FORGIVENESS IS CONDITIONAL

 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?   But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. ( (Rom 2:4-5 NASB)

Forgiveness of sin is conditional. Scripture says we must confess our sin to God, repent and then God forgives us. And even then, the consequences of our sin remain and we have to live with those effects. But true repentance is necessary. Repentance means that we choose to go the other way. One who asks for forgiveness and continues in that sin, was never forgiven. How could God forgive a person who is not sincere enough to repent, to turn away and to follow God?  That is cheap grace.  There are a number of reasons why things go wrong with our lives. One of them is not living by the Law of Christ. God gives us instructions for optimal living. But we think we know better than God and we do what we please. That is called sin. The consequences of sin and guilt are enormous. Only the truly repentant finds relief.