Questions tagged [forgiveness]
The release from guilt, obligation or punishment that was due because of sin.
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Why was Lot "let off the hook" for offering his daughters to be raped?
Genesis 19:1-20 tells the famous story of Soddom and Gomorrah. In the story, the men of Sodom come to Lot's house, and demand that Lot release his visitors to be raped by the men of the town. Lot ...
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What was it about the death of Jesus that allows God to forgive us?
I've heard many people state that it was the punishment inflicted by the Romans that allows God to forgive us. This just doesn't make any sense to me.
How can a man suffer for a short while here on ...
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Since God provided for the forgiveness of sins in the Old Testament, why do we need Jesus?
I thought of this when I was researching this question.
Leviticus 4 goes into great detail about the sacrifice that must be made in order for a sin to be forgiven. However, we see here that God ...
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Are there unforgivable sins? [closed]
Jesus came and died for our sins so that we may be forgiven and have salvation.
But Matthew 12:32 (NIV) says there is at least one thing to prevent being forgiven.
32 Anyone who speaks a word ...
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What is the message of Matthew 9:5? [closed]
Matthew 9:1-8 (NIV)
1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “...
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Can a person be forgiven outside of confession? (Catholic)
As a follow up to this question I'd like to ask if a person, whether Catholic or non-Catholic, can obtain God's forgiveness outside of the sacrament of confession.
I would imagine Protestants would ...
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Can any sin be forgiven? (According to the teaching of the Catholic Church)
I was trying to research the influence Christianity had on Hitler and Nazism, when I came across this:
Hans Frank
Frank acted as lawyer and senior official for the Nazi party and legal advisor for ...
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Where is the verse about people sinning because they know God will forgive them?
I've been trying to find a verse I read not too long ago for quite some time about sinning and knowing it's wrong, but sinning anyway because you know God will forgive you. I believe it also mentioned ...
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When people sin against us but don't repent, should we forgive and forget?
Someone sins against us, e.g. says something unkind. They are completely unrepentant. That might be because they don't think it is a sin or they don't care (yes, I'm deliberately mentioning two ...
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How do Protestants understand the "unforgivable" sin?
Scripture refers to an unpardonable sin in Matthew 12:31–32, Mark 3:29–30, and Luke 12:10, as well as Hebrews 6:4–6.
There's also "sin that leads to death" (1 John 5:16–17).
Given the Protestant ...
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Can God Change his mind? [closed]
I was recently thinking about the passage in exodus that talks about how the Israelites fell into sin while Moses was up on the mountain. God said that he would destroy all the Israelites but Moses ...
user4468
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What was the purpose to animal sacrifices? [closed]
I've never completely understood the purpose as to why God required that the Israelite's should kill an animal in order for God to forgive them.
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If I steal money, what does the forgiveness of Jesus cover? [closed]
I steal money from someone. I ask for Jesus for forgiveness. I receive forgiveness (yet keep the money).
What happens to the person I took the money from?
Do I make out with forgiveness from God, ...
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Does the LDS Church teach that murder is unforgivable?
Doctrine and Covenants 42:18 appears to teach that anyone who kills cannot ever be forgiven.
Does "killing" refer only to murder or to any killing, be it in self defense or as part of a way?
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According to Baptist theology why doesn't Satan surrender?
We know that Satan is at war with God. This is a root cause of the Fall (depending on your perspective). We also know that God is omnipotent, while Satan is not. This means that Satan is doomed. ...
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Can Catholic works of ‘satisfaction’ (prayer, fasting, etc.) for the removal of temporal punishments of venial sin be credited to others still alive?
Here is what I think I understand:
A Catholic believes in something called penance that is understood as a sacrament by which forgiveness of sins (committed after baptism) is granted through the ...
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As Christians we are already saved, so why must we keep repenting of sin? [closed]
We believe that Jesus died for all our sins, past and future, so why do we need to keep asking to be forgiven if Jesus already died to forgive that sin?
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Why did Stephen have authority to ask God to forgive the sins of his nonbelieving executioners?
Consider the following verse related to Stephen's stoning:
Acts 7:60
Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin
against them." When he had said this, he fell ...
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What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation [closed]
Is forgiveness and reconciliation the same thing? What needs to happen for forgiveness to occur? What needs to happen for reconciliation to take place?
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Did Martin Luther effectively teach that our justification is like white snow covering over dung?
Over the internet I have come across posts like this that say
Luther stated that our sinful state is much like the piles of manure.
It is ugly, repulsive and offensive. There is nothing in it ...
user13992
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How do Lutherans have their sin forgiven?
If a Lutherans sins, how is his sin forgiven?
Must he confess?
Is there a distinction between venial and mortal sin?
What if he sins again the same sin?
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Can obstinacy in sin be forgiven in Catholic teaching?
I've read that obstinacy in sin is unforgivable. Is it one of the sins against Holy Spirit and therefore cannot be forgiven? However, what if a sinner decides to stop being obstinate and repents?
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What is God's definition of forgiveness? [closed]
I have wrestled with this topic for years and have come to all sorts of conclusions along the way. Please, I'm searching for what others perceive is God's definition of forgiveness.
If we are ...
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Conscience: Christ's sacrifice vs the blood of bulls and goats?
While reading through Hebrews I came upon the following Scripture:
For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (Heb 10:4 ESV)
However, in my recent studies, I came ...
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What is the Biblical basis for "God's already forgiven you" teaching?
I have recently heard many preachers and teachers, in particular Joel Osteen and Joseph Prince, say things like, "God has already forgiven you. All you have to do is accept God's free gift of ...
