In a word: no. Do you really think that you could injure a person then pronounce your forgiveness in the matter? What if someone injured you and then announced that you had forgiven them? Forgiveness only counts when it comes from the wronged party.
When a person sins, they depart from God’s plan. They don’t injure God, but they might injure or rob one of God’s beloved. This disappoints and even angers God.
In a civil case it is fairly straightforward as to how the offender could offer restitution to the offended. In a criminal case it is sometimes not possible to make restitution. Nevertheless, penalties are levied and the price is considered paid. In the case of sin, the act may be civil or criminal against a person, but also involves God. How does one make things right with God? What does God value that man could repay Him? How could man ever make things right with God? It would have to be a price that God agreed to. Only God could set the price that will satisfy Him, and He declares that the “the wages of sin is death!” (Romans 6:23)
Everyone has sinned, everyone will die. However, God also promises to ressurect everyone.
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15 NIV)
Now suddenly, those sins matter. Life is eternal. Decisions have consequences. The real question becomes “how do you want to spend eternity?” If you are going to live forever both spiritually and physically, will you spend it in God’s presence, or away from God’s presence? Do you align with truth and light, or do you prefer to hide from the light in the darkness because of the wrong you have done? There is a way out. You can come clean. God made a way for you, so that you can find forgiveness for your sins, and not have to run from the light any more. Instead, you can enjoy the light and relish truth.
When God made man, he gave him freedom of choice. God knew this freedom allowed man to choose wrongly. Before making man, a conversation occurred within the Trinity, and an agreement was made. God agreed that if this were to happen, a price could be paid by Jesus to honor the Father’s concerns. In order to demonstrate Jesus’ love for mankind, and His commitment to the human project, Jesus must set aside His glory, take on human form, live a human life, and die a human death. Furthermore, since Jesus, being God, would live a sinless life, his death would be a sacrifice. This sacrifice would be sufficient to cover the sins of all mankind. However, now there is a new problem. Just erasing the penalty does not reform the one who committed the crime. It doesn’t make one agreeable to God’s presence, and His ways. God’s plan continued. As it unfolded, we’ve learned that both His teachings and the Holy Spirit plays a role. God sent His Spirit to inform man “of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement.” (John 16:8)
How, will you then live? If you want to put the sins of your past behind you, then accept God’s offer of salvation. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins. Believe in the price Jesus paid for you, and thank Him for forgiving you. You should find within you gratitude to God for His gift. You should find within you an ongoing desire to live right, do what’s right, and insomuch as possible, make things right with those you have wronged.
You have now begun a new walk with God. You are on a journey. It will be an adventure. It will last the rest of your life and beyond. Enjoy it. Relish it. Share it. You can grow stronger through the reading of the Bible, through personal devotions and prayer. You should also find that Church attendance is helpful.
May God bless you in your journey!
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