lets say your saved when your 20, and now your 60 yrs old, thats 40 years of sinning and repenting, by then you should definetely be "PERFECT", cause even if your living a GOOD MORAL LIFE, you have commited some sins and repented now you cant do that again, so you should not be able to commit anymore sins ever, because God will not forgive you.
To me this JUST DOESNT MAKE SENSE.. IF someone has some "WISDOM" on this and scripture, id love to see it.
I know Repentance means to turn away from sin, but we aren't perfect, if we were able to be perfect then the "PLAN" of Jesus to die on the Cross for us would not of happened. There would of been no need of the "new law", because we have the ability to be perfect.

I truly think that People have to change their lives and God knows their heart and the ability they have, which my ability may not be the same as yours.
I am not saying you can keep on living just like you did prior to salvation, please dont think im saying that. But to me you cant blanket the entire world on one thing, there are too many circumstances and we can see pass our own perspective and know that others have different struggles then you or I do. Thanks a bunch...

Nah! God does not generally operate a 'three strikes and you're out!' policy as is evident from the Messiah's answer to Peter's question "How many times must I forgive my brother?". The Messiah told Peter that he must forgive his brother indefinitely ('70X7' was another way of saying 'ad infinitum' or 'stop counting'). If God expects that of us...can he really do any less?

Simonline.

 

[Endure2]

like another person said, if you confess and repent, hell always forgive. its a promise from God in 1 john 1.9.

but you do have to repent and that means more than just say your sorry.
if you never stop, the point is that you never repented, not that God wont forgive you anymore.

and i believe God always gives the benefit of the doubt.
it doesnt matter how many times youve done it, or how many times you end up doing it again. if you sincerely ask for forgiveness and try to change, hell accept your prayer and forgive you.

becuase his mercy is from everlasting to everlasting like david said. so he never stops.
and i know God doesnt make mistakes, but if he did err it would be erring on the side of mercy and grace.

there is no line of "ok no more".
only a change in you that says you wont seek forgiveness and you wont try to change. and then your lack of forgiveness isnt Gods fault or decision at all.

but as long as your pressing, your ok, your covered by grace and your being forgiven.

 

[DawnTillery]

I see what your saying, that I totally agree with. But she said it was in the Bible that God only forgives you so many times no matter what.. Doesnt matter if your sincere or not..
Im not talking about..... Your buddies come over and talk you into going down to the local bar to get drunk and u say yeah Ill go cause i can repent later..

The lady who spoke those words was probably trying to convey that if you keep on sinning with the hidden intention to ask God for forgiveness after your sin, then your really not living the right way. It's like lying all the time and thinking it is okay because you know God will forgive you at the end of the day. God knows your motivations.

 

[Endure2]

well i would say shes simply wrong. i dont think its there at all.
though im sure there is some scripture that she believes endorses what shes saying.

what i do know the bible says is that Gods mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. it doesnt have a beginning or end and its just as infinite as God himself.
i cant recall the bible ever teaching that there is any limit. not anything that even sounds like it in the new testament.
but i can recall many things that very clear say the contrary to me.

 

[Sketcher]

Get the chapter and verse from her on that. Even if you sin on purpose and sincerily repent later, He will forgive you - as long as you're sincere about repenting. And part of that is that you won't do it again. Even if it's an addiction, He'll forgive you - though I have trouble believing that at times.