Question: 

If one repents of fornicating, will they be forgiven?

Answer: 

It is a common tendency to think one sin is worse than another. Some may feel lying is a lesser sin than murder. Others think drug abuse is a greater sin than drunkenness. Some suppose homosexuality is worse than adultery. Your question indicates you are afraid fornication may be more difficult to forgive than any other sin. This is not true. Sin always brings the same paycheck—spiritual death (Romans 6:23).

Yet, despite our guilt, God offers the same gift to all through Jesus Christ. That gift is forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7). Yet, this is not an unconditional gift. It requires our repentance. In other words, it is necessary that we turn away from sin and turn our lives over to God’s direction (Acts 3:19).

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 should provide great hope to the sinner. It says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus...”

Some of the members of the Corinthian church were guilty of fornication. If they had refused to repent and failed to believe in Jesus Christ, they would still be in their sins. Yet, the passage is clearly teaching they did turn to God and were forgiven.

Hebrews gives us God’s promise that when He forgives, “Their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more”  (Heb. 10:17). Truly, the only sin God cannot forgive is the sin you refuse to turn away from in your life. If you are not a Christian, obey the instructions given in Acts 2:38 “for the remission of sins.” If you are a Christian, confess your sins and walk in the light as 1 John 1:6-9 instructs.
 

More Questions and Answers