From The Brothers Karamazov, Book 2 “An Unfortunate Gathering,” Chapter 3 “Peasant Women Who Have Faith”:
Fear nothing and never be afraid; and don’t fret. If only your penitence fail not, God will forgive all. There is no sin, and there can be no sin on all the earth, which the Lord will not forgive to the truly repentant! Man cannot commit a sin so great as to exhaust the infinite love of God. Can there be a sin which could exceed the love of God? Think only of repentance, continual repentance, but dismiss fear altogether. Believe that God loves you as you cannot conceive; that He loves you with your sin, in your sin. It has been said of old that over one repentant sinner there is more joy in heaven than over ten righteous men. Go, and fear not.
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For more on this love of God, click the “Two Ways to Live” tab in the right margin under the word “Gospel.”
Thank you for posting this one. I will be divorced on July 2, 2008. I left my home at the request of my bride on my 42nd birthday, 4/8/08. It is difficult for me at this point to believe, though I do, the truth in this writing… and I fear often. I attended Founders (Richard Caldwell) tonight. It is the first public affirmation of God in my life since I left home. It is a start. I am confident, as much as I can be, of God’s promise in 1 Thessalonians 5:24-25. I beg Him to “let the bones that you have broken rejoice (Psalm 51:8) and that Christ “help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). May God’s “rod and reproof give wisdom” (Proverbs 29:15) as I am disciplined as a son of God (Hebrews 12:5-6). I thnk God that He has stirred up sincere desires in me for Himself as I cannot imagine where I would be at this moment without Him. He has chosen you, precious saint, as one of His means to kindle a fire for Him in me. Thank you so much for teaching.