Bible Questions and Answers

Why does God forgive people?

God is willing to forgive people because he loves his creation and has a purpose with them. God created this world to be inhabited:

Isaiah 45:18 For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.

He intends to fill the earth with his glory:

Numbers 14:21 ...but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD—

His glory will be in the form of men and women raised to the divine nature in whom and with whom God will live forever.

2 Peter 1:4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

God made man with free will so that we can choose whether we want to be part of God’s purpose or not. Free will lays us open to disobedience which is sin. The punishment for each and every sin is death. Thus, Adam and Eve disonbeyed God and brought sin and death upon themselves and all their progeny.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

In an ultimate demonstration of his love, God fathered a Son, Jesus, who was prepared to give his life to redeem those who would believe on him from sin and death.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

God’s forgiveness is predicated upon a willingness on the part of people to recognise their own sinfulness and believe and obey the Gospel preached by Jesus and his apostles.

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

God’s whole purpose is love.

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

The response God requires from us is love.

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, "‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

If we want God’s forgiveness and eternal life in his kingdom we must believe the Gospel, be baptised by immersion in water for the forgiveness of all our past sins, and live a new life by Christ’s commandments.

Jesus commanded his apostles:

Matthew 28:19,20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you

Mark 16:15,16 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

After baptism we will still sin, but providing we are making a determined effort to live by Christ’s commandments our sins will be forgiven by confession in prayer.

1 John 1:7-9 …if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When Christ returns we will be raised from the dead and be given eternal life in the kingdom of God on earth.

Revelation 21:3-7 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." 6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,
Glenn