Short answer: The Bible teaches that God forgives sin completely through the death of Jesus Christ for everyone who confesses, repents and trusts him. Forgiveness is a gift of grace, not something earned, and it removes our guilt and restores our relationship with God. The only sin Jesus says will not be forgiven is the settled refusal to accept his work through the Holy Spirit.
In This Article
Few questions weigh on people more than this one. Has God really forgiven me? Is there something I cannot be forgiven for? And how can I forgive someone who hurt me? I want to take these in turn, using the passages people most often ask about.
Christian teaching holds that Christ's death removed the sentence of condemnation for those who believe, so that God no longer counts them guilty. Let us see how Scripture builds that picture.
What Does The Bible Say About Forgiveness Of Sin?
It starts in the Old Testament. Psalm 32 opens with the joy of the person whose sin is covered, and David describes what it was like to hide his guilt and then confess.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
Psalm 32:5 (NIV)
God's forgiveness is not measured by what we deserve. Psalm 103:10 says he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities, and a couple of verses later we read how far he puts the sin from us.
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us
Psalm 103:12 (NIV)
In the New Testament the source of that forgiveness becomes clear. At the Last Supper Jesus tied it to his own death.
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:28 (NIV)
Paul sums up the result in Ephesians 1:7: in Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God's grace. That is why Romans 3:23-24 says all have sinned yet are justified freely by his grace. Forgiveness and salvation cannot be separated.
Does God Forgive All Sins If You Repent?
Yes. This is the heart of the promise, and I want you to hear it plainly.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
Notice the condition: we confess. A person who explains their sin away as a mistake, a weakness or a bad day is not yet confessing it. 1 John 1:8-10 says that if we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves, but if we confess, he forgives and cleanses. Repentance goes with that confession, meaning a real turning from the sin. Acts 3:19 calls us to repent and turn to God so that our sins may be wiped out. If you are wondering what that looks like, read how to repent.
For a longer answer on whether any sin is beyond reach, see Does God Forgive All Sins?
What Sin Cannot Be Forgiven?
The Bible names one, and Jesus is the one who says it.
every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven
Matthew 12:31 (NIV)
Mark records the same words and the same context (Mark 3:22-30): leaders watched Jesus' work and attributed it to an evil spirit. I understand this as the lasting, hardened rejection of Christ and the Spirit's witness to him. It is not a single angry word or a season of doubt. A person who cannot be forgiven is a person who will not come. Anyone who is troubled that they may have done it has good reason to take heart, because that concern is not what a hardened heart feels. I explain this at length in the unforgivable sin, and I look at the same question across a wider range in What Is The Greatest Sin In The Bible?
How Do We Forgive Others?
Receiving forgiveness and giving it are bound together. The Lord's Prayer includes this line, and Jesus meant it to sink in.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Matthew 6:12 (NIV)
Paul puts it in a direct command:
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
The full verse begins by telling us to bear with each other and forgive any grievance against someone. This does not pretend forgiveness is easy. It is hard, and it is required. We forgive because we were forgiven something far larger.
Forgiveness means releasing the grudge and handing the debt over to God. Paul explains why we can do that in Romans 12:19: we do not take revenge, because we leave room for God's wrath. Justice is his to carry out, which frees us from having to. It also helps to read Romans 12:17, which tells us not to repay evil for evil.
Forgiving does not always mean forgetting, and it does not always mean trusting the person again right away. Jesus said that if a brother or sister sins against you, you should rebuke them, and if they repent, forgive them (Luke 17:3-4). Releasing resentment is something we can do before they apologise. Full restoration of the relationship needs their repentance as well. Even when the request is made again and again, we remember we are asking the same of God.
What Do Psalm 19:12 And Romans 12:1 Mean For Forgiveness?
These two verses turn up in searches, and each says something useful.
But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
Psalm 19:12 (NIV)
David knows he cannot see all his own sin. We have blind spots and sins we are not aware of. So he asks God to clear what he cannot see, and he prays the same chapter's request to keep him from willful sins. It is a humble prayer worth praying.
Romans 12:1 comes after eleven chapters about God's mercy. Paul urges us, in view of that mercy, to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. Forgiveness is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of a life given back to the one who forgave us.
How Do I Repent And Turn Back To God?
Start where you are. Tell God plainly what you did, without excuses. Ask for forgiveness in Jesus' name. Stop the thing you are repenting of, and, where you have wronged someone, make it right if you can. Then rest in what God has promised rather than in how you feel. Proverbs puts it this way:
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)
If you have been away from God for a long time, the way back is the same. You do not have to clean yourself up first. Come as you are, trust Christ, and receive what he already paid for. For help beyond this page see how to repent and confessing to one another, and for the wider question of what sin is, read What Is Sin?
Key Bible Verses About Forgiveness Of Sin
- Psalm 32:5: David confesses and is forgiven the guilt of his sin.
- Psalm 103:12: our transgressions are removed as far as east is from west.
- Matthew 26:28: Jesus' blood is poured out for the forgiveness of sins.
- Ephesians 1:7: redemption and forgiveness through Christ's blood, by grace.
- 1 John 1:9: confess, and he forgives and purifies.
- Colossians 3:13: forgive as the Lord forgave you.
- Proverbs 28:13: the one who confesses and renounces sin finds mercy.
- Romans 8:1: there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Colossians 3:13 say about forgiveness?
It tells believers to bear with one another and forgive any grievance, forgiving as the Lord forgave us. The standard is God's own forgiveness of us, which was costly and complete. That makes it a command rooted in gratitude.
What sin cannot be forgiven?
Jesus names blasphemy against the Holy Spirit as the sin that will not be forgiven, in Matthew 12:31. It describes a hardened, lasting rejection of Christ, not a passing doubt. Read the unforgivable sin for the full passage.
What does Romans 12:19 say?
It says not to take revenge but to leave room for God's wrath, because vengeance belongs to him. That frees us to forgive and trust God to deal justly with wrongdoing, rather than carrying that burden ourselves.
Does God forgive all sins if you repent?
Yes. First John 1:9 promises forgiveness and cleansing to those who confess. There is no list of exceptions for the repentant. See Does God Forgive All Sins? for more.
How do I repent and turn back to God?
Admit your sin to God without excuses, ask forgiveness through Jesus, turn from the sin, and make things right where you can. Then trust his promise instead of your feelings. Our guide to how to repent goes through each step.
