Do you need God's Forgiveness?
Yes, but why?
The thought or statement is sometimes made "I'm a pretty good person, isn't that good enough?" No, and here are a few examples why according to the scriptures.
Romans 3:10 and 3:23 (NKJV)
As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;...
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
James 2:10 (ESV)
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
As you can see none of us are righteous, and if we commit even one sin we're guilty of them all. It's as if one link in a chain is cut it causes the whole chain to fail.
Sin is a big problem - Is there any hope?
Yes, according to scriptures there is hope!
Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 3:16-17 (NKJV)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Every one of us deserve to be punished just as a criminal deserves a punishment in a court of law. But God prepared away for us to escape the punishment of sin. He did so by sending is His Son Jesus Christ to this earth to die and pay the penalty for your sins and mine.
Why would God (Jesus Christ) be willing to die for me?
Because He loved you first!
Romans 5:8 (NKJV)
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Even when we have no love for God, He still loves each and every person on the earth. His love is the reason He made a way for us to escape the punishment of hell that we deserve. God is a loving God, but He is also a righteous, just, and perfect God that cannot overlook sin. He desires that all people would accept salvation and that none would perish.
How can I receive salvation?
Through faith and acceptance of jesus christ!
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV)
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9: not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Mark 16:6 (NKJV)
But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV)
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
The only way to receive salvation is through the acceptance to God's free gift of salvation. To accept that free gift all that you need to do is pray to God admitting that you are a sinful person, that nothing you can do is going to wipe away your sins, and have faith that Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross and resurrection paid for your sins. Furthermore, turn from your old sinful ways and follow after Jesus, striving to be the best you can be for God.
Did God hear and accept my prayer?
Yes, if you truly believe and have faith that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation
John 1:12 (ESV)
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Matthew 10:32-33 (NKJV)
Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
Your prayer will be heard and Jesus will confess your name when you believe on Him and confess His name.