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Can I be forgiven for getting tattooed, and what can I do about it now?

    I HAVE REPENTED FOR MY SINS AND HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED BUT I RAN UP ON A SCRIPTURE IN BIBLE THAT MEANS TATTOOING IS A SIN AND WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS CAN I GET FORGIVENESS FOR IT AND DOES IT MATTER WHAT IT IS.

    Praise the Lord that you are reading your Bible, and that you are willing to take it seriously.

    Tattooing is one of the latest fads for both men and women, and it is sin. The Bible says in Leviticus 19:28, "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, NOR PRINT ANY MARKS UPON YOU: I am the LORD." We are not to print any marks upon our bodies, because when we are saved, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 3:16,17, says, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." I Corinthians 6:19,20 says, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY, AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD’S."

    God can and will forgive the sin of tattooing your body. If you are truly born-again, then He has already forgiven it. I John 1:7 says, "THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN." There is no sin that Jesus’ blood cannot forgive. Read the list in I Corinthians 6:9-11, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU: BUT YE ARE WASHED, but ye are sanctified, but ye are JUSTIFIED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, and by the Spirit of our God." That is quite a list of terrible sins, but God forgave those people when they got saved. Look on our Web Site and print off the Bible Course on Salvation. Make sure that you know what salvation is, and why God can then forgive every sin.

    The second part of your question deals with whether it matters what the tattoo is. Notice I Corinthians 6:19, 20 again, ""What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY, AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD’S.".

    If your tattoo is something of an immoral or demonic nature, then you are obviously going to want to do something about it, if at all possible. Some people have had bad tattoos filled in with more coloring, but that is not an ideal solution, because that is putting more marks upon the body. But better to have a solid mark, than an immoral one.

    A better option is to get the tattoo removed, if at all possible in your case. If you will see a dermatologist (a doctor whose specialty is skin) many of them are trained in laser treatments to remove tattoos. The sad part is that not all colors of tattoos can be removed by laser treatments. You will have to consult a doctor as to what can be done in your case.

    I have seen many older men, who were tattooed in their younger days in the military, wear long-sleeved shirts to cover the tattoos on their arms.

    May God richly bless you and give you wisdom how to glorify Him with your life.

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