All humans are guilty of sin. In Christian doctrine, forgiveness entails that the death of Christ on behalf of believers has removed the condemnation sentence for their sins, and God no longer considers them guilty.
In this post, we will explore what the Bible says about forgiveness of sin and how this concept is relevant to our daily lives.
The Importance of Forgiveness
The Bible says that forgiveness is needed for a person to have the right relationship with God and others.
The first verses of Psalm 32 encapsulate a central concept in Scripture: forgiveness of sins. Psalm 103:10 says that God does not deal with us based on our sins or reward us according to our iniquities.
The Lord’s Prayer contains one of the most well-known phrases regarding forgiveness. It asks for forgiveness from our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:12). This verse underlines the significance of forgiveness. It emphasizes that we should forgive others like God has forgiven us.
Another important verse about forgiveness is in Colossians 3:13, which states that we must forgive one another the same way the Lord has forgiven us. This verse reminds us that while forgiveness is not always easy, it is essential for maintaining healthy relationships with others.
According to the Bible, salvation is only possible through forgiveness. Romans 3:23-24 highlights that every person is a sinner and falls short of God’s glory and that through faith in Jesus Christ, all can be freely justified by God’s grace and redemption. This verse underlines the importance of forgiveness and how it is attainable through Christ.
How to Seek Forgiveness
To find true forgiveness, a person must admit their sin. It is a barrier to forgiveness if a person attempts to justify sin as a simple mistake, human shortcoming, or transient slip of judgment or if they reject the sin entirely.
According to 1 John 1:8-10, if we profess ourselves as sinless, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. However, if we confess our sins, he will forgive and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.
Jesus provided Himself as an atonement for sin to allow God’s forgiveness. During the Last Supper, Jesus referenced this sacrifice by telling His disciples that His blood would be shed to forgive sins (Matthew 26:28). After the resurrection, the apostles spread the gospel of forgiveness through Jesus Christ to Jews and Gentiles alike.
Biblical forgiveness helps the person who was hurt and is meant to help the person who did wrong. For that to happen, the person who did wrong must first admit they did something wrong.
Sometimes it’s okay for the hurt person not to forget what happened until the person who did wrong asks for forgiveness.
According to Jesus’ teachings, one should always be willing to forgive when asked. However, the request may not always be sincere; even if it is, the person may make the same mistake again. We should remember we do the same to God, yet He forgives us.
Bottom Line
Similar to how God extends mercy and forgives our sins, we must also show compassion and forgive those who wrong us.
Forgiveness involves releasing any feelings of anger or grudges towards the offender and choosing to forgive them. It does not mean forgetting what happened, but it does require us to let go of any resentment and possibly work towards repairing the relationship with the individual who hurt us.
