Can God's grace really cover my worst sins?
Yes. The gospel is made for the worst of us. Scripture's own story includes David, Peter, and Paul the self-called chief of sinners, all met by grace. Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more; God promises that sins as scarlet become white as snow and that our transgressions are removed as far as the east from the west. Christ is able to save to the uttermost, and there is no sin His blood cannot cleanse and no repentant sinner beyond His reach.
This question arose from studying What happens when I sin after I've come to Christ? and How do I know the Spirit's witness from my own feelings?.
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The study
What the Scripture says
Scripture's worst stories end in grace
The Bible is honest about the depth of human failure: David, after adultery and murder, begs, 'Have mercy on me, God... Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.' Peter, who denied the Lord three times, was forgiven and sent to strengthen his brothers. And Paul, who had persecuted the church, calls himself the chief of sinners. If grace can reach them, it can reach anyone, because it is made for sinners.
Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Grace is greater than our sin
Paul measures the two: 'where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly.' The prophet Micah pictures God treading our iniquities underfoot and casting all our sins into the depths of the sea; the psalmist sings that God does not deal with us according to our sins, but removes our transgressions from us 'as far as the east is from the west.' Your worst sin is not bigger than His grace.
The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly;
He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Christ can save to the uttermost
Hebrews gives the widest promise in the New Testament: Christ, who lives forever to intercede, 'is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him.' John adds the sweeping clause: the blood of Jesus 'cleanses us from all sin,' and 'if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' No sin is left off the list that His blood cannot handle.
Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
But 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.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Because the penalty was truly paid
God's grace is not a waving aside of sin; it is a payment that satisfies. Paul declares there is 'no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,' and John shows us why: 'we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous, and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.' God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us. The sin is covered because it was carried, and the grace is real because it cost everything.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.
And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.
For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Grace that covers also transforms
Mercy is never a license to keep sinning. The same grace that forgives is the grace that changes: the chief of sinners became the apostle who preached Christ with his life, and David's prayer for a clean heart was a prayer for a renewed life. When we are forgiven much, we love much, and we confess our sins because we belong to the light, not because we fear losing the forgiveness. Grace covers the repentant, and it sets them walking toward Jesus.
The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience, for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.
But 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.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
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We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
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Verses to meditate on
The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly;
Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
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