Does God Forgive Murderers and If So Why?

When it comes to topics such as ‘murder’ and ‘forgiveness’, religious people tend to be torn between thinking that murderers would be forgiven and murderers would never be forgiven by God. Many people ask this tough question, does God forgive murderers? 

The short answer to this question is “yes, God forgives murderers.” Then again, there is a lengthier explanation that would answer this question more clearly. God will only forgive murderers only if they repent and change their ways.

The Bible talks about some people being unable to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven because they do not ask God for forgiveness. They sin and do not repent. They do not change their ways.

God is merciful, forgiving, and loving. He loves everyone; that’s why He is even willing to forgive those who commit grave sins as long as they seek forgiveness. He has conditions that need to be met in order to be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

To help you understand this further, here are some key notes that you have to keep in mind:

Sins are against God and everything He stands for. So, if you sin, you disobey, disrespect, and disappoint God. If you sin, you deliberately go against God’s teachings. Remember that even though humans commit sins against one another, it is God who becomes offended. God, who is holy and pure, gets hurt every time you commit a sin against your fellow human being. Hence, it is only God who is able to determine the penalties for sins as well as how humans can receive forgiveness for their sins.

What the Bible Says About Sinning

In the Bible, you will read about the story of David. Despite being king and having everything he wanted, David was not content. He desired Bathsheba, who was a married woman. In order to get her, he had her husband killed.

After some time, however, David felt remorseful for what he had done and asked for forgiveness from God. He understood that he had greatly offended Him. He also knew that it was only God who could forgive him.

Take a look at Psalm 51:4 to have a clearer understanding. “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.”

In addition, God is the only one who can determine the conditions on which sins are forgiven. Those who sinned against Him would be forgiven only if they meet His conditions. These conditions are the following: believing that Jesus Christ is His Son, repenting from sins, confessing, and getting baptized. If these conditions are met by the sinner, he would be forgiven by God. This is further explained in the following Bible verses:

Acts 2:36. “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Acts 2:37. “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Acts 2:38. “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

In verse 36, you will see the phrase “whom you crucified”. This actually describes the kinds of sins that some people who listened to the preachings of the apostles committed at that time. Then again, despite their role in Jesus’ crucifixion, many of them responded. Thus, they were forgiven by God.

When you get baptized into Christianity, you become obligated to confess your sins. You also have to repent in order to be forgiven. This is evident in the following verses:

1 John 1:5. “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
1 John 1:6. “If we say we have fellowship with him while we talk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
1 John 1:7. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Even though God is willing to forgive everyone, there are a lot of times when the consequences of their sins remain. So, if you commit a sin such as murder, you may be sentenced to life in prison or executed.

Such consequences seem terrible. Nevertheless, the greatest consequence has already been removed, and that is being given eternal suffering and torment. Even though you are being punished for your sins on earth, you no longer have a spiritual death because you have been forgiven by God.

Romans 6:23. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Final Thoughts On if Does God Forgives Murderers

God is loving and forgiving. This is evident in the Bible. God forgave David even though he had Bathsheba’s husband killed. HE forgave Saul of Tarsus even though he imprisoned Christians and arranged for their execution. Also, God forgave people who became remorseful and repentant of their sins.

Humans, in general, are responsible for the death of Jesus. He died because of our sins. However, because God loves us so much, He sent us His Son to die for our sins. God wants to forgive us so that we can spend eternity in heaven with Him.

Isaiah 55:6-7. “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”

Jesus also said, “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” (Mark 3:28-29). This proves that anyone, including murderers, can be forgiven by God as long as they meet His conditions.