GOD’S FORGIVENESS

HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE GOD’S FORGIVENESS?

BIBLE READING: Psalm 51:1-19
KEY BIBLE VERSE: For I recognize my shameful deeds-they haunt me day and night. (Psalm 51:3)

EXPERIENCING GOD’S FORGIVENESS COMES THROUGH CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE

This psalm was David’s written confession to God after a particularly sinful episode in his life. David was truly sorry for his adultery with Bathsheba and for murdering her husband to cover it up. He knew that his actions had hurt many people. But because David repented of those sins, God mercifully forgave him. No sin is too great to be forgiven! Do you feel that you could never come close to God because you have done something terrible? God can and will forgive you of any sin. While God forgives us, however, he does not always erase the natural consequences of our sin-David’s life and family were never the same as a result of what he had done (see 2 Samuel 12:1-23).

BIBLE READING: John 20:19-31
KEY BIBLE VERSE: If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive them, they are unforgiven. (John 20:23)

WE CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT OUR SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN IN CHRIST

Jesus was giving the disciples their Spirit-powered and Spirit-guided mission-to preach the Good News about Jesus so people’s sins might be forgiven. The disciples did not have the power to forgive sins (only God can forgive sins), but Jesus gave them the privilege of telling new believers that their sins have been forgiven because they have accepted Jesus’ message. All believers have this same privilege. We can announce the forgiveness of sin with certainty when we find repentance and faith.

BIBLE READING: John 13:31-38
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. (John 13:34)

GOD CONSISTENTLY FORGIVES US EACH TIME WE ASK IN REPENTANCE

John describes these few moments in clear detail. We can see that Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen. He knew about Judas and about Peter, but he did not change the course of events, nor did he stop loving them. In the same way, Jesus knows exactly what you will do to hurt him. Yet he still loves you unconditionally and will forgive you whenever you ask for it. Judas couldn’t understand this, and his life ended tragically. Peter understood, and despite his shortcomings, his life ended triumphantly because he never let go of his faith in the one who loved him.

BIBLE READING: 1 John 1:1-10
KEY BIBLE VERSE: If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. (1 John 1:9)

FORGIVENESS IS COMPLETE EVEN WHEN CONFESSION ISN’T

Confession is supposed to free us to enjoy fellowship with Christ. It should ease our consciences and lighten our cares. But some Christians do not understand how it works. They feel so guilty that they confess the same sins over and over; then they wonder if they might have forgotten something. Other Christians believe that God forgives them when they confess, but if they died with unconfessed sins, they would be forever lost. These Christians do not understand that God wants to forgive us. He allowed his beloved Son to die just so he could pardon us. When we come to Christ, he forgives all the sins we have committed or will ever commit. We don’t need to confess the sins of the past all over again, and we don’t need to fear that God will reject us if we don’t keep our slate perfectly clean. Of course we should continue to confess our sins, but not because failure to do so will make us lose our salvation. Our relationship with Christ is secure. Instead, we should confess our sins so that we can enjoy maximum fellowship and joy with him.

HONEST CONFESSION INCLUDES TURNING AWAY FROM SIN

True confession also involves a commitment not to continue in sin. We wouldn’t be genuinely confessing our sins to God if we planned to commit them again and just wanted temporary forgiveness. We should also pray for strength to defeat temptation the next time we face it.

CONFESSION REESTABLISHES RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

If God has forgiven us for our sins because of Christ’s death, why must we confess our sins? In admitting our sins and receiving Christ’s cleansing, we are: (1) agreeing with God that our sin truly was sin and that we are willing to turn from it, (2) ensuring that we don’t conceal our sins from him and consequently, from ourselves, and (3) recognizing our tendency to sin and relying on his power to overcome it.

HUMAN FORGIVENESS

WHY SHOULD WE FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER AND HOW CAN WE DO IT?

BIBLE READING: Genesis 45:1-28
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Don’t be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. (Genesis 45:5)

JOSEPH IS A MODEL OF GENUINE FORGIVENESS

Joseph was rejected, kidnapped, enslaved, and imprisoned. Although his brothers had been unfaithful to him, he graciously forgave them and shared his prosperity. Joseph demonstrated how God forgives us and showers us with goodness even though we have sinned against him. The same forgiveness and blessings are ours if we ask for them.

BIBLE READING: Romans 12:1-21
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good. (Romans 12:21)

FORGIVENESS IS A MARK OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Verses 17-21 summarize the real core of Christian living. If we love someone the way Christ loves us, we will be willing to forgive. If we have experienced God’s grace, we will want to pass it on to others. And remember, grace is undeserved favor. By giving an enemy a drink, we’re not excusing his misdeeds. We’re recognizing him, forgiving him, and loving him in spite of his sins-just as Christ did for us.

FORGIVENESS IS CONTRARY TO THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD

In this day of constant lawsuits and incessant demands for legal rights, Paul’s command sounds almost impossible. When someone hurts you deeply, instead of giving him what he deserves, Paul says to befriend him. Why does Paul tell us to forgive our enemies? (1) Forgiveness may break a cycle of retaliation and lead to mutual reconciliation. (2) It may make the enemy feel ashamed and change his or her ways. (3) By contrast, returning evil for evil hurts you just as much as it hurts your enemy. Even if your enemy never repents, forgiving him or her will free you of a heavy load of bitterness.

FORGIVENESS IS AN ACT OF THE WILL

Forgiveness involves both attitudes and actions. If you find it difficult to feel forgiving of those who have hurt you, try responding with kind actions. If appropriate, tell such people that you would like to heal your relationships. Give them a helping hand. Send them a gift. Smile at them. Many times you will discover that right actions lead to right feelings.

BIBLE READING: Matthew 6:5-15
KEY BIBLE VERSE: If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15)

IF WE EXPECT TO BE FORGIVEN, WE NEED TO PRACTICE FORGIVENESS

Jesus gives a startling warning about forgiveness: if we refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse to forgive us. Why? Because when we don’t forgive others, we are denying our common ground as sinners in need of God’s forgiveness. God’s forgiveness of sin is not the direct result of our forgiving others, but it is based on our realizing what forgiveness means (see Ephesians 4:32). It is easy to ask God for forgiveness, but difficult to grant it to others. Whenever we ask God to forgive us for sin, we should ask ourselves, Have I forgiven the people who have wronged me?

BIBLE READING: Matthew 18:21-35
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” (Matthew 18:21)

REAL FORGIVENESS DOES NOT KEEP TRACK OF OFFENSES

The rabbis taught that people should forgive those who offend them-but only three times. Peter, trying to be especially generous, asked Jesus if seven (the “perfect” number) was enough times to forgive someone. But Jesus answered, “Seventy times seven,” meaning that we shouldn’t even keep track of how many times we forgive someone. We should always forgive those who are truly repentant, no matter how many times they ask.

REAL FORGIVENESS FOLLOWS GOD’S PATTERN

Because God has forgiven all our sins, we should not withhold forgiveness from others. Realizing how completely Christ has forgiven us should produce a free and generous attitude of forgiveness toward others. When we don’t forgive others, we are setting ourselves outside and above Christ’s law of love.

GOD’S WORD ON FORGIVENESS

The Bible commands us to forgive others when they have wronged us and to seek forgiveness when we have wronged others. We must do this to follow the example of God, who extends to us the ultimate pardon-forgiveness for our sins.

CAN ANY SIN BE FORGIVEN? THERE MUST BE SOME SIN TOO GREAT TO BE FORGIVEN.

• Joel 2:32 . . . Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
• Mark 3:28-29 . . . I assure you that any sin can be forgiven.
• Romans 8:38 . . . Nothing can ever separate us from his love.  Forgiveness is not based on the magnitude of the sin, but the magnitude of the forgiver’s love. No sin is too great for God’s complete and unconditional love. The Bible does actually mention one unforgivable sin-an attitude of defiant hostility toward God that prevents us from accepting his forgiveness. Those who don’t want his forgiveness are out of its reach.

WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO BE FORGIVEN?

• Colossians 1:21-23 . . . You are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
• Isaiah 1:18 . . . No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow.
  Forgiveness means that God looks at us as though we have never sinned. We are blameless before him.
• Acts 8:22-23 . . . Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are . . . held captive by sin.
  Forgiveness frees us from slavery to sin.
• Matthew 5:44 . . . Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!  Forgiveness paves the way for harmonious relationships, even with our enemies.
• Romans 4:7 . . . Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.
  Forgiveness brings great joy.

HOW DO I EXPERIENCE FORGIVENESS WHEN I HAVE DONE WRONG?

• Psalm 51:4 . . . Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.  We must realize that God is the one who has been wronged by our sin.
• Ezra 10:11 . . . Confess your sin to the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do what he demands.
• 2 Chronicles 7:14 . . . If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.
• 1 John 1:8-9 . . . If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.  We will receive God’s forgiveness when we confess our sins to him, stop doing what is wrong, and turn to him with our heart.
• Matthew 26:28 . . . This is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many.  Jesus died so that God’s forgiveness would be freely available to us.
• Acts 10:43 . . . Everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.
• Acts 13:38 . . . In this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins.  We receive God’s forgiveness by trusting in Christ.

WHAT CAN I DO TO ACTIVATE GOD’S LOVING FORGIVENESS?

• 2 Chronicles 7:14 . . . If my people . . . will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.
• 1 John 1:9 . . . If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us.
  Confessing sin is the first step to forgiveness.

WHY WOULD GOD WANT TO FORGIVE ME FOR A TERRIBLE SIN?

• Numbers 14:19 . . . Please pardon the sins of this people because of your magnificent, unfailing love.
  God’s love is his motivation for his forgiveness.

DO I HAVE TO FORGIVE OTHERS WHO HURT ME?

• Matthew 6:14-15 . . . “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  We will receive God’s forgiveness only when we are willing to forgive others who have wronged us.
• Mark 11:25-26 . . . When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.  We will receive God’s forgiveness only when we are willing to forgive others who have wronged us.
• Luke 17:3-4 . . . “If another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him. Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him.”  Forgiveness doesn’t have to be cheap.
• Matthew 18:21-22 . . . Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No!” Jesus replied, “seventy times seven!”  Just as God forgives us without limit, we should forgive others without counting how many times.
• Luke 23:34 . . . Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing.”  Jesus forgave those who mocked him and killed him.
• Colossians 3:13 . . . You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
• 1 Peter 3:8-9 . . . Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it.
  God wants us to respond to others’ sins by blessing them.

IS THERE A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF TIMES WE SHOULD FORGIVE A PERSON? IS THERE A LIMIT TO HOW MUCH GOD WILL FORGIVE ME?

• Isaiah 1:18 . . . “Come now, let us argue this out,” says the Lord. “No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.”
• Joel 2:32 . . . Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  No matter how sinful and disobedient we have been, we can receive God’s forgiveness by turning to him in repentance.
• Psalm 86:5 . . . O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask your aid.
• Psalm 103:3 . . . He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
• Ezekiel 18:22 . . . All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.
  God is ready to forgive us.
• Matthew 18:23-27 . . . The Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date . . . one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. He couldn’t pay . . . Then the king was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.  God is merciful toward us, even though our debt is so great.
• Luke 24:47 . . . With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: “There is forgiveness of ins for all who turn to me.”
• Ephesians 1:7 . . . He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven.
• Colossians 1:14 . . . God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins. God will forgive every sin because Christ has already paid the penalty for all sin by his death.
• Mark 3:28-29 . . . “anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. It is an eternal sin.”  Those who harden themselves against God’s Spirit and reject him utterly will never experience his forgiveness.
• Luke 17:4 . . . Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him.
  Does love have a limit? Neither does forgiveness!

PROMISES FROM GOD:

• Isaiah 43:25 . . . I-yes, I alone-am the one who blots out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.
• Isaiah 1:18 . . . No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow.
• Jeremiah 3:22 . . . “My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.”
• Acts 2:38 . . . Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
• 1 John 1:9 . . . If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.

Please stay tuned for more.