Bible Verses About Forgiveness
Alright, lets look at some Bible verses about forgiveness.
Forgiveness is a rather large topic in the Bible. From cover to cover you will find forgiveness as a key message in just about every book.
Lets look at some of the highlights. First in the Old Testament.
- In Isaiah, it describes our sin as a bright red stain and Gods forgiveness as washing us white as snow.
- Jeremiah carries a similar message about Gods forgiveness.
- David writes extensively in the book of Psalms praising God for his forgiveness.
- Solomon talks about the wisdom and benefits in forgiving others.
In the New Testament it continues this theme and expands on it.
- Jesus embodies Gods forgiveness of us.
- Jesus builds on this by saying we are not only to receive forgiveness but to give it.
- Jesus challenges us to take forgiveness beyond the point of fairness. We dont stop forgiving. .
- Later in the New Testament Paul continually mentions the importance of forgiving others in his letters to the early church.
- And James offers practical wisdom on loving our neighbor through forgiveness.
The Bible verses about forgiveness fall into two broad categories. God forgiving us, and in response we are to forgive those around us.
Of course these are just the highlights. Theres much more that could be covered about forgiveness in the Bible. But we would be here all day if I listed every verse. I think the above verses give a broad view of how the Bible portrays forgiveness.
Forgiveness Is Possible Because Of What Christ Did For Us
Ultimately, our ability to forgiven comes from what Christ has done for us on the cross. In Ephesians 4:32, we read, Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Because of what Christ did for ustaking our punishment upon Himselfwe can now extend forgiveness to others, even when they dont deserve it. It is also Described as:
- Gift of the Holy Spirit
Forgiveness Is Not Minimizing The Seriousness Of The Offense
When somebody asks for your forgiveness, you actually cheapen it if you say, Its no big deal. It really didnt hurt. If it wasnt a big deal, you dont need forgiveness and you dont need to offer it.
Forgiveness is only for the big stuff. You dont use it for slights that are just minor issues. If something really requires forgiveness, then you should not minimize it when somebody asks you for forgiveness. Dont say it wasnt a big deal. It was a big deal! If it wasnt a big deal, just say, You dont need to ask forgiveness. But if it is a big deal, then you need to admit it.
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Bible Verses On Forgiveness
God Forgives Us
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Psalm 103:10-14 –He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for his mercy toward those who fear and honor him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. He is like a father to us, tender and sympathetic to those who reverence him. For he knows we are but dust.
Hebrews 8:12 – For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Timothy 1:15-16 – Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersof whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
Luke 23:34 – As he hung on the cross And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
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Lack Of Forgiveness Breaks Our Fellowship With God
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift . The Bible is very clear that harboring bitterness in our hearts is sin. And, if we arent actively seeking to kill it, it will break our fellowship with God. We wont experience everything God has to offer us.
We Owe Others Forgiveness Even When They Dont Ask For It
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother . How often do we hold it against someone when they havent apologized? When we are wronged, we expect someone to come to us and say, Im sorry. Yes, that is the right thing to do, however, the Bible doesnt place that requirement on forgiveness. God commands us to be the initiators in the transaction. We should go to our brother or sister and talk it out. Its not an easy thing to do, but its critical in being able to move forward.
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Prioritize Forgiving Others For A Healthy Spiritual Life
But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.
Forgiveness is so important that Jesus instructed His disciples to make it a priority to forgive first before praying. Though you do not need to earn Gods forgiveness, He freely forgave you. If you have accepted His forgiveness, you need to freely forgive others also.
You owe God your life because the penalty for sin is death. When other people sin against you and you struggle to forgive, remember Gods incredible forgiveness and ask Him to help you forgive as He does. When someone has harmed you on a deep level, you may not be able to trust that person again or restore the relationship. But you can still forgive and trust God to deliver justice, whether or not you see it in your lifetime.
The Parable Of The Unmerciful Servant
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant tells the story of a servant who owed a king a lot of money. The servant did not have the money to pay the king back, so he begged the king to give him more time. The king took mercy on the servant and wrote off the debt so that the servant did not have to repay the king.
The servant was also owed a small amount of money from a friend. After the servant had left the king, he went and asked his friend for the small amount of money. His friend did not have the money to repay him and begged him to give him more time. The servant refused and threw his friend in jail.
The king heard about this and was very angry, as he had shown mercy on the servant. The king felt that the servant should have shown mercy to his friend in the same way. The king then threw the servant in jail until he had paid back the large amount of money that he owed.
After the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, Peter asks Jesus how often he should forgive:
quote
Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times’.Matthew 18:21-22
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Relinquish You Right To Get Even
This is the heart of forgiveness.
The Bible says, Never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it .
They may deserve for you to retaliate, but you must commit not to do so.
Its not fair, but its healthy. This IS NOT a one-time decision but a daily one that
It takes courage to build a bridge with someone you hate.
Be Kind And Compassionate
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Jesus says that our love for one another is a sign that we truly belong to Him . Walking with Jesus should transform us into people who are kind, gentle, and aggressively committed to maintaining our bond of love.
We desperately need to remember that the kingdom of God is more than kindness, but it is never less than kindness.
