IS JEHOVAH'S FORGIVENESS UNLIMITED?

Few among God's people today will ever have to seek forgiveness for ins as serious as those of David and Mannasseh.  Yet, the fact that Jehovah forgave these two kings helps us to realize that our God is willing to forgive even gross sins if the sinner is truly repentant.

Of course, we cannot rightly conclude that Jehovah automatically forgives all humans for their sins. In this regard, let us compare the attitude of David and Mannasseh with that of the wayward people of Israel and Judah.  God sent Nathan to confront David and give him an opportunity to change his attitude. David gratefully accepted this offer.  When Mannasseh found himself in sore straits, he was moved to sincere repentance. Often, however, the inhabitants of Israel and Judah did not repent. Therefore, Jehovah did not forgive them.  Instead he repeatedly had his prophets declared how he viewed their disobedient conduct.  (Read Nehemiah 9:30)  Even after the exiles returned from Babylon to their homeland, Jehovah continued to raise up faithful messengers such as the priest Ezra and the prophet Malachi.  When the people acted In harmony with Jehovah's will, the experienced great joy. - NEHEMIAH 12:43-47. 

After Jesus was sent to the earth and the one perfect sacrifice was provided, Jehovah not longer accepted Israel's sacrifices.  (1 John 4:9, 10)  As a man, Jesus reflected his Father's viewpoint when he spoke these moving words: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the killer of the prophets and stoner of those sent forth to her,-how often I wanted to gather your children together,the way a hen gathers her chicks together under her wings!  But you people did not want it."   So Jesus declared:  "Look! Your house is abandoned to you." (Matthew 23:37, 38) Thus, the sinful and unrepentant nation was replaced  by spiritual Israel.  (Matthew 21:43; Galatians 6:16)  But what about individual members of natural Israel?  They are welcome to benefit from Jehovah's forgiveness and mercy by exercising faith in God and in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  That opportunity will also be open to people who died without repenting of their sins but who are resurrected on a  cleansed earth. - JOHN 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15. 

Next time: IS JEHOVAH'S FORGIVENESS UNLIMITED?

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