I knew it was wrong, but I committed adultery. Will God forgive me?
Question:
Hi,
I've been a Christian for eight years. I read my Bible and know what to do and what not to do in regards to being a Christian. Recently I committed adultery for the first time in my entire life. I'm feeling bad and guilty of such an act. Since then I have been asking God for forgiveness. Can I really be forgiven of a sin that I knowingly committed?
Please help me out.
Answer:
In II Samuel 11-12 is the account of David committing adultery with Bathsheba. He knew what he did was wrong because when it turned out she was pregnant by him, he tried to cover up his sin. It was only when Nathan forced him to face what he was doing that he finally admitted that he sinned. David was forgiven of his sins.
The question isn't whether you knew adultery was wrong. The question is: have you turned away from your sin? "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter" (II Corinthians 7:10-11). If you see that what you did was wrong and you are determined not to repeat your mistake, then go to God and admit your sin. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9). Don't make any excuses, be blunt and honest about what you did wrong.
Along with that, you need to look closely at what happened, and why it happened. You don't want a repeat and it should be disturbing that you sinned even when you knew you should not do so. Comprehending why you did what you did will help you to put up barriers to any repetition of this kind of sin.
