Maybe you’ve wondered, ‘If God has really forgiven me, why do I still have consequences for my sin?’ Or, ‘Do the consequences mean God hasn’t really forgiven me?’

I’m glad to say that the Bible tells us that even if you are dealing with consequences for your sin, if you are a Christian and have confessed your sin to God, He has forgiven you. Consequences and forgiveness are two different things. Mistakes that you’ve made, things you’ve done, words you’ve said, some of these choices bring painful consequences in our lives that don’t fade quickly.

But the Bible shows us that these consequences don’t mean that God hasn’t forgiven us. They’re a part of life to help motivate us to do what’s right. They show us that sin isn’t worthwhile – a short-term reminder of a long-term truth so that we remember to make the right choices each day.

God’s Forgiveness

According to First John 1:9, when a Christian confesses their sin to God, He forgives us fully and immediately.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

That means that when you admit to God that what you’ve done is wrong and agree with Him about it (which is what confession means), then He forgives you and washes you clean in the blood of Jesus.

As Romans 8:1 says,

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus

Consequences and Forgiveness

But the Bible also shows us that sometimes there are still consequences that come because of the things we’ve done. The story of David in the Bible shows us that forgiveness doesn’t always cancel our consequences.

David had committed adultery with a lady named Bathsheba and then had her husband killed. It was a horrible thing and it displeased God. One day, God sent the prophet Nathan to tell David a story that showed David just how wrong he had been. David confessed his sin to God and repented. Nathan told David God’s message that God had forgiven David, but there were still going to be consequences. The child still died. And there was still conflict in David’s family for the rest of his life. (2 Samuel 12:7-14)

This story shows us that even when God fully forgives one of His children, sometimes they still face the consequences of their actions.

We see this in our lives, too. I recently spoke with a lady who told me that she got saved about a year ago. But there are still broken relationships in her life that are painful and she wishes she could fix. They are broken because of the things she said before she came to Jesus. Now, as a Christian, She doesn’t bear the guilt or the burden of those things anymore. God has forgiven her. But the relationships are still broken as a natural consequence of the choices she made.

The Benefit of Consequences

Sometimes in His mercy, God cancels or reduces consequences we deserve. Sometimes He rebuilds relationships or otherwise reverses the results we deserve. Other times in His wisdom He allows us to face the consequences of our choices. But His forgiveness is separate from the consequences we do or don’t face.

Even when God has totally forgiven you, there might still be consequences. And when there are consequences, He can have fully forgiven you.

It’s okay to ask God to reduce your consequences. The Bible teaches us that sometimes He does reduce or remove the consequences. Other times, like with David, He doesn’t. But even when God leaves the consequences, it doesn’t mean that He doesn’t love you. In fact, they mean that He does love you.

Show that God Is Our Father

The Bible tells us that some consequences are proof that God is our Father. Like a good parent lovingly disciplines a child for that child’s good to help them learn what’s right and wrong, God lovingly disciplines us to show us what’s right and wrong because we’re His children.

My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. (Proverbs 3:11-12)

He assures us that He always remembers how weak we are and is careful when He disciplines us (Psalm 103:8-14). But discipline for wrong choices is painful to teach us what is good for us and what is bad (Hebrews 12:11).

When God disciplines us, it’s to help us learn to do what’s right and best for us. He’s not punishing us to cause us harm or so that we can somehow try to pay for our sin or add to what Jesus did. Jesus already took all the penalty for our sin when He died on the cross. When He rose again, it proved that He had paid in full. There’s nothing left that we can do or add to what He’s done. God’s discipline isn’t to punish us, it’s to help us learn and grow because we are His dearly loved children.

Help Motivate Us to Do Right

Knowing that our choices have consequences (both good and bad) is also a helpful motivation. It prompts us to do the things that will keep us close to God and deters us from doing what is wrong.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:7-9)

Knowing that doing right will be rewarded and doing wrong will bring consequences, helps us make the right choice when we’re tempted to give up or go the wrong way.

Consequences also help keep us from taking sin lightly or thinking, “I’ll go ahead and do it because God will just forgive me.” That’s such a bad way to live because it leads us to a dangerous place. It breaks our relationship with God and can even cause us to lose eternal rewards. If sin never had consequences, it would be easy to think that it didn’t matter. Then, in our sinfulness, we’d be tempted to sin even more.

So, the consequences for our sin are kind. They help us learn to avoid sin and do what’s right. They’re a gift from God that help us remember to walk in fellowship with Him and receive His blessings and peace.

