What does the bible say about getting second chances?

Answer 1

david

AnswerJacob and Esau were twins, both had the same choices, each chose to go their own way. [I have 2 non-identical twin grandaughters like that.] People take advantage of being given a second chance either by being grateful and doing what they should have done in the first place, or being ungrateful and just repeating what they did previously.

The following are some of those in The Bible who had been told to do something, didn't, but later did as they were told. (Then there were those who took advantage of being given another chance).

Aaron:

Made golden calf, to worship (Exo_32:4; Psa_106:19).

2ndChance: Moses interceded for him before God, who forgave his sin (Deu_9:20).

Abigail:

Married Nabal. Nabal was ungrateful and died.

2ndchance. Married David

Abner:

Was commander of armies of Saul (1Sa_14:50; 1Sa_17:55; 1Sa_20:25). He changed sides.

2ndchance. David made him commander of his armies.

Abraham (or Abram):

In Ur told to go to Canaan. Instead stayed in Haran until his father died

2ndchance. Went to Canaan

Absalom:

Kiled his brother Amnon, Fled to Geshur for safety

2nd chance: Forgiven by David (and he then tried to kill him in coup)

Adam:

First man; Sinned

2nd chance: . Progenitor of 2nd Adam

Adonijah:

Proclaimed himself king

2nd chance: Pardoned by Solomon

(Still, he tried again)

Balaam:

Tried to curse Israel

Rebuked by his donkey

2nd chance. Said he wouldn't but still tried to anyway

Bathsheba:

David's son dies. Was called adulteress.

2nd chance:- Solomon born

Cain:

Murdered his brother Abel; Fled

2nd chance: God put Mark on him so he wouldn't be killed.

Lot:

Went to cities of plain despite what Abraham said. Became high up in Sodom

2nd chance: left and escaped destruction of Sodom. (Wife didn't want to leave so died).

Moses:

Tried to help his people in Egypt his way. Killed Egyptian and fled Egypt.

2nd chance. Led them out God's way in Exodus

Naaman:

Syrian army commander, cured of leprosy by Elisha. Was grateful

2ndchance:-worshipped God of his enemies instead.

Then there was David (many apart from adultery: don't know where to start), Peter, Thomas, indeed all the disciples includingJudas, and all those Christ healed of leprosy and other diseases. In the group of 10 lepers healed, only one returned and gave thanks: the other 9 were ungrateful.

All these who had received a second chance had been forgiven.

Everyone knows of the Creator God through His Creation. Unfortunately, many do not accept this.

Being continually ungrateful really means a person is guilty of recidivism.

Basically, everyone in the world has received a second chance, but not everyone takes it.

Answer 2

Before the world's end all the people that believe in God will disappear into heaven and then the people that didn't will have seven years to believe or go to hell forever.

AnswerJesus makes it quite clear about second chances and forgiveness. If a person is to follow Christ's teaching then he or she is compelled to forgive and always give a second chance... and a third, and fourth and so on.

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matt 18:21-22

In other words, we go on forgiving whatever the sin, and however difficult it is to do.

Answer 3

The idea of a "second chance" is not biblical, and so there is no verse for this.

There is a problem of "sin after baptism," or whatever you want to call it, but a simple concept of a "second chance" doesn't capture the dynamic of the Christian life.

One can create a parable to describe the way it actually works.

"A new mother was watching her toddler. He was about two years old. The child was running around, but he fell over and hurt himself. The mother went to the child and picked him up, and comforted him. Soon after this, the child has got over the fright, so she puts him down, and so the little boy returns to his play."

As new Christians, we are like that toddler. We try to do what God wants us to do, but we often fail, just like the toddler frequently falls over. We turn to God and ask him to forgive us, and he will. There is a verse for this, 1 John 1:9:

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

As we grow in the Christian faith, and are faithful to what Jesus has taught us, we will fail less often. This is like the toddler who grows us, and as he grows he falls over less and less. But older children still fall and hurt themselves; they might not need the same comforting, but they might even need something more serious in way of repair.

Similarly, as older Christians we will still stumble and fall into sin, and the same verse applies here, and until the end of our lives.

The important thing is that, each time we ask God for forgiveness we are forgiven, and as John says, we are "cleansed of all unrighteousness." Because we have been cleansed, each time this is another "second chance." It means that we have been renewed and been made fresh again to keep trying to live as Jesus wants us to live, and now with renewed enthusiasm.

Answer 4

All of mankind by not condemning us to eternal death but rather eternal salvation:

John 3:17New King James Version (NKJV)

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Christians are to forgive all often too:

Matthew 18:21-22New King James Version (NKJV) The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"

22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.