Bible Question:

My mother and father are first cousins. They were never married, but they had a relationship years ago and I was born. Will I be condemned by God because I was born in incest and out of wedlock? Will my parents be condemned? This has bothered me for a long time. I have found the Lord in my life a year ago, and I want to make sure I will be alright in the eyes of God because of how I was born. Thank you.

Bible Answer:

There is a past question entitled, “Can a father cause his family to be cursed?” which I would encourage you to read. It explains the meaning of the concept that the sins of the father are passed on to the third and fourth generations. You might also want to read the question entitled, “What does the Bible say about marrying your first cousin?

First Cousins

The second question explains that according to the scriptures, God does not prohibit marriages between first cousins. But your parents sinned when they had sexual relations without being married. Scripture never condemns the child who is born outside of marriage or “out of wedlock.” One cannot find such a statement in scripture. It is the parents who sinned and who need to repent of their sins and admit to God that they sinned when they had sex.

Effects Of The Sin

The first question explains that God will not hold you responsible for the sins of your father or mother. Again, you will not be condemned by God for what they did. If you are currently living with them or one of them, the only potential effect upon you could be that you pick-up their patterns of life.

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” (NASB) 1 Cor. 15:33

Again, I would encourage to read the previous questions.

Conclusion:

If you are trusting in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, then all of your sins are forgiven – past, present, and future sins. God loves His godly ones. May the Lord bless you.