Forgiveness

Forgiveness

Forgiveness Is Available to All

John 3:16; Revelation 22:17
For those of us who aren’t athletically inclined, gym class was often a miserable time in school. What a daunting feeling, as captains picked their dodge ball or field hockey teams. Time and again we were passed over, until almost everyone else was chosen. It was obvious we didn’t measure up to what the leader was looking for.

Sadly, some people tend to see God in a similar way—as someone who looks at us with His incredible gift of forgiveness, then determines that we don’t quite measure up to His standards. Thankfully, that perception couldn’t be further from the truth. John 3:16 promises that:

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God takes great joy in offering forgiveness to every person. He gives no thought to how we might “measure up”; He’s only interested in our response. Have you accepted His invitation to join in a relationship with Him that will change your life and last for all eternity? He’s calling your name today.

Why do you think some people struggle to accept that God’s promise of forgiveness and new life applies to them?

How will knowing that you’ve received God’s full forgiveness impact the way you view God? The way you view yourself? How will it impact they way you live your life?

Everyone Needs Forgiveness

Romans 3:10,23

If the Early Church had a superstar, it was surely the Apostle Paul. Through the course of four missionary journeys, he founded many congregations, led countless souls to the Lord, and penned much of the New Testament. When last seen on earth, he was sacrificing his life for the gospel. Without a doubt, Paul stood as the greatest Christian leader of his time.

Yet this spiritual giant had a less-than-stellar past. Before accepting Christ, Paul persecuted the Church, sending many Christians to prison—or worse. He even referred to himself as the “chief” of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). No doubt Paul had himself in mind when he stated bluntly in verse 23:

For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.

No matter who we are or what we’ve done, we need forgiveness. The great news is that regardless of whether our past is cause for relief or regret, God met our need for cleansing through His Son Jesus. Now He asks only that we acknowledge our need and accept His gift of love.

Why can it sometimes be a struggle for us to admit that we need forgiveness?

What will happen if we ignore or resist acknowledging that need?

No Sin is Beyond Forgiveness

Psalm 51:1-19

“There is no way God could ever forgive me for the sins I’ve committed.”
These words are often spoken by people whose pasts are riddled with crime, violence, deceit, and transgressions of all description. Unable to forgive themselves, they cannot comprehend how a holy God could offer forgiveness.

King David could easily have felt this way. The backdrop of Psalm 51 is stained with lust, adultery, deceit, and murder. David’s uncontrolled passion for the beautiful Bathsheba led to adultery. Having committed that sin, David used the power of his office to put Bathsheba’s husband in harm’s way on the battlefield, knowing it would result in his death. Upon being confronted by the prophet Nathan, David cried this prayer in verses 1,2:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

The wonder of it all is that God did forgive David, who became known as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).

There is no sin so great that it is beyond the reach of God’s grace. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow,” declares Isaiah 1:18. No matter what you have done, no matter how far you have strayed from God’s standards, forgiveness is available to you. Receive that promise today and accept God’s forgiveness.

Is there a sin in your past that looms so large you fear it might reach beyond God’s forgiveness? If so, why do you believe it’s beyond grace?

How can your life change with the knowledge that God offers complete forgiveness regardless of your past?

The Way to God's Forgiveness

Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 8:12; 1 John 1:9

A self-imposed principle I’ve tried to abide by over the years is, “If you mess up, ‘fess up.” It applies to my relationships with other people and with God. When I know I have wronged or offended another person, it’s hard for me to go on with life as usual until I try to make it right. The same is true when I sin against God; I make every effort to be sure things are right with Him.

Receiving God’s forgiveness isn’t a complicated process; it’s probably less complicated, in fact, than making things right with people. First John 1:9 describes in clear and simple terms what must be done.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Admitting we have sinned opens the way to God’s forgiveness. Not only are we forgiven, but we are made righteous and pure before Him. He no longer sees the stain of sin. This act of grace is done by our God, who declares in Isaiah 43:25, “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

So, if you’ve messed up, take a moment to honestly and sincerely confess your sin, and open the way to God’s great forgiveness.

In what area of life do you feel you’ve “messed up” recently? How do you feel about confessing that to God and others?

What do you think you should do to make things right? How will your decision to turn from that sin affect the way you live from this day forward?

Forgive Others As You Are Forgiven

Matthew 6:12,14,15; Mark 11:25,26

Roadblocks are never fun to encounter when we’re on a trip. We either have to wait for the roadblock to be cleared or go back and try another route. The bottom line is that as long as the roadblock is there, we won’t get to our destination unless another action is taken.

Sometimes on the road to receiving God’s forgiveness, we run headlong into a major roadblock. It might not even be apparent to us at the time, but it keeps us from receiving forgiveness. The roadblock often is our own unwillingness to forgive someone else.

Jesus made it clear that an unforgiving attitude can block God’s forgiveness. In Matthew 6:14,15, He declared,

If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Also, in Mark 11:25, Jesus said, “When you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Take a moment to examine your heart and attitudes. Are you harboring an unforgiving attitude toward someone else? If so, it’s important to make things right with that person as well as with God. Then God’s forgiveness and blessings can be released to you.

Is there someone you have been unable to forgive? What steps can you take to make things right?

What difference might it make in your life (and the other person’s life) if you offer forgiveness?

Forgiveness Brings Freedom

2 Corinthians 2:5-8

Forgiving is really hard sometimes. There are times, in fact, when it might be all but humanly impossible. Offenses that violate us emotionally, spiritually, or physically can rock us to the core, and the words, “I forgive you,” may be the furthest thing from our minds. The problem is, an ongoing attitude of unforgiveness creates prison bars for both the offended and the offender.

In 2 Corinthians 2:5-8, Paul addressed a circumstance in which the believers had been deeply offended by a person. While the details are not given, the situation clearly was serious. Paul offered good advice in verses 7,8:

You ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.

Paul knew that forgiveness is liberating to the offender who is truly sorry. Of course, not every offender will regret what was done, yet forgiving him or her in an attitude of godly grace and mercy can shatter the prison bars of hatred and resentment. It is the same grace and mercy that Jesus demonstrated in sacrificing His life on the cross for our sins.

If someone in your life has deeply offended you, seek God’s help to come to a place of forgiveness. You might be amazed at the tremendous freedom you’ll experience.

Why is it so hard to forgive sometimes?

Have you forgiven someone when forgiveness was really hard? How did you feel? How did the other person respond?

Receive God's Forgiveness

Psalm 32:5; Isaiah 1:18; Romans 10:9,10

In Psalm 32, the psalmist David recounted a hard time in his life when he tried to live with concealed, unconfessed sins. Eventually he reached rock bottom: he had no peace, no rest, and his health was declining. the turning point came when he confessed his sins and asked God for forgiveness. David described that moment this way in verse 5:

I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Whether or not you have been trying to conceal sins, perhaps you know that things are not right between you and God. You realize it’s time to ask His forgiveness and receive Him as Lord and Savior. In your heart you know this would bring much needed peace and assurance into your life.

Romans 10:9,10 declares, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

Are you ready to pray this prayer today? Ask Jesus to forgive you, believe in His sacrifice for your sins, and confess Him as Lord of your life. Receive His forgiveness and you will discover the joy and reality of His presence and peace.

Is there a sin in your life that you’ve kept concealed for a long time?

What steps do you need to take to get out from under any guilt or shame you feel because of that sin?