To answer the question, “Does God really forgive?” we must acknowledge two important premises. The first is that God created humans with free will – the ability to choose (or not) to obey His commandments.  The second is that, since the time of our first parents (Adam and Eve), humans have sometimes chosen to exercise that free will by rejecting what God asks – that is, humans sin. Without these two premises, the question of forgiveness is unnecessary. 

Throughout the Scriptures, we encounter innumerable examples of God forgiving those who turned against Him. Even the great figures like Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and King David followed their own will once in a while. For instance, Moses struck the rock to get water instead of speaking to it as God had commanded; David took Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, impregnated her and then had Uriah killed to cover his sin. God forgave these transgressions and helped these men to go on and do great things. 

The Scriptures are also filled with God’s promise of forgiveness. In the books of the prophets, the Israelites are told that they will endure punishment for their sins but that God will ultimately forgive them and bless them once more. Perhaps the most beautiful promise comes in the saying, “As far as the East is from the West, so far have I put your sins away from me.”  

Jesus is even more explicit with forgiveness. He forgives the sins of the paralytic man and He tells us in the Lord’s prayer to ask forgiveness of God. 

Mercy is one of God’s greatest traits. In our reflections next month, we will further explore the concept of sin and forgiveness. 

This week, let us simply recognize that Our God does indeed forgive sin.