How easily are one's sins forgiven after baptism?

[Terry]

Hello all, I converted to orthodoxy two days ago, and I am a 17 yr old F. I was curious, how easily are my sins forgiven after baptism? will all my sins be forgiven if I just ask for it every morning and night? or will my sins only be forgiven if I go to confession? or a different way? How?

[Irene]

Dear Terry, In Christ,

Sins are forgiven when you confess, commune and are truly sorry for doing wrong. We all fall, we all repeat sins, but we try not to. You are not condemned for being human. You are lifted up by your faith.

You must go to confession and communion regularly for more reasons then asking for forgiveness of your sins. The acts of confessing and communing, (great mysteries in the Church), are there for the strenghthening of our souls, minds and bodies against temptations which will bring us down. They are very important tools.

Praying and asking forgiveness of sins on a daily basis is also very important however it can not replace the acts of confessing and communing. Generally I think you probably should go to communion every two weeks or at least monthly, especially now, as a new baptised person, with so many temptations in your life that are of concern to you, such as the situation of your civil marriage.

I have another link for you Proper Confession and Communion (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/communionprep.aspx , Proper Confession and Communion)

There are a couple of other things that you need to know: one is an article on The Importance of Not Judging Others and Remembering Wrongs (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/homily_anastasios.aspx "The importance of not Judging Others or remembering wrongs";) and here is a link to some topics of a personal nature at the Orthodox Info site (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/pr_misc.aspx)

I am sorry to have given you so many links for pages to read over my various posts. Take your time, book mark them and read them when you are able. In the meantime, it is good that you are asking all these questions, it is good to learn about your faith.

Feel free to message me privately with any questions you have, as I am a Mother, a convert, and my children are about your age, I would be happy to help you if I am able and if it is something you should discuss with a Priest I will tell you,

irene

[Brian B.]

Dear In Christ Terry,

I cannot offer you any wisdom from myself, for I am nothing but an ignorant and foolish sinner; but as so happens whenever we make sincere requests of the Lord, He finds a way to answer. Perhaps the following article will help you see how ever-merciful the Lord is. Never despair, rather Rejoice in repentance! For God truly Loves us, and never rejects those who do not reject Him! Clutch the hem of His robe for dear life, and you shall find Life; this is His promise and Our hope.

Sincerely,
Brian

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God is Merciful to the Good Fighter
George Kalpouzos

A monk, as Saint Amphilochios relates, fell into fornication. From then on, he committed the same sin every day. Each time after the sin, he prayed with tears in his eyes for Jesus Christ to have mercy on him. Blinded by this bad habit, he committed the sin repeatedly. Immediately he rushed to the church, knelt in front of the icon of Christ and said with tears in his eyes, “Have mercy on me, oh Lord, and take away from me this temptation that makes me suffer and wounds my soul. I can’t see your face so that my soul can find peace.” After he said these words and left the church, he committed the same sin again. He didn’t lose hope for his salvation and he came back to the church praying the same way to the merciful God: “You are my witness, oh Lord, that from now on I will never commit this sin again. Oh loving God, forgive me for my past up to this moment for I have hurt You.” He committed “his lovely” sin again. His spiritual struggle lasted ten years.

Behold, the endless mercy of our Master and Lord Jesus Christ!

Finally, one day this monk committed the same sin. He rushed to the church weeping, crying and praying with tears in his eyes to the merciful God.

When the devil saw the persistent repentance of the monk, he appeared bodily in front of the monk and with wrath questioned God saying:

“Why do You accept this licentious and prodigal man who lies to You every day? Why don’t You cast him into fire? You are merciful to put up with him. You are not a righteous judge, but a one-sided one. You threw me down from heaven for just one sin of arrogance, but You forgive this perpetual lying, licentious and prodigal man because he cries before You. Where is Your righteousness?”

Then the voice of the Lord was heard from the altar saying:

“Evil and unclean spirit, aren’t you yet satisfied to lead the world into perdition? Do you want to grasp also him who bows before My mercy? Can you hold so many sins against him that they counter My Holy Blood that I have shed on the Cross for him? When he commits a sin, you don’t send him away but accept him happily. And you don’t discourage him for YOU wish to gain him. As I am merciful and have befriended man, how can you expect Me not to show mercy on him who draws near Me in repentance? I will never reject him until he becomes My heir. I was crucified for sinners and to save everyone who comes to Me.”

As soon as the devil heard the voice of the Lord, he started trembling, unable to move or say a word.

“Listen carefully, devilish spirit, who calls Me unjust. I am all righteous. I will judge each one under the circumstances he is in. Behold, I will save his soul and accept him who recently returned to me in repentance and contrition because he didn’t despair, but rather struggled for his salvation.”

At that time, the monk gave up his soul.

My beloved readers, do you understand how ineffable is God’s love and immeasurable is His mercy? Let us not neglect our salvation. Watch out not to fall into despair.

From the book How they faced the temptations of the flesh, compiled by George Kalpouzos.

http://www.joyinsorrow.com/viewArticle.asp?id=20

[Irene]

“Listen carefully, devilish spirit, who calls Me unjust. I am all righteous. I will judge each one under the circumstances he is in. Behold, I will save his soul and accept him who recently returned to me in repentance and contrition because he didn’t despair, but rather struggled for his salvation.”


Dear Brian, Excellent post, I especially like the paragraph quoted above reminding us that we will be judged on our individual situations and struggle.
In Christ..irene