Justin Bieber: 'God forgave everyone'

Justin Bieber has always been open about his Christian faith and now he's added his voice to friend Brandon Burke's drive to get one million pledges for God.

He appears alongside Burke in a new rap video, #iPledge,in which Burke pledges his allegiance to God and raps an invitation to others to do the same.

"One individual called individually, taking the invisible and live it out visibly," he says.  

The rap montage concludes with 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 

It then switches to Burke and Bieber sitting on a couch talking about God's forgiveness.  

Bieber says: "God loved the world so much he gave up his own son, right?  Imagine, like, someone killing your son.  

"Like a bunch of people killing your son.  These are your people, right?  It's like, 'how are you killing my son?  That's my son.'  It's gonna be hard for you to forgive."

He adds: "God forgave everyone and they killed his son.  That shows how much grace God has." 

Forgiveness was something Bieber touched on in an interview with Teen Vogue last year, in which he spoke about having a God-given purpose.  

"I think that's part of the reason I'm here," he said.  "Not just because I'm talented, but because God had a purpose for me to just help people.

"I'm spiritual... although I slept in [and missed] church yesterday. I haven't been to church in so long, and I planned on going, and I slept in. I was upset. It's all good. God forgives me." 

More recently, Bieber tweeted his love for his pastor Judah Smith and for Jesus.  Smith is the pastor of The City Church in Seattle and a close friend of Bieber.  

"@judahsmith love you. thanks for what you said. i love Jesus," the Canadian pop star wrote on his Twitter page last month.  

He later tweeted a YouTube video of Hillsong NYC Pastor Carl Lentz preaching about how to get through trials and temptations.

Earlier this year, PageSix.com reported that Bieber had tried to find a suitable venue in New York to be baptised with the Hillsong team.  The website quoted "multiple sources" who reported that the pop star wanted a "cleansing ritual" but was unable to find a place in time.

The report followed on from Bieber's run in with the law after being arrested in Miami Beach for DUI. 

That incident led to fans tweeting with the hashtag #PrayforJustin. 

But Bieber has often used his Twitter page to brush off criticism.  He tweeted not long after his arrest: ""YOU ARE ALL WORTHY NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS >> BE STRONG GOD IS WITH US ALL> MY BELIEBERS CHANGED MY LIFE> I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL."