What If I've Already Given in to Temptation?

What if it’s too late?

You fought temptation in your strength—and lost.

Now you stand guilty before the holy Lord of the universe.

We’ve all been there: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

Here’s what we do: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (v. 9).

Take your sin to your Father—now.

Admit your wrong, repent of your failure, and ask his forgiveness.

Claim his promise to forgive your mistakes and sins, to wipe the slate clean and remember your failures no more.

Does God’s forgiveness mean that we can simply sin and confess, then sin and confess more?

Not without consequence.

I can drive a nail into wood, and you can pull it out—but the hole remains. Obedience refused can never be regained. Reward for faithfulness is lost forever.

God forgives, but the pain of our sin still hurts—ourselves as well as others.

Nonetheless, we can be forgiven by the One whose Son died in our place to pay our debt: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Guilt is not of God.

Our Father loves every member of his family. And we are still his children, even when we don’t act like it.

Grace is getting what we don’t deserve; mercy is not getting what we do deserve.

Our Father in heaven offers both.

Do you need to open his gift of forgiveness today?

If so, don’t wait. Speak to your Father in heaven. He longs to hear from you, his beloved child.

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