Not All Suffering Is a Consequence

However, it’s important to remember that just because something in your life is hard or painful doesn’t mean it’s a consequence for something you’ve done wrong.

In fact, even if something is a consequence for one person doesn’t mean it is for you. For example, in the Bible we read about a man named Elymas who was trying to keep people from believing the gospel. As a consequence, he was struck blind for a time as a consequence what he had done (Acts 13:6-12).

But another time we read about a man who had been blind since he was born (John 9:1-7). One time Jesus and His disciples walked by this blind man, and the disciples asked whether this man or his parents had done something wrong that caused him to be born blind. Jesus told them that it was neither. He wasn’t blind because of someone’s specific sin. Instead, his blindness would show the glory of God when Jesus healed him.

With these two stories, the Bible makes it clear that what’s a direct consequence for sin to one person may be part of life in a broken world for another. The fact that Jesus suffered even though He never did anything wrong to deserve negative consequences also shows this. Not all of the difficult circumstances we experience are our fault or a result of something wrong we’ve done. Some of them are just part of living in this broken world.

When we get to heaven, there will be no more suffering or sadness or pain. All of that will be gone forever. But until then, there are going to be hard things that happen to us. Some of them are clearly the result of wrong choices, and some of them are just part of life. Either way, God is with you to strengthen, comfort, and help you even in the tough times.

Living Without Doubt or Fear

While there are sometimes still consequences for our sin that last beyond the forgiveness that God gives us, we can never lose God’s favor, His love, or the eternal life He’s given us as His children. Those are ours forever and forever. When we confess our sin, He forgives us completely even when the consequences last.

When you’re facing the consequences of your sin, they shouldn’t make you wonder if God has really forgiven you. Don’t live in fear and doubt. Accept God’s forgiveness and live in the freedom of His love and blessings. Even in the middle of consequences you can trust that if you’ve confessed your sin to Him, God has forgiven you. It’s His promise, and He always keeps His Word.

When God forgives you, your relationship with Him is restored as if you’d never done wrong in the first place. There’s nothing between you and the Lord. Your sin is erased from His eternal records and you face no condemnation. Even if you’re still dealing with some of the consequences of your wrong choices, God doesn’t look at you as someone who’s done those things. He looks at you as His child – loved, forgiven, accepted, and chosen.

So, don’t let consequences discourage you or tempt you to doubt God’s love or forgiveness. Let them motivate you to choose to do what’s right and avoid what’s wrong today. Let them remind you about God’s work in your life to help you see how much He’s changed you and forgiven you for. Then come to Him boldly, freely, gladly, and with love, knowing that He has forgiven you and you are right with Him today.

4 Ways to Live in the Freedom of God’s Forgiveness This Week

Here are four things you can do to live in the freedom of God’s forgiveness this week:

1. Confess any sin you know of to God

2. Believe that God has forgiven you like He promised

3. When consequences seem hard, use them as a reminder to think about how much God has worked in your life and how much He’s forgiven you for

4. Talk to God boldly, freely, gladly, and with love because He’s forgiven you

Devotional Poem

Here’s a poem I wrote about living in the freedom of God’s forgiveness even when you are dealing with the consequences of your choices.

Don’t live in the shadow
Of yesterday’s sin;
The Father forgave you
And cleansed you within.
Its failure can warn you
But must not prevent
Your willingly doing
The tasks you were sent.

Don’t let the old devil
Sneak in and deceive;
He whispers his folly
But do not believe.
His lies are to keep you
From knowing God’s grace,
So tell him to leave you
And show him his place.

You’ll sometimes be tempted
When consequence comes
To think you’re still guilty
As courage succumbs,
But God is your Father
And loves you too much
To let sin bring blessing
And seem like a crutch.

The day you confessed it
And turned from your sin,
God fully forgave you
And brought you back in.
Its under Christ’s blood now –
You’re free from its shame.
The guilt has been canceled;
No fear can remain.

So live in the freedom
That Jesus has bought
Who died to redeem you
And cleanse every spot.
You’re free to do right through
The Name of the Lord –
Rise up now to serve Him
And claim His reward.

Christina Joy Hommes

I hope it’s been encouraging to you to see that even if you’re still facing consequences for some of the things you’ve done, it doesn’t mean God hasn’t forgiven you. When you confessed, God forgave you and made you free in Jesus. He invites you come to Him boldly and live in the light of His presence today whatever your circumstances may be.