How Can I Receive Forgiveness From God?

It is a fact that we all have done some bad things in our life. We have all done things that are shameful and hurtful to ourselves and to others.
The reason why we are capable of doing acts that are bad, wicked, foolish and shameful is because we are inherently sinners. We have an inherited sinful nature because of the sin of Adam in the Garden of Eden (Romans 5:12).

Romans 3:10 and Romans 3:23 says that none of us are righteous and that we are all sinners who fall short of the glory of God.

So the fact that we are all sinners before a just and holy God, means that we all require God’s forgiveness for our sins. If we do not receive the forgiveness of God, then we will perish eternally.

The effect of our sins is that our sins have a tendency to separate us from a holy God. Sin draws us further from God and can hinder our spiritual growth and relationship with Him.
Isaiah 59:2 says: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”

Fortunately God is a forgiving God. The Creator of the universe is loving, merciful and gracious even though we are sinners and have done many shameful things in our life.

Psalms 103:12 says: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

In Isaiah 43:25, God says “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

Isaiah 1:18 says “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

To “forgive” means to pardon; to cancel a debt; to wipe the slate clean.
Forgiveness is necessary because it helps to restore a broken relationship. Therefore a relationship cannot be restored without forgiveness.
So for us to be eternally reconciled with God – then God must forgive us of our sins.

So the question is: How can we receive forgiveness from God?

Hebrews 9:22 says “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

Acts 13:38 says “Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this Man (Jesus Christ) forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by Him everyone who believes is freed from everything”

We can only receive forgiveness from God because of the finished work that Jesus completed on the Cross. Jesus Christ paid for our sins on the cross and thereby paid the debt we owe God because of sin.
The blood that Christ shed on the Cross was what was used to pay the debt for our sins. Therefore Jesus took the penalty for our sin (Romans 6:23).
Ephesians 1:7 says: In Him (Jesus Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,

It’s also important to note that we cannot earn the forgiveness of God. We receive God’s forgiveness freely. All we need to do is confess our sins or the fact that we are sinners in need of Jesus Christ. We furthermore need to believe and receive Jesus Christ as Saviour through placing our total faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8-9). God’s forgiveness is the result of His love, grace and mercy.

Receive Forgiveness Through Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord & Saviour
When we believe and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour then we will be forgiven of our sins. It is only through becoming born again believers in Christ that we can receive God’s forgiveness and become part of the family of God (John 1:12).

Romans 10:9-10 says “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

1 John 1:9 says: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

DO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE FORGIVENESS AND BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST???

1. ACKNOWLEDGE: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
This means that we have all broken God’s laws and God’s 10 Commandments like those mentioned in Exodus 20:1-17. For example, if you have told a lie; if you have stolen something; if you have lusted after somebody or if you have coveted. This means you are guilty of breaking at least one or more of God’s 10 Commandments. Breaking God’s commandments makes us sinners. The fact that we are sinners who have broken God’s law means that we are accountable to God who is the Lawgiver. Romans 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death BUT the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”
You must acknowledge that you are a sinner who has broken God’s commandments and that you therefore need Jesus in your life.

2. REPENT: “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3), “Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19)
Repenting means: to change your mind; a sincere turning away, in heart, mind and action;
Therefore God wants you to repent of sinful values and of sinful living. God wants you to decide to
follow Him and to make Jesus the Lord of your life.

3. CONFESSION: “If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9)
God is a forgiving God. God will forgive any sin that you have done because Jesus died for ALL your sins and to set you free from the bondage of all types of sin in your life.

4. BELIEVE: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
You must believe that ONLY Jesus can save you and restore your relationship with God. You must believe that Jesus is the ONLY way by which you can have everlasting life and escape from eternal separation from God. You must believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and resurrected from the grave.
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive him, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12)
By faith, You must receive Jesus as Your Lord & Savior and therefore; you become a child of God; you become born again; you become a Christian; you restore your broken relationship with God

Why Not Make Your Eternal Decision NOW?

We become born again Christians by GRACE through FAITH or TOTAL TRUST in Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior (Galatians 3:26) & (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is a FREE gift received through FAITH in Christ.

PLEASE NOTE: You can choose to pray in your own words. This prayer is a sample prayer and it is only an EXPRESSION of your faith, belief & trust in Jesus. Salvation is by GRACE through FAITH or BELIEVING in Christ Jesus as your Lord & Saviour.

“Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your love. I thank You that You died on the cross for me and resurrected so that I may have life through You.
I confess Lord that I have sinned against You and today I ask You to forgive me of all of my sins, past present and future.
Today I repent and have decided to follow you. Thank you for forgiving all my sins.
From this moment, come into my life Lord Jesus & take full control of my life. I want to follow You Jesus and I want to follow Your ways. Save me and from today, make me the person You want me to be.
I receive You Lord Jesus right now by faith. I trust You as my Lord and Savior – Amen”

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