How Can I be Forgiven of My Sins?

QUESTION:

ANSWER:

The lake of fire awaits those whose sins remain unforgiven, but through Jesus Christ—the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world—you can receive complete forgiveness today and escape the second death.

1. Am I a Sinner?

This is the most important question anyone could ask. But to truly seek forgiveness, we first need to understand the problem. We are all sinners—we are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners. We have inherited a sinful nature from our first parents, Adam and Eve. The moment they disobeyed God, sin entered the world and passed on to all humanity.

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” — Romans 5:12

From birth, we are separated from God—not because of our individual actions alone, but because of our very nature. No one taught us to lie, envy, or hate—it came naturally. That’s because we were born with a corrupted nature. And that sin separates us from the holy God.

2. The Penalty for Our Sins

The consequences of sin are severe and affect every area of life. When Adam and Eve sinned, the world fell under a curse:

Pain in childbirth
Toil in labor
Struggles in relationships
Sickness and death
Emotional wounds like betrayal, bitterness, and unforgiveness

But the worst consequence is not found in this life—it’s what comes after: the second death.

“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” — Revelation 20:14

Sin’s penalty is not just temporal suffering but eternal separation from God in the lake of fire. If you want to understand more about this, read “Is Hell an Eternal Punishment?”

3. What Can I Do to Receive Forgiveness?

Before we go further, let me ask you:

Can you think of anything you could do to make yourself righteous before God?
Can you perform any act that could erase your sins?
Could you ever attain God’s glory on your own?

Let’s list some good things people often try:

Going to church
Giving to the poor
Praying regularly
Reading the Bible
Doing kind deeds
Confessing to a priest
Joining a religious group

These are good, but here’s the truth: Even if you could fulfill all the commandments for a day, could you do it for the rest of your life—perfectly, without fail?

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” — Romans 3:23

Our good works may impress people, but before the holiness of God, they are insufficient. Why? Because the problem is not what we do—it’s who we are. We are sinners, and sin is always present with us. There is no ladder we can climb to reach heaven.

4. Is There Any Hope?

Yes! That’s where the Good News comes in.

Because we couldn’t go up to God, God came down to us. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived a sinless life and died on the cross for our sins. He became the Lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice to take away the sins of the world.

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” — John 1:29

He didn’t just die—He rose again, proving that He had conquered sin and death once for all. God offers this salvation as a gift—not something we can earn, but something we receive by faith.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8

5. What Shall I Do Then?

The Lord Jesus gave a simple yet powerful command:

“Repent, and believe in the gospel.” — Mark 1:15

To repent means to return to God, to turn from sin and self-reliance, and to come back to your Creator.
To believe means to entrust your life to Jesus—to surrender, to rely fully on what He has done for your forgiveness.

It’s not just knowing facts about Jesus. It’s about entrusting your soul to Him, receiving Him as your Savior and Lord.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” — John 1:12

6. Final Thought: The Time Is Now

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” — 2 Corinthians 6:2

God is calling you today. Don’t delay. Tomorrow is not guaranteed, and judgment is coming. If you are reading this, know that He is reaching out to you right now.

Will you respond? Will you receive forgiveness today?

You can express your decision to return to God and surrender your life to Jesus Christ through a sincere prayer. This is not about reciting perfect words—it’s about your heart calling out to God.

If you mean this with all your heart, this prayer can be the beginning of a brand-new life—forgiven, made right with God, and saved.

Here is a prayer of acceptance you can follow:

God, I admit that I am a sinner. I have been living my life without You. But today, I want to return to You. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose again. I now accept Him into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Forgive me, cleanse me, and help me walk with You for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Welcome to New Life With Jesus!

If you just prayed that prayer with faith, congratulations! You have just been reconciled with God and are now a child of God, forgiven, redeemed, and born again. You have crossed from death to life, from darkness to light, and from guilt to grace.

The journey of following Jesus begins today. Seek Him through His Word, connect with other believers, and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Next Step: “I Just Accepted Jesus Christ. What Should I Do Next?”

QUESTION: