Am I Unforgivable?

Sin eats a hole in our hearts when we carry it around with us. It turns us into shame-filled, secret-laden people holding on to things Jesus died to save us from. We feel unworthy, unloved, and utterly alone.

And the sneaky thing about those lies is that they’re partly true: we, in our sinful nature, are unworthy of God’s love. Apart from Jesus’ death and resurrection, we all deserve shame and death (Romans 6:23). We have done things that violate God’s commands, scorn His love, and scar His image-bearers. We have fallen so very short of what God wants us to do (Romans 3:23). It can feel like God is a million miles away, condemning us.

But the truth is, Jesus died and rose again so He could cross that gap (John 3:16-17). He died to restore us to Himself. He took our sin upon Himself, and God poured out all of His wrath—every last drop of it—onto His own Son, so there is no more wrath left for us who know Jesus. If you belong to Jesus, God has no wrath for you. It’s gone. He’s all out.

That doesn’t remove earthly consequences for our sin. Depending on the sin, there might even be very difficult social and legal ramifications. But Jesus walks with us through those incredibly rough times. He also empowers us through the Holy Spirit to live in relationship with Him so He can work to make us more like Himself. There is even the promise of full restoration from sin and its
effects at Jesus’ return (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

As we wait for that day, we also have the community of other Christians. As God’s people saved by grace through faith, we don’t live in isolation. We strive against sin and follow Jesus together (Titus 2:11-14).

Through it all, know that no sin is too big for Jesus. If you carry shame over a sin that seems too big, confess to God, confess to a trusted Christian friend, and seek biblical counseling. Jesus promises to forgive you, and He is walking with you every step of the way (1 John 1:9).

There is hope. Our God is a miracle-worker, and you are never beyond His reach. • Taylor Eising

• Why is it important to confess our sins to other Christians?

• Do you believe Jesus will always forgive you? Why or why not?

• To learn more about Jesus’ forgiveness, check out our “Know Jesus” page!

• If you need someone to talk to, you can set up an appointment for a one time complimentary phone consultation with a Christian counselor through the Focus on the Family Counseling Service:

In the United States, call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) to set up an appointment.

In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and ask to speak with the care associate.

Nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39 (CSB)

Read Verses:

Isaiah 1:18; Romans 8:37-39; James 5:16; 1 John 1:8-10