Whether you are considering an abortion. You’ve had one in the past. Or you know someone in this position. You may have heard differing responses to whether God forgives abortion.
Does God forgive abortion? Yes, God forgives abortion. Abortion is a sin and an abomination in the eyes of God. We ought never to forget that. In his great love and mercy, he continues to forgive even the worst of sins. His forgiveness doesn’t justify your decision, but it does free us from guilt and condemnation for having murdered.
Table of Contents
- The Unforgivable Sin
- How Can I be Forgiven for My Abortion?
- What Should I Do if I Already Had an Abortion, or Encouraged My Significant Other to Have An Abortion?
- What Should I Do if I or My Significant Other are Considering an Abortion?
- Encouragement
This is a question very close to my heart and I hope that this is helpful to you as you begin to explore a biblical view of forgiveness and abortion.
Is Abortion The Unforgiveable Sin?
You may have had an abortion, are considering getting one, have encouraged one, or are currently encouraging one. You may be concerned that abortion is the unforgivable sin. Or that if you have an abortion you are forfeiting your salvation. Fortunately, this is not the case.
The unforgivable sin is called “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit,” which simply means that you reject that Jesus was the Son of God and his sacrifice has paid for your sin.
In doing this, you reject the witness that the Holy Spirit has regarding Jesus and call him a liar, hence the title “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.”
“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.”
Mark 3:28-29 ESV
God has given us two choices, an alliance with Him, or an alliance with Satan. Those who accept Jesus as the Son of God and his atoning sacrifice for our sin have an alliance with God and through discipleship will receive the blessings and rewards that come with that.
Those who reject Jesus as the Son of God and his atoning sacrifice for our sin have an alliance with Satan and will reap the curses that come with that decision.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:16-18 ESV
The good news is that the decision to accept Jesus as the Son of God is available to everyone. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in your past.
How many abortions you have had, or how many abortions you have encouraged. You have the opportunity to be cleansed and forgiven.
From the moment of creation, God had a plan to restore mankind to himself. He desires a relationship with us. That’s why He sent His own son. Who willingly sacrificed Himself for our sins so that we could have a relationship with him.
This relationship with God results in being made alive in Christ. This means being adopted. As well as being filled with the Holy Spirit who guides us and help us grow in sanctification.
If you have never made the decision to put your faith in Christ, I implore you to keep seeking Christ. Don’t give up. Take the leap. Get connected with a local church and seek discipleship. It’s worth it.
How Can I be Forgiven for My Abortion?
Forgiveness for abortion is a slow, painful, and complicated process. There is a lot of healing that needs to take place, healing that will take time.
The first step to the healing process is to recognize and repent of aborting your child or encouraging the abortion of your child. Until you fully own your sin, you will never be able to walk in full forgiveness.
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
Proverbs 28:13 ESV
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Then you need to recognize that God forgave your sin 2000 years ago on the cross. That sin was forgiven, even before you committed it.
Walk out the forgiveness that you have been granted. When you chose to believe in Jesus the Son of God and his sacrifice for your sins, you became alive in Christ. You are no longer spiritually dead and abortion doesn’t change that.
The next step is a bit harder. You need to learn to forgive yourself. It was wrong to choose abortion.
However, you do not have to walk out the rest of your life with your head down. Jesus paid the price for your freedom, accept that gift and allow yourself to heal.
Finally, you need to assess the possibility of reconciling with the other parent of the child. If there is no way to safely do this, then continue in prayer for that person. However, if there is a way to safely seek reconciliation, pray about it and pursue that.
If you would like to learn more about biblical forgiveness, you may want to check out this post – What Is Biblical Forgiveness? The Answer & Significance.
Prayers For Healing After An Abortion
If you, or your significant other has had an abortion, there are some ways that you can begin to process that experience and begin to heal.
One of the most important things that you can do during this painful season is to pray and spend time in Scripture. Not because you need to somehow earn back God’s favor but because he wants to have a relationship with you.
Sometimes when we feel guilty about something, the last thing we want to do about it is approach the holy throne of God. But that is exactly what we must do. Understand that you are forgiven and that he wants to walk through this season with you.
I have found, at least in my own life, that the most difficult seasons often prompt the sweetest times with the Lord. So don’t run from the one who wants to hold you close.
Allow Him to use this season to teach you more about his good and perfect character.
Examples
Sometimes the most difficult part of this process is to simply start. Here are some examples that may help you begin your journey towards healing.
For Mothers:
Lord, I acknowledge that you are a good, just, and righteous God. I have sinned against you.
I recognize that I have destroyed the gift of life that you gave me in my womb and I repent of this sin. I thank you that you have already forgiven me and that I no longer need to walk in guilt and shame.
Help me to accept your forgiveness and learn how to forgive myself. Help me to seek reconciliation with the father of my child. Give me discernment on how to do it wisely.
Help me in this process of healing and use it for your glory. Help me to grow closer to you and know you better. Redeem this part of my testimony so that it honors you. Thank you, Lord, for always being with me. Amen.
For Fathers:
Lord, I acknowledge that you are a good, just, and righteous God and repent of my sin. I recognize that I have encouraged the destruction of my child in the womb and I repent. Thank you for your forgiveness that frees me from bondage to guilt and shame.
Help me to accept your forgiveness and learn how to forgive myself. Help me to seek reconciliation with the mother of my child. Grant me discernment on how to do it wisely. Help me, if possible, to support her in this season.
Use this season of heartache for your glory. Help me to grow closer to you and to know you better. Redeem my testimony for your glory. Thank you for your presence in this season, and continue to give me guidance along the way. Amen.
Scripture:
It may also be helpful for you to pray scripture into this situation. More on that in the next section.
Declaring Truth
Another thing that may be helpful for you in this process is to remind yourself what the truth is. Satan loves to find the places where we are vulnerable and insecure and interlace them with lies. The best way to combat lies, is with the truth that God offers.
The truth is that you have been forgiven.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
Psalms 86:5 ESV
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
The truth is that you are not condemned.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1 ESV
The truth is that you are a child of God.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13 ESV
The truth is that you are alive in Christ.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:4-9 ESV
The truth is that God has banished your sin.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;as far as the east is from the west,
Psalm 103:11-12 ESV
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
The truth is that God loves you.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-38 ESV
The truth is that Christ died for you, knowing that you would sin.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—
though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8 ESV
The truth is that God’s grace is sufficient.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Seek Wise Counsel
This is probably the last thing on the planet that you want to do. Admitting your sin to another person and talking about a heartbreaking situation is difficult.
However, when you are struggling it is important to find someone that you trust that you can process with. You may also want to pursue counseling as well. Pray for discernment as to how best to proceed.
Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with a previous abortion, there are resources available to you to help you process this experience.
What Should I Do If My Significant Other is Considering an Abortion?
First, I want to express that I understand this is a very difficult and scary place to be. I won’t pretend that the choice that you are trying to make is an easy one. However, in this situation, there is a choice that leads to sin, and a choice that does not. Let’s look at why that is the case.
Sanctity of Life in Scripture
Scripture takes a very firm position on the sanctity (holiness, ultimate inviolability or importance) of human life.
Humans were created in the image of God, it’s what makes us different from the rest of creation and gives us eternal value in the eyes of God.
God shows great desire to protect and preserve his image in creation throughout Scripture. Our condition as image bearers is part of what makes us valuable in the first place.
So God created man in his own image,
Genesis 1:27 ESV
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
Not only that, but we are being fashioned into the image of God from the moment of conception. Even in the womb Scripture says that God knows us and has planned out the days of our lives.
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;Psalm 139:13-16 ESV
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
Even though Scripture doesn’t specifically say “don’t abort your child,” it clearly illustrates the value that God places on human life.
The Grace We’re Given
It can be tempting at times when we face a difficult scenario to “sin now, repent later” when we know that God’s grace will cover everything.
You are not the only ones who have thought about this. The Roman church was thinking the same thing.
