I Am Unforgiveable; God Will Forgive!

September 5, 2024

I Am Unforgiveable; God Will Forgive!

“I am unlovable and unforgiveable.  God will never forgive me and accept me.”  I have heard those words spoken by many people.  Sometimes they use words very much like those I have used.  Other times, they use slightly different words. 

No matter what the exact words that are used, the meaning of the words is very much the same.  Many people reach the point where they are convinced that they are damaged goods; i.e., no one, not even Jesus, can love them and accept them; no one, not even Jesus, can forgive them and cherish them.

We can reach the point where we believe we have done or thought something so awful that even Jesus’ death on a cross is not enough love to purchase our forgiveness, buy our forgiveness, or secure God’s acceptance of us.  We believe we are a bad person who is not worth loving or forgiving.  Or, we believe we might be worth God’s acceptance but the sacrifice of Jesus’ life is not good enough to make it possible for me.

However, our feelings of being unlovable, unforgiveable, and unacceptable to the Lord God ignores a consistent promise in the Bible.  Here are two of God’s promises regarding forgiveness and acceptance of those who turn to Him.     

The first promise of God!

In I John 1:9 the Apostle John says; “If we confess our sins, he (Lord God) who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  If we confess, God will forgive us as well as make us clean of all the stains and sickness of our sin.  Our Father in Heaven is able and willing to forgive you and me no matter how awful is the thing we have done.

The second promise of God!

In Romans 4:7-8 the Apostle Paul says; “Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered; blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin.”  When we have the assurance that our Father in Heaven has forgiven our sin through the work of Jesus on the cross, we are counted as blessed.

However, there is a rather significant barrier to God’s forgiveness and acceptance.  Too many people believe these two promises are true for everyone…but not for them.  Instead, they argue that their case is unique.  They convince themselves that Jesus’ death is not enough to forgive their sin and cleanse their heart and mind.  They argue that their situation is so different that the Lord God will never count them as one of the blessed.

Stuck in sin, there is often little desire to take a step towards confession and forgiveness.  Overwhelmed by shame and blame as well as guilt and regret, there is often little hope of ever being fully loved and accepted by the Lord God as well as by the person(s) we have hurt along the way.

We make a choice to live in darkness rather than be filled with the light of Jesus’ love.  That choice often leads to a life in which we are resigned to the same hurtful thoughts and actions.  Our own version of the truth about ourselves becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; we believe we are not worth forgiving or loving or saving!

There are varying degrees of feeling unlovable and unforgivable.  However, it is not difficult to imagine you know someone who is stuck in this spiritually dark place.  It may be time for you to get prayed up. 

Ask the Holy Spirit to go before you to prepare your friend’s heart and mind for a conversation.  Get clear about God’s promises to forgive, love, and accept your friend.  Then, extend an invitation to share a cup of coffee over which you can share the promises of Jesus’ forgiveness.

When your friend begins to open up to the possibility that God forgives, there will be a deep delight that begins to fill their heart and your heart to overflowing.  There is nothing greater than finding love and hope through faith in and forgiveness from Jesus.  

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug