How Does God Forgive Murderers?

Many prominent figures, including world leaders, have committed horrible crimes such as murder. It is clear what God must think of the truly horrible individuals who shatter innocence, take lives, abuse, neglect, and harbor hate toward others.

All sin, including our selfish behavior, is despised by God. But He cares about everyone. Christ, therefore, died “to remove sin by the offering [death] of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). That implies the totality of sin. Thus, whoever trusts in Christ can be reconciled to God.

Does God Forgive Murderers?

The killing of an innocent person is a popular definition of murder. Many theologians distinguish between taking life during hostilities and killing an innocent person. If a killer is not actively engaged in killing someone, they may still be guilty of manslaughter. However, blasphemy against the Holy Ghost[1] is the only unpardonable sin.

Many individuals think that God will only pardon certain sins while forgiving others. Any wrong committed by any person can be explained by the power of Christ’s death and resurrection. According to the unambiguous statement in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

John makes no mention that the murderers do not have eternal life. He claims in his writing that he is not endowed with eternal life. The concept of eternal life abiding in him alludes to our relationship with Jesus, the source of our eternal life (1 John 5:20).

How Can God Forgive A Killer?

It is difficult for us to comprehend that God forgives murderers as readily as He forgives liars and thieves because of how severe and permanent murder is. However, suppose you’ve read our article on mortal sins. In that case, you already know that anyone who repents and accepts the compassion and mercy extended to them by Jesus on the cross will have their sins forgiven equally by God.

Christ Jesus Saved Us

The blood of Jesus is the price of redemption for everyone who puts their faith in him. According to some, Jesus served as the sinners’ substitute and the intermediary between God and humanity. Since the beginning, we would have had to continually pay the price of sin if Jesus hadn’t died on the cross. Thankfully, Jesus came to settle the matter once and for all by dying on the cross for all people.

Why Is Committing Murder A Serious Sin?

It is appropriate that our judicial systems treat murder with such seriousness. Property that has been damaged or stolen can be replaced or repaired. However, a short life is irretrievably lost and murder is irreversible. Everyone agrees that one of the most severe and horrible crimes is murder.

Why God Does Not Like Murder?

1. Murder Is An Attack Against God In The Truest Sense.

God established a system to safeguard human existence after promising Noah that He would never wipe out humanity with a flood. Because “God created man in His image,” any man who wrongfully takes the life of another will also have his own life taken (Genesis 9:6). 

Through this, we may see how valuable and priceless human life is to God. Murdering another person is murdering the aspect of creation resembling God. It amounted to an assault on the person who created all life. This is why Christians and God both find abortion to be so painful.

2. Murder Usurps The Power And Privilege That Are Exclusively God’s.

Only God has the authority to bestow life and take it away. Life, according to Job, is the Lord’s to give and take away (Job 1:21). As a result, anyone who murders another person is guilty of usurping God’s exclusive rights and privileges.

Examples Of Murder In The Bible

The extent of God’s love, not the severity of the sin, determines whether it will be forgiven. The Bible is replete with God forgiving people for transgressions that they frequently think are too severe to be pardoned.

Cain

Cain, the first murderer and well-known both within and outside of Christian communities, killed his sibling out of jealousy (Genesis 4:8). God made sure that Cain would be spared punishment even as He pronounced judgment and exiled Cain: But the Lord replied, “Not so; anybody who kills Cain will suffer wrath seven times more.” Then the Lord placed a mark on Cain so that nobody who found him would kill him (Genesis 4:15).

Moses

We view Moses as a hero, a prophet, a leader, and a lawmaker. And he embodied each of them. However, Moses was also a murderer. One day, after growing up, he went to his own people’s location and observed them performing their complex tasks. One of his people, a Hebrew, was being beaten by an Egyptian. He killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand after searching in all directions and failing to find anyone (Exodus 2:11–12).

Saul

Saul persecuted the early church and detained believers. He even endorsed the killing of Stephen, the first martyr for Christianity (Acts 8:1). Nevertheless, God pardoned his transgressions, and this guy later took the name Apostle Paul and contributed to about half of the New Testament’s books.

David

When David had a sexual relationship with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, and she became pregnant, he made a disaster for himself. David planned to kill Uriah in combat after his attempt to cover up their infidelity was unsuccessful (2 Samuel 11:14–17). However, David was ashamed when the prophet Nathan challenged and corrected him, and the Lord gave a kind reply: “I have sinned against the Lord,” David responded to Nathan.

