What Should I Do If I Doubt My Forgiveness?

Direct Answer

Turn from your feelings and go back to what God has already said — you are forgiven because Christ died, and you claim that promise by faith.

When doubts come, don't ask for a visible sign or beg to be forgiven again. Les teaches that redemption, forgiveness, and justification are invisible realities that God gives the moment you believe. The response is to come back to the promises of Scripture, claim them, and rest on what God has said (Clip 1, Clip 3, Clip 4).

Key Scriptures

Ephesians 1:7 — States in the KJV that every believer has redemption through Christ's blood and the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Colossians 1:14 — Repeats that believers already have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 2:13 — Tells dead sinners that God has quickened them together with Christ, having forgiven all trespasses.

Romans 8:1 — Declares there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, removing the basis for continued guilt.

What Does Scripture Say About Your Forgiveness?

The King James Bible presents forgiveness as a present possession, not something to be earned or re-secured. Ephesians 1:7 says, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." Colossians 1:14 repeats that truth: "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 2:13 describes what God does for the sinner: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses." Romans 8:1 adds, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Scripture also makes clear the ground of this forgiveness: without the shedding of blood there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22), and without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). The Bible's testimony is consistent — redemption through blood and forgiveness belong together.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About Doubting Your Forgiveness?

Les Feldick says that doubt about forgiveness is answered not by looking inward but by returning to what God has written. He points out that forgiveness is part of a cluster of invisible realities — redemption, justification, reconciliation, translation, and glorification — that all happen the moment a person believes the Gospel (Clip 1, Clip 3). These cannot be examined or worked at; they are taken by faith. Because of that, Les says you do not have to beg to be forgiven — you are already forgiven (Clip 4). The cross makes the difference, and God has mandated that forgiveness comes only through the shed blood of Christ and through faith (Clip 7). When the devil attacks with doubts, the believer should "come right back" to the Word and "claim it" — God has said it, we believe it, and we rest on it (Clip 1). Les also reminds us that this is not something a theologian dreamed up: the book says it (Clip 0).

Why Would a Saved Person Still Doubt Their Forgiveness?

Les acknowledges the source of doubt: "the old devil likes to come along and pooh-pooh the whole idea" (Clip 1). Doubt is an attack, not evidence that forgiveness was never real. Les also says that trying to produce or maintain forgiveness by your own effort leads to "perpetual insecurity," because no one has the wherewithal to hang on of our own (Clip 3).

Do I Need to Ask God to Forgive Me Again Every Time I Doubt or Sin?

No. Les says plainly, "Do you and I have to beg to be forgiven? No. You're already forgiven" (Clip 4). He connects this to Colossians 2:13, where God says He has forgiven all trespasses. Even after a believer falls, God's response is to pick them up and say, "You're forgiven, you're cleansed, now move on" (Clip 6).

What Does It Mean to Claim God's Forgiveness?

For Les, claiming forgiveness means taking God's Word over doubt. He says, "Every one of these we take by faith. God has said it, we believe it, and we rest on it" (Clip 1). It means coming back to the promises of Scripture — such as Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 1:14 — and recognizing that "the book says it" (Clip 0).

From the Teaching

Return to What the Book Says

Les shows that our confidence is not built on one isolated verse; he points to Ephesians and Colossians and stresses that this is what the book says, not a human idea.

Claim God's Promises When Doubt Comes

Les insists that every part of salvation — including forgiveness — is taken by faith. When the devil pooh-poohs the idea, the believer's response is to come back and claim it: God has said it, we believe it, and we rest on it.

The Disciples' Prayer Explained: Matthew 6 Verse by Verse

But the crux of the matter is that if God was gracious enough to forgive me right exactly where I was as a sinner condemned, then who am I to say that I can't forgive the other person? Now do you see what a difference that makes? Instead of me drudgingly saying, yes I forgive you so that I can be forgiven, now I recognize I am forgiven.

Forgiveness Is Invisible and Received by Faith

Les explains that everything in salvation, including forgiveness, is God's work and is invisible — it is not something you work at. He tells believers to come back to the promises of Scripture instead of living in perpetual insecurity.

You Are Already Forgiven — Don't Beg

Les says plainly that a believer does not have to beg for forgiveness, because in Christ you are already forgiven. He points to Colossians 2:13 and reminds us the cross makes the difference.

Redemption Comes Through Faith in the Blood

Les explains that a person is redeemed when they believe what God says about Christ's shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection — showing that forgiveness is tied to believing God's Word.

God Reassures and Moves You Forward

Even when a genuine believer falls, Les says God is patient and picks them up with the words, "You're forgiven, you're cleansed, now move on." Doubt after a fall is met with God's grace, not re-condemnation.

Forgiveness Is by Grace Through the Shed Blood

Les teaches that God's Word says believers have redemption through Christ's blood and are forgiven — not based on what they deserve, but according to His grace, and this is taken by faith.

Bible Verses

Ephesians 1:7: In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Les points to this verse as proof that redemption through blood and forgiveness are already true for the believer.

Colossians 1:14: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

It repeats the same promise in a parallel statement so the believer has more than one verse to rest on.

Colossians 2:13: And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

It emphasizes that God has forgiven all trespasses, not just some.

Romans 8:1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

It answers the feeling of condemnation with the settled truth that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 9:22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

It is one of the two fundamentals Les says must be faced head-on: no forgiveness without shed blood.

Hebrews 11:6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

It is the other fundamental Les relies on: it is impossible to please God without faith.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does doubting my forgiveness mean my faith was just an emotional experience?

Les doesn't treat doubt as proof that salvation wasn't real. He says the devil likes to come along and "pooh-pooh" the whole idea, and the remedy is to come right back and claim what God has said (Clip 1). Doubt is answered by faith, not by going back to an experience.

Do I need to beg God to forgive me again every time I doubt?

No. Les asks, "Do you and I have to beg to be forgiven?" and answers, "No. You're already forgiven" (Clip 4). He points to Colossians 2:13, which says God has forgiven you all trespasses. When you fall, God picks you up and says, "You're forgiven, you're cleansed, now move on" (Clip 6).

What does it mean to 'claim' forgiveness?

It means taking God's Word over your doubts. As Les puts it, "God has said it, we believe it, and we rest on it" (Clip 1). You go back to verses like Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 1:14 and recognize that "the book says it" (Clip 0).

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