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Does the Catholic church believe that God really forgives by confession alone?
My question is does the Catholic Church hold that God forgives every crime by confession alone?
If so I could commit crimes from Monday to Saturday and then go and confess to a priest on Sunday - ...
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Why Jesus taught differently on “sin and treating sinners” as compared to Old Testament?
In the book of Joshua, just before attack on Jericho, Joshua told his men not to take any riches for themselves which was meant for God. Joshua 6:18 . In spite of this Achan hides some of the riches ...
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How can anointing the sick confer forgiveness of sins in Catholicism?
In Catholicism, there are 7 sacraments. One of these is anointing of the sick or extreme unction. It is meant to provide comfort to the sick, peace and courage. In the event that the individual cannot ...
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Sarah laughed at God and He did not mind
When God told Abraham that he was to have a son the following year, bible recorded it that Sarah laughed in her heart
Genesis 18:12-15
12 Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become ...
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What is the biblical basis for the forgiveness of sins for very evil persons?
LDC asked this question before; it was down voted 8 times before it was closed, probably because of a provocative title and lack of a specific question. My editing of his question is: what are the ...
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Why does John the Baptist decide upon water and baptism as the form of repentance (Catholic viewpoint)?
I'm a convert from Judaism to Catholicism. Overall, I find the congruence from a theological perspective to be 80-90%. Especially, from my perspective, considering the "Jewish version" of the Trinity: ...
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Are there examples of God forgiving without sacrifice?
So far I have seen, some kind of sacrifice, direct or indirect, is required to have forgiveness from sin. So, my question is - Are there examples of God forgiving our sins without any sacrifice?
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Interpreting Acts 2:38 together with John 1:12
Acts 2:38, "Peter said to them, 'Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins ; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
John 1:...
Leonard Wilkinson
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Are our sins of the future forgiven? (John 20:23)
Catholics say that our future sins are not forgiven (unless we confess them in the future) and say that John 20:23 (and maybe other verses which I can't remember), uses the past, i.e. "forgiven", so ...
user3964
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Is the Roman Catholic understanding of forgiveness different from the Protestant understanding?
Recently I read Simon Wiesenthal's book, The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness, and I was challenged to flesh out my understanding of forgiveness. There were aspects which I ...
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What is the Protestant view of John 20:23 and the disciples ability to forgive sins?
Besides the Anglican Church (as far as I'm aware) no Protestant Church practices confession.
John 20:23 (ESV) says:
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold ...
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Are sins forgiven without a payment in Matthew 9:1-7?
Matthew 9:1-7 involves Jesus forgiving someone's sins. Is this forgiveness granted in light of Jesus' future sacrifice of himself on the cross? If not, how is this person forgiven of their sins since, ...
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Positional and Relational Forgiveness, what is the Biblical Basis?
My question spawns from an explanation of 1 John 1:9 provided by the very popular protestant resource GotQuesitons.org.
It seems to me that the answer given has holes in it, which I would like, ...
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What is some relevent scripture regarding having something stolen? [closed]
I recently had some things stolen out of my car, and I vaguely remember reading somewhere in the New Testament that you shouldn't desire to get stolen items back. I've been searching for it, but I can'...
user107
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According to Catholicism, what is the difference between forgiveness and release from punishment?
The first thing to note is that forgiveness of a sin is separate from punishment for the sin. Through sacramental confession we obtain forgiveness, but we aren't let off the hook as far as punishment ...
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How do Trinitarians explain Jesus' response to the scribes and Pharisees at Luke 5:20-24?
Luke 5:20-24 has Jesus forgiving the sins of a paralyzed man.
"When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are
forgiven.” 21 But the scribes and Pharisees began thinking to
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Forgive Others As We Have Been Forgiven?
Colossians 3:13 (KJV) - Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
As far as I am aware, God only forgives ...
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Why can't God forgive a sinner without having to kill Jesus the righteous one?
Non-Christians raise many objections to the atoning death of Jesus Christ, who is the Lamb of God. One of the most important objections is that God being the Almighty and Sovereign should be able to ...
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Protestant Interpretation of John 20:23 in Light of Matthew 9:8?
How is:
John 20:21-23
Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέν με ὁ Πατήρ, κἀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησεν καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς Λάβετε Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ...
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When we forgive our offenders, does it mean we do not want God to punish them anymore?
On of the biggest issues i have had with easily forgiving is because of some (ill advised?) thought that doing so automatically exempts the person from punishment, i know its naive, but when one is ...
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Why did Saul's sins lead to his rejection as King of Israel, but David's sins did not cost him his crown?
I Samuel 15;10-12 tells us "The word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, 'I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as King, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed my ...
user38924
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Can punishment for unintentional sins be reconciled with Christians knowing they have eternal life?
My question isn't so much about reconciling specific Scripture passages as it is about reconciling two teachings supported by Scripture, so I'm asking here rather than on Hermeneutics. I'm wondering ...
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What would be an orthodoxly Christian, biblically based response to a concern that a Christian could die without repenting of a given sin?
What is the fate of those who believe in Jesus Christ but who die without repenting of something they never discovered was sinful? Simon (Acts 8) likely represents an example with which I can ...
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Making a vow and defaulting - is there forgiveness? [closed]
Sometimes we make vows to God that are hard for us to keep and the Bible advised (I couldn't remember this portion: Hosea or Malachi - and Google didn't help too) that we should not be rash when ...
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Does God forgive those who take his name in vain? [closed]
Christianity teaches the forgiveness of sins by God, but Exodus 20:7, one of the Ten Commandments, says:
"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the
LORD will not hold him ...
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