Expert: Dr. Billy Kryger - 1/13/2008

Question
What is the difference between Penitence and Making amends?
If a person asks God for forgiveness, but years later still feels that guilt - some people will say - thats Satan accusing you. Or they will say - you haven't made amends. How do you truly know that God has forgiven you? Some people also say if you don't make amends or do Penitence, then you never were sincere with your asking for forgiveness - thus... you were not forgiven for your sins? Sara

Answer
Sara:

    Thank you for your question.  Genuine penitence results in making amends.  If you have asked for and received God's forgiveness He will also forget whatever it was and will never remind you of that thing again--but Satan indeed will continuously remind you of the thing.  1 John 1:9 promises us that if our request for forgiveness was sincere and with the intention of trying to never do that thing again, God will forgive and cleanse.

    There is a difference in being truly sorry (penitent) and being sorry that you were caught doing something or sorry someone was hurt.  In that case, forgiveness was not genuinely sought, therefore not received.

   Hope this helps.