Can God forgive a person who is guilty of assault?

Luke 23:34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

Acts 2:21“‘But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

God will forgive any sin, not just certain ones. His mercy is available to anyone who turns to him in repentance, regardless of what they have done.

2 Chronicles 33:6, 13Manasseh also sacrificed his own sons in the fire in the valley of Ben-Hinnom. . . . when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God!

Acts 8:1-3Saul [the apostle Paul] was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. . . . Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

1 Timothy 1:15-16This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

Manasseh was perhaps the most wicked king in Judah’s history—he even burned his own sons to death as a sacrifice to a false god. Later in life, however, he sought God’s forgiveness and God did forgive him, transforming him into a man who did great things for his nation out of his love for God. Similarly, the apostle Paul participated in the imprisonment and even murder of Christians before he met Jesus. No sinner is too wicked for God to save; no sin is too vile for God to forgive. His mercy is available to anyone who calls on him, regardless of their past. If you have committed assault, you must still accept the consequences for your sins, but you are not out of reach of God’s forgiveness if your heart is truly sincere in desiring change.