BY TONY HOSS
A young Christian woman asked, “I committed adultery as a Christian and became pregnant after which I had an abortion and; I feel as if there is no way that God could ever forgive me for my actions; am I condemned eternally for my actions?
I appreciate your honesty and desire to know what God has to say about sins. Sin is sin and each sin, regardless of how minor or major we may see it, is able to cause one to lose their eternal home with God. While sin is terrible and can lead to eternal destruction and separation from God, not every sin committed ultimately leads to spiritual death.
Not every sin committed ultimately leads to death. If a Christian sins and then repents of that sin they are no longer held responsible for that sin. Paul said, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” Galatians 6:1 KJV. It is obvious that one found in sin can be restored to their previous state as a Child of God in a saved relationship. When we see ourselves in sin and are willing to acknowledge our wrong-doing before God requesting forgiveness then we will no longer be heading towards death. John said, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 1:8-2:2). When one who has obeyed God’s plan of salvation (a Christian) recognizes their faults and prays to God for forgiveness, He will remove our sin. Consider the following: “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:15-16 KJV). It is evident that James is speaking to Christians that may have sinned.
There is no doubt that the questioner committed sin and was at that moment dead in her trespasses. Since she was a Christian there is little doubt that she knew what she was doing was wrong, but continued to commit the sin. I would remind the writer and the reader that the question is not what have you done in the past, but what will you do with your future? Perhaps we should all ask ourselves the question, have I repented of my sins. Consider what the apostle Paul said about repentance in 2 Corinthians 7:9-11. I would ask any who committed sins in the past, are you now against the sins of your past? Have you stopped committing those sins which separated you from God? Have you prayed to God for forgiveness (1 John 1:8-9)? If so God promises forgiveness of your sins if you are a Christian, and God always keeps His promises.
(Tony Hoss is minister at Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton)