Adultry, divorce, and forgiveness

I am very concerned for my salvation. I know that Jesus died on the cross to forgive us our sins, however, many years ago I committed adultery and got a divorce. I fear that breaking one of God's Ten Commandments is a sin punishable by damnation to hell. Would God forgive me for this sin?

You are correct in some of the things you say or imply: Yes, adultery is a sin against the Ten Commandments; and, yes, like any and all other sins it is punishable by damnation in hell. It seems that you understand these truths and have taken them seriously. I am thankful for that.

You are, however, not enjoying other truths clearly revealed in the Bible for us all. While you say you know that “Jesus died on the cross to forgive us our sins,” your strong feelings seem to deny that truth. On the one hand you seem to be saying, “Jesus died for me to forgive my sins,” but at the same time you ask, “Would God forgive me for this sin [adultery]?” So you end up in effect contradicting God and being tormented with a terribly burdened conscience, a guilty conscience.

I have exceedingly good news for you. Your sin of adultery (and the subsequent divorce if that is also traceable to your sins) has already been forgiven. It was forgiven 2,000 years ago when the penalty for it was paid in full by Jesus Christ. He did this for you as part of a sinful world. The problem you are wrestling with is that somehow, and for reasons I do not know, you consider yourself an exception to the rest of us forgiven sinners. But you are not. Jesus Christ is your Savior from sin and guilt and eternal damnation.

This is a truth not to be argued, debated, or doubted. It is a truth to be trusted, a promise to be received. And your and my gracious, loving God leads us to trust this good news as we hear, read, or in any other way receive the message. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). So I counsel you to stop worrying about your sin, stop focusing on your burdened conscience and feeling of guilt, and go back to focusing on the objective and unchanging (and unchangeable) Word of God that declares you forgiven through Jesus Christ and his work for you.

I also strongly urge you to sit down with one of our pastors and allow him to give you counsel that will properly reflect his personal knowledge of you and allow you to ask questions and share pertinent information that is not possible in this e-mail format.

Rich blessings to you as you do this!