By sis Jacqueline Wee
Q6) How many times will God forgive us when we sin? And can Christians sin?
Parent’s response:
God can forgive us many times, as long as we continuously try to change for the better and pray to God to forgive us. God loves us and is always wanting us to do the right things, just like how parents are always teaching their children so that they do not do the wrong things. But all of us are not perfect: parents know that children will commit wrongdoings, but no matter how angry or disappointed we are, we will still forgive our children. We will continue to teach and encourage them on the right path. If parents can be so patient with their children, how much more patient can God be, whose love for us is much deeper.
But, there is a condition: parents can only forgive and continue to discipline if the child is sorry for what he or she has done. The child must also be willing to make a change and be cooperative in working with the parents to change for the better. If the child is neither repentant nor cooperative, then the child will still remain in the current state of wrong, and there is nothing more the parents can do. Changing for the better cannot be a one-sided effort. This is what Paul says in Heb 10:26-27:
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgement, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
Like parents, God always wants to be patient with us and see us do the right things.
Exo 34:6-7 The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,
2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come into repentance.”
Psa 86:5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
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.
God never meant for the journey to Heaven to be a complicated one; rather, the journey to Heaven is one of obedience, reliance, and complete trust – things which children very often do much better than us.