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After Forgiveness Comes Love Even If Forgetting Isnt Possible
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins . Sometimes things happen in our lives that we just cannot forget, even if we are able to forgive. While we may not be able to erase our memory, we do have control over our actions. We can love those who have wronged us after we forgive them. Its hard to harbor ill will toward those we actively serve, love and pray for.
Brent Rinehart is a public relations practitioner and freelance writer. He blogs about the amazing things parenting teaches us about life, work, faith and more at www.apparentstuff.com. You can also follow him on .
Jesus Our Ultimate Example Practiced Forgiveness
And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her . Now, I dont know what Jesus was writing in the dirt. Maybe it was a list of the Pharisees sins. What I do know is this: Jesus calls us to examine our own lives first instead of focusing on the actions of another. Its easier to forgive others when we have a understanding of our own shortcomings. Jesus forgives the woman, and lovingly encourages her to change her ways: Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more . Our challenge is to follow Jesuss example and do the same.
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Closing Thoughts On Forgiveness In The Bible
Its clear that forgiveness in the Bible is a dominant theme. We are reminded time and time again that we are forgiven and challenged to go do the same for those around us.
Forgiveness is not easy. But it is necessary for followers of Jesus. Without forgiving we will be unable to be forgiven. Our lives will suffer. If you want to live the good life that God has for you then you need to be willing to forgive.
When You Are Forgiven You Experience Joy When You Refuse To Confess Your Wrongdoing You Suffer
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night Your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, I will confess my rebellion to the LORD. And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
This passage shows both the benefits of forgiveness and the consequences of lack of forgiveness.
You have probably experienced a time when you felt weighed down by guilt or shame because of something you did wrong that you did not want to admit. The author of this Psalm, King David, talks about how trying to hide his sin from God had both spiritual and physical consequences in his life. This is a possibility for all of us because the guilt and shame can lead to stress and stress can impact your physical and mental health.
In contrast, confessing your sins to God and others and receiving forgiveness produces freedom and joy that can have positive effects on your whole life.
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Forgiveness In The Bible
Biblical or forgiveness in the bible is to release someone from bondage or imprisonment. It means to pardon sins and letting go of the offender as if they had never sinned. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no moreHebrews 8:12.
True healing starts when you forgive whoever hurt you, as you forgive, God steps in and expedites the healing process as you obey him. If you refuse to forgive others, healing will not come, instead, you’ll continue to live a broken, unforgiven, and empty life. When seeking healing, whether, for your spirit, soul, mind, or body, the key is to obey God as we read here “And he said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt gives ear to his commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”-Exodus 15:26. As you can see, our healing is predicated on our obedience. So, here are a few powerful Bible verses about forgiveness and healing with nine qualities you’ll need to truly forgive those who hurt you.
We are victorious when we forgive
Important Bible Verses About Forgiveness
Forgiveness is one of the most fundamental teachings in Scripture. Bible verses about forgiveness can be found throughout the Old and New Testament as one of the defining themes of the Bible. Forgivenesss finest moment is Christs death on the cross, where He sacrifices Himself so He can, in turn, forgive us for our sins. Anyone familiar with the Bible knows that forgiveness is one of its key principles.
Because of this, seeing an act of forgiveness is feels like catching a glimpse of bigfoot or a leprechaun. Its there for a moment and then dissipates back to grudges, bitterness, and anger.
However, as you read Scripture what becomes clear is that even though the Bible highlights forgiveness as necessary, many Christians and non-Christians alike agree to disagree.
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God Forgives Us As We Forgive Others
Maybe one of the most challenging teachings from forgiveness in the Bible is that we are forgiven when we forgive.
In the Sermon On The Mount, Jesus lays out one of the most difficult, and life changing, teachings of his ministry. In it he says, But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:15
Our relationships with others have a direct impact on our relationship with God. We cannot love God and hate a person he created. Our lack of forgiveness breaks our relationship with God.
This doest downplay the hurt that others have caused us. And this certainly doesnt mean we instantly forgive. Its a process. It can take time. But we should be moving towards forgiveness rather than harboring hate.
Powerful Truths You Need To Know About Forgiveness In The Bible
The topic of forgiveness in the Bible is extensive. And yet many Christians struggle to actually put what the Bible says into practice.
The reality is forgiveness is HARD. But while hard, forgiveness also offers us a way into a better life. The freedom that you can experience is worth it.
So we are going to dive into some Bible verses about forgiveness and then look at some practical lessons we can apply to our life.
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Why Does The Bible Command Us To Forgive
As mentioned before, forgiveness allows us to become unentangled from toxic anxiety and stress so that we can become more of what God created us to be. Forgiveness is a non-negotiable practice for true followers of Jesus Christ and there is another reason besides the previous one. The forgiveness that we receive from God is tied to our forgiving others. Not our capability to forgive or our capacity to forgive, but our actual practice of forgiving others is something that God reciprocates by forgiving us.
The Bible mentions this is as well as the Lords Prayer . In fact, Jesus further explains after the Lords Prayer that forgiveness on our part brings about forgiveness from God. Perhaps this is because as we forgive and release our desires for vengeance or control, we are releasing ourselves from deep-seated self-centeredness which allows God to have more influence and power in our lives. You cant receive the blessings of God if you are full of the relics of your old self.
Are there exceptions? The Bible shows that Jesus commands us to continually forgive those who repent and seek our forgiveness . There is a verse where there is a different recourse, but it needs to be understood correctly.