A visitor to this web site asked:

First, let me start by saying that I am saved and I love, adore and trust God. I recently committed a sin and truly repented however, I still feel terrible. It is undescribeable how badly I feel. This is what I wanted to know. Is it in order to fast for forgiveness or simply to ask? Is there anything else I should do other than believe that God has forgiven me and thank him for it?

I answered:

1 John 1:9 is God's Word to you!

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:9 - NKJV

What a wonderful scripture this is! It's a promise, an exhortation and a declaration all in one verse.

Before you can begin to take in its promise and follow up on its exhortation you need to hear - really hear - its declaration. It says,

"God is FAITHFUL and JUST"

This is the very character of God! We hear this declared to us many times throughout scripture. Our God is the faithful God. He is faithful to covenant and mercy.

"Therefore, know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments."

Deuteronomy 7:9 - NKJV

He is faithful - absolutely faithful as only God can be faithful - to His Word.

"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"

Numbers 23:19 - NKJV

God has spoken by John and said to us,

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:9 - NKJV

What is God faithful and just to do? To forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When does He do this? When we confess our sins!

Now let me move on to another yet more wonderful - if this is possible - aspect to this! God not only forgives sin but He also forgets it. By "forget" in that statement I mean it in the sense of removing it from His awareness as standing against us. When we receive His forgiveness He casts that sin behind His back.

It is in the Book of Isaiah in the story of Hezekiah that we hear of this. The prophet Isaiah there records,

This is the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness:...'You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.'

Isaiah 38:9,17b - NKJV

The prophet Micah declares that same truth in a somewhat different way. The imagery is different but the effect is the same, in forgiving we hear that God puts sin out of His sight. Micah records,

He (God) will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

Micah 7:19 - NKJV

As we saw above, the apostle John tells us, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." You need to realise that with His forgiveness God also forgets - He lets it drop off the radar of His thoughts towards us. Go to God for forgiveness, accept His forgiveness by faith and accept that He no longer thinks of it any more.

God no longer thinks of your sin once He has forgiven it and therefore neither should you. According to Isaiah, God has determined,

I will not remember your sins.

Isaiah 43:25 - NKJV

Your sin by the act of God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ has disappeared behind God's back. Therefore now, in the forgiveness of God, walk free from your guilt. Enjoy the privilege of forgiveness that Christ has provided for you through the blood of His sacrifice. Eph.1:7

You wrote, "Is there anything else I should do other than believe that God has forgiven me and thank him for it?" This is all you should do and all you must do! God has spoken His word of promise to you - you cannot doubt it.

The guilt you continue to experience is not of God. The devil is using it to interfere with your relationship with your Heavenly Father. The devil knows the way to hurt the Father is deprive Him of fellowship with one of His children. Don't let him do this!

Satan is the accuser - the prosecutor. Jesus is the Advocate - your defence attorney. You are the accused. You need to plead the Blood. Jesus presents this plea to the righteous Judge, the Father, and He dismisses the case! (Read 1 John 2:1 then read Romans 8:1.)

Now run back to the Father who, in His faithfulness and love, has forgiven you for Jesus' sake! Go boldly to Him in the Name of Jesus by the new and living way He has consecrated for you! (Read Hebrews 4:16 and Hebrews 10:19-23.)