Does God forgive all sins, including idolatry?

God can forgive any amount of sin, however great. By His own word He does not leave idolatry unpunished, yet even this punishment ultimately serves healing rather than eternal damnation.

At first glance the first two verses seem to contradict each other. One says God forgives all sins. The other says He will not forgive that partners be associated with Him. On closer reading, however, they speak of two different things.

The first verse speaks of the amount of sin. No one should despair because he thinks his guilt is too great. For God there is no limit. He can forgive any amount of sin whenever He pleases.

The second verse speaks of a particular kind of sin. Here God Himself declares that He will not simply forgive it. This does not contradict His power. A simple example makes this clear. Someone could take a cup out of another person’s hand if that person did not resist. But if he declares that he will not do so, he has not lost the ability. He has only said what he will do.

Why idolatry in particular? Someone who believes in the one God and still makes mistakes is on the right road and only stumbles. But someone who sets up gods beside God is walking in a completely wrong direction. Every step takes him further away. He first has to be brought back to the right road, and that long road back is itself painful and a punishment.

This punishment, however, is not endless. God’s mercy encompasses all things, as the last verse says. Even one who went astray will finally find forgiveness after this purification.