Essentially, some people started to think that they could sin all the time because God’s grace would always be there to catch them. Paul addressed this issue in his letter:
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Romans 6:1-2 ESV
His letter to the Corinthians addresses this even better. That we have been made alive in Christ, we are a new creation. Therefore, we should not continue to walk in a life of sin and we should not take his grace in vain by having a “sin now, repent later” attitude.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:16-6:1 ESV
Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
I know this season is difficult. I don’t pretend that I know your situation or everything you’re going through. But I do know that relying on forgiveness after the abortion is not the answer.
Pray
The single most important thing you can do throughout this process is to pray. Pray for God to give you the courage to follow him and be obedient every step of the way.
Pray for provision and guidance. You might get some stares or rude comments. Pray that God will help you to hear his voice that speaks truth.
Use this time to grow closer to Him and allow him to reveal his perfect goodness and love in the middle your circumstances. Bring him your feelings of frustration, shame, anger, guilt, sadness, and fear and allow him to comfort you and give you godly perspective.
Examples
Sometimes when difficult things happen it is hard to face God, or even find the words to say. I encourage you to begin anyway.
The Bible says that when we don’t have the words the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.
Rely on him to keep you going. There are also some examples here to help you get going.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Romans 8:26 ESV
For Mothers:
Lord, I need you. I am in a place I never expected to be and now I am struggling to handle it. Please give me the courage to choose life for my child despite what the people around me are saying.
Please provide the resources I need to see this pregnancy through to the end. Give me the wisdom to discern whether I should parent my child or entrust them into the hands of an adoptive family.
If adoption is the way to go, please provide a loving family that honors you for my child.
Please help me to draw closer to you in this process and rely on you. Comfort me and hold me close. Help me to cling tightly to your truth. Amen.
For Fathers:
Lord, I need you. I am in a place I never expected to be and now I am struggling to handle it. Please give me the courage to advocate for the life of my child.
I know that the ultimate decision is out of my hands but Lord help me to stand firm until the last possible second. Help me to support her through this process.
Please provide me and the mother of the child with the resources to see this pregnancy through to full term. Lord, if she chooses to parent help me to also partner with her in that decision and if not, give me discernment to either allow my child to be adopted or adopt the child myself.
If adoption is the best decision, please provide a family who will raise my child to love and honor you.
Please help me to draw closer to you in this process and rely on you. Comfort me and hold me close. Help me to cling tightly to your truth. Amen.
Scripture:
Another thing you can do is pray Scripture over your situation. Use one of the verses in this post or spend some time in the Word to find Scripture to pray into this situation.
Declare Truth
As you are praying and deciding how to handle this situation, it is helpful to remember what truths God has already declared over us. Then, when the enemy tries to fill your head with lies you can combat them with the truth.
The truth is that God knows your child, and knew you, even in the womb.
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.Psalm 139:13-16 ESV
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
The truth is that you and your child are created in His image.
So God created man in his own image,
Genesis 1:27 ESV
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
The truth is that He will give you wisdom if you ask.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5-8 ESV
The truth is that He is your refuge and strength.
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,Psalm 46:1-3 ESV
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
The truth is that He loves you and your child.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-38 ESV
Seek Wise Counsel
This step is often overlooked but nonetheless important. As you begin to make decisions about this pregnancy, find someone that you trust who can walk through this process with you. It could be a close friend, counselor, or staff at a crisis pregnancy center.
Pray about it and don’t be ashamed to ask for help.
Resources
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, don’t underestimate the power of seeking help and getting connected with people who can give you the resources you need. Especially crisis pregnancy centers. Here are just a few to get you started:
- Crisis Pregnancy Center Map & Finder
- Focus on the Family: Alternatives to Abortion: Crisis Pregnancy Centers
- Christian Homes & Family Services: Unplanned Pregnancy Counseling
- Pregnancy Centers and Abortion Pill Reversal
- Life Choice Testimonies
Encouragement
I know that this is a stressful time on multiple levels. I don’t pretend that I understand exactly where you’re at or exactly what you’ve been through but I encourage you to keep going.
The life of your child is worth it. Don’t rely on God’s forgiveness later for the decision you make today.
And if you are looking back on your decision, questioning or regretting the outcome, let me encourage you to continue to pursue forgiveness. Give yourself space, grace, and time to heal. You won’t be the same as you were before, but God can still use this experience to build your testimony.