How Does A Murderer Receive God’s Forgiveness?

Jesus wants a radical holiness that involves a heart transformation via His love and grace, not only abstaining from external sin. Christ, who satisfied all righteousness and offered it to us as a gift to be accepted by faith, is our sole source of hope.

Confess

Turn to God and repent of your anger and sin. Do not rationalize it. Jonah’s narrative is instructive. God is telling Jonah to examine his own life and heart, in other words. Too infrequently do we examine our hearts to determine the trustworthy source of the issue? However, it begins with a confession: “We are savagely enraged. Father, forgive us.”

Obtain The Grace Of God Through Jesus

God was crying out for justice through the blood of Abel. But according to Hebrews 12:24, Jesus’ blood has a more vital message. The perpetrator deserves to die, according to what Abel’s blood says. And we stand accused as guilty. When we are angry, we violate the sixth commandment of God.

For this reason, Jesus came. He led a holy life, paid the price for our transgressions, and then rose from the dead to give us eternal life in Him. The blood of Christ conveys a word of pardon and acceptance to all who believe in Him. Accept this gracious gift with trust.

Specifically, Reconcile

So, if you are presenting your offering at the altar and suddenly recall that your brother is resentful of you, leave your offering there and depart. You must first make amends with your brother before you can come and present your present (Matthew 5:23–24).

Here, Jesus urges a particular action toward a specific brother. And take note that it’s not someone you’re mad at. No, this is a person who feels hurt by you. God reminds you of the offense you have committed against him. Making amends with Him is the first step in the worship process.

Christ On Grace

The fact that God offers forgiveness to murderers is undoubtedly excellent news for people like Cain, Moses, David, the unidentified bandit, and other murderers. However, most of us are not killers. Therefore we find it difficult to believe that God could extend His grace to someone so deserving.

Grace For All Of Us

The great news is that everyone who sins can find forgiveness and hope—even murderers. Additionally, there are those sinners who, like you and I, may have committed murder only with our minds and hearts rather than our hands. And some of you were like that. However, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit of our God, you were washed, sanctified, and justified (1 Corinthians 6:11).

7 Bible Verses About God’s Forgiveness

James 4:11–12 

Be kind to one another, brothers. Speaking ill of one’s sibling and passing judgment on them is equivalent to speaking ill of the law and passing judgment on it; however, if you pass judgment on the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

Romans 12:17–21

Never return evil for evil to a person. Provide things that are honorable in the eyes of all men. Live in peace with all people as much as it is feasible for you too. Because it is stated, “Vengeance is mine; I will recompense.” Do not seek your revenge but yield to fury. 

Therefore, if your adversary is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink because if you don’t, you will heap burning coals on his head. Don’t let evil overtake you; instead, use sound to triumph over it.

Revelation 21:7–8

He who triumphs will have everything; I will be his God, and he will be my son. The second death is the lake of fire and brimstone, where the frightened, the unbelieving, the disgusting murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will have their place.

Luke 17:3–4

Pay attention to yourselves: If your brother transgresses against you, correct him; if he repents, pardon him. And if he breaks against you seven times a day and seven times a day comes back to you and says, “I’m sorry,” you’ll forgive him.

Jonah 4:2

“Please, Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my nation,” he begged the Lord. Because I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God who is slow to wrath, abounding in lovingkindness, and shows mercy in the face of disaster, I fled to Tarshish to prevent tragedy.

Matthew 5:21–24

You may have heard that it was once said, “Thou shalt not kill,” and that anyone who does so will face judgment. However, I tell you that anyone enraged with his brother without good reason will face a sentence, and anyone who calls his brother “Raca” will face the council; however, anyone who calls him “You fool” will face the fires of hell.

Nehemiah 9:17

They were obstinate and chose a leader to take them back to their servitude in Egypt because they would not listen and did not remember The great acts that You had done among them. However, because You are a God of forgiveness, grace, and compassion who is patient and kind and abounds in lovingkindness, You did not abandon them.

Conclusion

You don’t have to have been raised in the church to understand that murder is a heinous crime. Almost everywhere, murder is seen as a horrific crime. And so it should be. When Cain killed his brother Abel, God made it clear that He detested murder (Genesis 4:8).

As Christians and as people, we know that killing someone without cause is sinful. “You shall not kill,” declares God’s Word, and we must observe God’s commands lest we suffer the repercussions on judgment day.