Can God Forgive My Sins? The Orthodox Teaching on Repentance and Divine Mercy

Many souls carry the same quiet fear: "Can God really forgive me?"

Some sins seem too heavy, too shameful, or too many to name. Yet the truth remains unchanged - God forgives because He loves, not because we deserve it. In the Orthodox Church, repentance is not humiliation but healing. It is the moment a lost child returns to a Father who never stopped waiting.

Why Would God Ever Forgive My Sins?

Because forgiveness is the nature of God. From the first pages of Scripture, God reveals Himself not as a strict judge eager to condemn, but as a Father longing to restore His children.

"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him."
- Psalm 103:13 KJV

God forgives not to erase history, but to renew the heart. Every act of mercy aims at transformation: that the sinner may become whole again.

Christ did not come to find righteous men - He came to seek and save the lost. If sin were greater than His love, the Cross would have no meaning.

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
- Luke 19:10 KJV

My Sins Are Too Bad to Ever Be Forgiven

This thought does not come from God - it comes from despair, which is itself a temptation. No sin, however grave, is stronger than the Cross of Christ. The blood of Christ covers what shame tries to hide.

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
- Isaiah 1:18 KJV

Think of the thief on the cross: he had no good works left to show, yet with one sincere word - "Remember me, Lord" - he entered Paradise. The only sin that cannot be forgiven is the one we refuse to bring to God.

"And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise"
- Luke 23:42-43 kJV

I Don't Know How to Bring It Up in Confession."

Many struggle here - especially after years away. The Church does not demand long explanations or storytelling. You do not have to describe details, people, or every memory. Speak simply and directly about the nature of the sin.

Step by Step:

Prepare beforehand. Pray and examine yourself honestly.
Begin with humility. When you approach the priest, make the sign of the cross and say: "Father, I have sinned. It has been (time) since my last confession."
Name the sins briefly. For example:
- "I have judged others."
- "I have been proud, angry, and careless in prayer."
- "I have fallen into impurity."
- "I have neglected my spiritual life."
Avoid stories or justifications. You do not need to explain how or why unless the priest asks.
Listen to his words. The priest may give guidance, not as punishment, but as medicine.
Receive absolution with faith. Christ Himself forgives you through the priest's prayer.

Remember: Confession is not an interrogation; it is a meeting of mercy. The priest stands as a witness that God has heard you and forgiven you.

What If the Priest Tells My Sins to Other People?

He cannot and he will not. Every Orthodox priest takes a vow of silence about confessions. It is one of the strictest obligations in the Church. Breaking it would cost him his priesthood and his soul.

The seal of confession is absolute. Whatever is said in confession remains between you, the priest, and God. Even if you confess to the same priest for decades, he will never bring up your sins outside that moment. Most priests forget them entirely as soon as the absolution prayer is read.

What If the Priest Forbids Me from Coming Back?

A true spiritual father never forbids repentance. At times, a priest may ask a penitent to delay Communion or to perform a small epitimia (spiritual medicine, not punishment) - fasting, prayers, or works of mercy. This is not rejection, it is part of healing.

If a person comes sincerely, no Orthodox priest will drive them away. Even if one has had a painful experience, another confessor can be found. The Church never closes the door to repentance.

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
- Psalm 51:17 KJV

The Unforgivable Sin

Christ spoke of one sin that blasphemes against the Holy Spirit.

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."
- Matthew 12:31–32

This does not mean uttering a careless word; it means persistent, willful rejection of the grace of God - knowing the truth and still calling it evil. It is the state of a heart that refuses repentance until death.

God does not refuse to forgive such a person. The person refuses to be forgiven.

If one commits this sin and never repents, the soul remains closed to grace, even at the hour of death. But if repentance awakens, even at the last breath, God's mercy will receive it. As long as there is life, there is hope.

Conclusion

God's forgiveness is not earned. It is received. He forgives not because we are worthy, but because He is good. No sin is too great for His compassion, and no fall too deep for His hand to reach.

The Orthodox Christian learns that confession is not humiliation - it is liberation. The one who confesses walks away lighter, restored to peace, and free to begin again. We are forgiven because we are loved, and we are loved because we belong to Him.

"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance"
- Luke 15:7 KJV

So come as you are. God already knows your sins and He is waiting for your trust.