Full, Free Forgiveness
What does the Bible teach about forgiveness?
Jesus paid the full price for everyone’s sins. Forgiveness is a free gift from God, but only believers accept this precious gift through faith. We are assured that our forgiveness is full in that it covers every sin, and free in that we don’t need to do anything to earn God’s forgiveness. Additionally, God no longer remembers our sins!
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:11-13
What Bible Verses should you share with a Mormon?
Some Bible passages communicate better than others to Mormons. Our booklet provides 14 practical examples along with ways to explain them that clearly convey God's truth to Mormons.
What does Mormonism teach about forgiveness?
Mormonism teaches that forgiveness is based on our actions and is conditional based on Mormon repentance. Depending on the severity of the sin, it can be a long, drawn-out process that takes many years.
Mormonism rejects the teaching of full, free forgiveness, instead teaching that Jesus only gained us time to pay for our own sins. We must keep striving to abandon and pay for all of our sins. Mormons argue that forgiveness can’t be free, because then there would be no incentive to stop sinning.
Peace comes only through forgiveness. But forgiveness has a high price. Elder Kimball said:
"To every forgiveness there is a condition. … The fasting, the prayers, the humility must be equal to or greater than the sin. There must be a broken heart and a contrite spirit. … There must be tears and genuine change of heart. There must be conviction of the sin, abandonment of the evil, confession of the error to properly constituted authorities of the Lord”
Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball
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What do Mormons believe about forgiveness?
Finding forgiveness in Mormonism is not only uncertain; it depends on you. This is vastly different from the generous forgiveness of God that empowers our forgiveness.
Why this Matters
God forgives us not because we worked ourselves back into his good graces. He forgives us “according to the riches of his grace.” God doesn’t wait to forgive until we are worthy of forgiveness. God doesn’t prescribe a painful process of sorrow and bettering ourselves before he is ready to tell us we are forgiven. It’s the direct opposite. God forgives us based on Jesus’ death. Now he says to us: “I have forgiven you. Believe it!”
Summary
Christianity
God grants full, free forgiveness and forgets our sins!
Mormonism
Forgiveness is based on our actions. We must strive to abandon and pay for all of our sins.