If I've had sex outside of marriage, can I still be forgiven?

by Matt Slick

Yes, you can still be saved. Fornication is one of many sins that people commit but which can be forgiven. The love of God is so great that he can heal us and wipe away our iniquities. There have been many Christians who, in their earlier days, committed fornication as well as other sins, but have been forgiven and are now walking in fellowship with the Lord.

God is very forgiving, very patient, very gracious, and very kind. What we need to do is go before him and confess our sins, repent, and continue to seek to do his will. Of course, sometimes we will fail but our salvation is not dependent upon how good we are. It is based on how good God is. Jesus said in John 10:27-28,

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand."

Please understand that our sin is not enough to remove us from the secure hand of God. His love and commitment to us is great. But this does not mean it is okay to sin. Consider what Paul says in Romans 6:1-2,

"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?"

Paul clearly tells us that we are to not continue in sin. We are not to use the grace of God as an excuse to do that which is wrong. Though we may fail, we always have the cross, the place of forgiveness. True Christians struggle against their sin and seek to avoid it. False Christians use the grace of God as an excuse to fornicate, lie, steal, etc.

The Unforgiveable Sin

The only unforgivable sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit in Matthew 12:22-32. In context, it states that Jesus was doing his miracles by the power of the evil one. However, some say that the only unforgivable sin is suicide. But this is not so. Suicide is never mentioned as being an unforgivable sin, but blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is.

Conclusion

So, can any person who has had sex before marriage still be saved? The answer is definitely yes. For those who have sinned in this way all you need to do is go to the Lord, confess your sin, receive his cleansing, and be forgiven. Then, turn from that sin, rely on the strength of God, and don't commit it again. And finally, if you do fail, commit to repent yet again, and rely on the grace of God to forgive. Don't use his forgiveness as an excuse to fail. Use God's love and grace as the means by which you are forgiven.

1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."