Forgiveness

Trust in the LORD with all your heart

God is ready and waiting to forgive anyone who asks.

"O Lord, you are so good and kind, so ready to forgive; so full of mercy for all who ask your aid." Psalm 86:5

On what did David rest his hope of forgiveness?

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions." Psalm 51:1

How is God's mercy measured?

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:11-12

What promise is made to those who confess their sins?

"But if we confess our sins to Him, He can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. [And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.]" I John 1:9

Can I be forgiven while holding a grudge against someone else?

"Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, He will not forgive you." Matthew 6:14-15

The forgiven are forgiving.

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

Real forgiveness does not keep track of mistakes.

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:21-22

When we're forgiven we shouldn't continue to feel guilty.

"Then 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." Psalm 32:5

If you are in need of forgiveness, what should you do?

First acknowledge your sin.

"Oh, wash me, cleanse me from this guilt. Let me be pure again. For I admit my shameful deed it haunts me day and night." Psalm 51:2-4

Second, Ask forgiveness for your sin.

"Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. And after You have punished me, give me back my joy again. Don't keep looking at my sins erase them from Your sight. Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires. Don't toss me aside, banished forever from Your presence. Don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You." Psalm 51:7-12

Third, Believe that God has indeed forgiven you and quit feeling guilty.

"What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record. There was a time when I wouldn't admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration. All day and all night Your hand was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day until I finally admitted all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, 'I will confess them to the Lord.' And You forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Now I say that each believer should confess his sins to God when he is aware of them, while there is time to be forgiven. Judgment will not touch him if he does. You are my hiding place from every storm of life; You even keep me from getting into trouble! You surround me with songs of victory." Psalm 32:1-6

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:11-12)

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1,12)

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:44-45)

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:35-37)

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: --Matthew 1:21- 22

Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.--Luke 17:3

Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. --Colossians 3:13

Inspirational Quotes

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. --Mahatma Gandhi

To err is human, to forgive, divine. - Alexander Pope

There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness. - Josh Billings

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. - Honor de Balzac

Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it foregoes revenge, and dares forgive an injury. --E. H. Chapin

We are told that people stay in love because of chemistry, or because they remain intrigued with each other, because of many kindnesses, because of luck ... But part of it has got to be forgiveness and gratefulness.

--Ellen Goodman (1941-____) US journalist

Forgiveness is of high value, yet it costs nothing. --Unknown