Forgiveness of Sins

[scc11]

I am a Criminology major and I often watch MSNBCs Lock Up. On one episode and inmate was saying that stealing a cracker is no different then what he was convicted of…murder. Both are sins I understand but I was wondering is how many times can people be forgiven? Take life-long criminals for examples, what if they steal on a monthly basis yet they go to confession after everytime? What about serial killers?

 

[ahs]

It depends on whether they are actually NOT sorry for their sins, or ARE, confessing out of contrition and do not want to commit the sins anymore (whether a person is actualyl “forgiven”). Forgiveness has no limits as far as how many times a person can be forgiven. “…not 7 times, but 70 times 7 times…”

 

[TheDoctor]

I am a Criminology major and I often watch MSNBCs Lock Up. On one episode and inmate was saying that stealing a cracker is no different then what he was convicted of…murder. Both are sins

He is wrong. All other things being equal, stealing a cracker is a venial sin and murder is a mortal one. Stealing the cracker will not send you to Hell, but murder will.

I understand but I was wondering is how many times can people be forgiven?

Every time as long as they are repentful.

Take life-long criminals for examples, what if they steal on a monthly basis yet they go to confession after everytime?

As long as they are remorseful and have a firm purpose not to do it again they will be absolved. Of course, to do it over and over may not show real repentence, but that is for the confessor and pentenient to determine.

What about serial killers?

Praise God, there is no sin anyone con commit that God will not forgive. He forgave the people who murdered his Son, who could do worse?

I am a Criminology major…

I am not but I have a line of law enforcement in my family. FYI, take everything, and I mean everything, initially said by a convict as either a lie or as meant to manipulate you or the system for their benefit. It is a harsh judgement but it is what experience tells me is true.

 

[JRKH]

I am a Criminology major and I often watch MSNBCs Lock Up. On one episode and inmate was saying that stealing a cracker is no different then what he was
convicted of…murder.

Obviously this is not true. While each is an offense against the ten commandments and against the Law of Love, the gravity of the offense is extremely different.

Both are sins I understand but I was wondering is how many times can people be forgiven? Take life-long criminals for examples, what if they steal on a monthly basis yet they go to confession after every time? What about serial killers?

They are able to be forgiven as often as they are able to be truly contrite for the offense and commit to not sinning in the future.
It must be remembered that Forgiveness is a two part process. There is God’s part and there is our part. On God’s part He stands ready to forgive, to show mercy on us and to help us improve through the infusion of grace. On our part, we must be receptive to that offer through true contrition and commitment to conform our Lives to Christ through Love.

As an example - God stands ready with a pitcher of cool refreshing grace ready to be poured into us.
If we bring a glass turned upright (true contrition) He will surely fill it to capacity with forgiveness and grace.
IF we bring our glass turned upside down (false contrition, not disposed to change) then God cannot fill our Glass.
The fault does not lie in God’s desire to forgive but in our reluctance to accept forgiveness.

Peace
James