What Does Jehovah's Forgiveness Mean for You? - DOES JEHOVAH ALWAYS FORGIVE?

Most of God's people will never need to ask him to forgive sins as serious as those of David and Manasseh.  But we can learn from their examples that our  God is willing to forgive even very serious sins if the sinner is truly repentant.

Of course, we should not think that Jehovah always forgives all humans for their sins.  The attitude of David and Manasseh was very different from the attitude of the disobedient people of Israel and Judah.  When David sinned  God sent Nathan to give David an opportunity to repent.  David was grateful for this opportunity and did repent.  Manasseh was also in a very bad situation and realized that he needed to repent of his sins.  But the people of Israel and Judah often did not repent of their sins, even though God repeatedly sent prophets to tell them what he thought of their bad conduct.  So Jehovah did not forgive them. (Read Nehemiah 9:30)   Even after the Israelites returned to Babylon to Judah, Jehovah continued to send faithful messengers, such as the priest Ezra and the prophet Malachi.   When people did Jehovah's will,  they were very joyful. - NEHEMIAH 12:43-47.

Jehovah no longer accepts the animal sacrifices  that were required of the nation of Israel.  Instead, he sent Jesus to earth to be the one perfect ransom sacrifice for all mankind. ( 1 John 4:9, 10)  When Jesus was on earth, he talked about Jerusalem in a big way that showed how Jehovah felt about it. He said: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the killer of prophets and stoner of those sent forth to her, - how often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a mother 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) The sinful and unrepentant nation of Israel was replaced by spiritual Israel, or "the Israel of God." ( Galatians 6:16; Matthew 21:43) Is it possible for individuals who are descendants of the nation of Israel to be forgiven of their sins? Yes, Jehovah is willing to forgive them and show mercy to them if they have faith in God and the in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  During the resurrection on earth, Jehovah will also be willing to forgive people who died without repenting  of their sins. - JOHN 5:28. , 29; ACTS 24:15.

Next time: What Does Jehovah's Forgiveness Mean for You?  - HOW DO WE BENEFIT FROM JEHOVAH'S FORGIVENESS?

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