Can all my sins be forgiven? I’ve done some terrible things.

Psalm 103:3, 10-12He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. . . . He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

Joel 2:32“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Mark 3:28“I tell you the truth, all sin and blasphemy can be forgiven.”

Romans 8:38I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

Forgiveness is not based on the magnitude of the sin but the magnitude of the forgiver’s love. No sin is too great for God’s complete and unconditional love. The Bible does, however, mention one unforgivable sin—harboring an attitude of defiant hostility toward God that prevents us from accepting his forgiveness (see Matthew 12:31; Mark 3:28-29). Only those who don’t want God’s forgiveness are out of its reach.

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.

Saul (Paul) was a violent, self-righteous persecutor of the Church. He did all that he could to oppose the early believers, including imprisonment and even murder (Acts 8:1-3). But even Saul was changed by God’s grace. We know him best as the great missionary who wrote half the New Testament. If Paul, “the worst of sinners,” could be redeemed by God’s love, so can we.

Matthew 26:33-34Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

Luke 22:61At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

John 21:17A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter swore he would never leave Jesus, but in Jesus’ darkest hour, Peter denied him three times. Worst of all, Jesus had predicted Peter would do this, and he caught Peter in the act. After falling so far, Peter must have doubted Jesus would ever trust him in the same way again. One day after Jesus’ resurrection, Peter decided to go fishing—his occupation before he met Jesus. Jesus met Peter and the other disciples there and, after a meal with them on the beach, he led Peter aside to talk with him. Three times, Jesus asked Peter if Peter loved him, and just as Peter had denied Jesus three times, he was given the opportunity three times to reaffirm his love for Jesus. Then, just as Jesus had called Peter from his fishing boat so many years ago, he called Peter again with the same command: “Follow me.” Peter went on to lead the early church and even died a martyr for the cause of Christ (John 21:18-19). If you have fallen in your walk with Christ, do not despair—God is not finished with you yet (Philippians 1:6).