Forgiveness is a theme that runs through the Old Testament. Sometimes, forgiveness is about reaching out to those who have wronged us. Sometimes it’s about releasing someone from a debt or obligation. But it always involves letting go of resentment so that bitterness doesn’t consume us and poison our hearts. As with any important lesson, there are times we need to be forgiven ourselves. The Bible contains many examples where God has graciously extended forgiveness to his people despite their shortcomings and failures
Forgiveness is a common topic in our society today. It comes up often in conversation and can be seen in many different forms and however we may choose to describe it, forgiveness is a practice to be embraced by all. The Bible’s Old Testament teaches us that forgiveness is an integral part of God’s plan for man, as well as mankind’s relationship with Him and other human beings.
Free Printable Bible Study On Forgiveness
The nature and essence of God’s forgiveness
Sometimes we need to be reminded of God’s promise for the forgiveness of sins.
Here are a few Old Testament scriptures that reveal the heart of God in dealing with His people. All of these ancient texts point us ultimately to Jesus whose very purpose on the earth was to “save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) This same truth is also found in the book of Hebrews, “But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:26)
The Apostle Peter tells us how we can experience this forgiveness, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)
So if we repent of our sins, confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord. (Romans 10:9-10) We can stand on God’s promise for the forgiveness of sins.
My prayer is that God’s word will fill our heart, heal our souls, wash our minds and renew our strength as we meditate on the wonderful nature of God’s forgiveness as revealed in the Old Testament.
How does God forgive us of our sins?
1. God’s forgiveness is cleansing in nature.
“…on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.” – Leviticus 16:30
2. God’s forgiveness pardons sinners.
“In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” The LORD replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth.” – Numbers 14:19-21
3. God hides our sins and does not hold them against us.
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. – Psalm 32:1-2
4. God forgiveness is purifying at its core.
“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin…Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” – Psalm 51: 2; 7
5. God forgiveness is infinite in nature.
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever, he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 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 103:8-12
6. God’s forgiveness is redemptive in character.
“Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.” – Psalm 130:7-8
7. God’s forgiveness is transformational.
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. – Isaiah 1:18
8. God moves our sins out of His sight.
“Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.” – Isaiah 38:17
9. God chooses not to remember our sins anymore.
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” – Isaiah 43:25
10. God dissipates our sins forever.
“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” – Isaiah 44:22
Special note: “Nothing can more strikingly represent sin in its nature and consequences, than a dense, dark, frowning cloud that comes over the heavens, and shuts out the sun, and fills the air with gloom; and nothing can more beautifully represent the nature and effect of pardon than the idea of removing such a cloud, and leaving the sky pure, the air calm and serene, and the sun pouring down his beams of warmth and light on the earth. So the soul of the sinner is enveloped and overshadowed with a dense cloud, but pardon dissipates that cloud, and it is calm and joyful, and serene.” –Albert Barnes
11. God’s forgiveness is ultimately substitutionary.
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53:6
12. God’s forgiveness gives us a right standing before with HIm.
“After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.” – Isaiah 53:11
13. God’s forgiveness does not dredge up our sins anymore.
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” – Jeremiah 31:34
14. God’s forgiveness washes away all of our sins.
“I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.” – Jeremiah 33:8
15. God’s cleansing forgiveness is restorative.
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt.” - Ezekiel 36:33
16. God’s forgiveness is merciful in essence.
“The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.” -Daniel 9:9
17. God’s forgiveness is profoundly freeing and utterly complete.
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. – Micah 7:18-19
18. God’s forgiveness removes our sins to replace them with His blessings.
“See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” – Zechariah 3:4
Forgiven for Fellowship
“Forgiveness is essentially God’s way of removing the great obstacle to our fellowship with him. By canceling our sin and paying for it with the death of his own Son, God opens the way for us to see him and know him and enjoy him forever. Seeing and savoring him is the goal of forgiveness. Soul-satisfying fellowship with our Father is the aim of the cross.” — John Piper
May the love of the Father, the work of the Son and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be sweeter, stronger and more satisfying to you as you let the word of God work deep in your soul! Reminding you that you are HIS and you are richly forgiven by HIM.
Meaning Of Forgiveness Biblically
A number of years ago, my childhood best friend and I had a falling out. It started as an issue between our respective parents that boiled over to us. We both said things we shouldn’t have, and a once close friendship vanished seemingly overnight. Eventually, we both apologized, forgiveness was granted and the wounds healed. But, the relationship was never the same.
We’ve all had situations like this. We’ve hurt someone, or someone has hurt us. It’s impossible to have a relationship between two sinners and forgiveness not be a constant need. Sometimes we are the ones needing forgiveness, and sometimes we are the ones needing to forgive.
Despite its prevalence in our lives, it seems that many of us have a mistaken view of forgiveness and its impact, not only spiritually and emotionally, but also physically. In fact, according to John Hopkins Medicine, forgiveness has a huge impact on your health:
“Whether it’s a simple spat with your spouse or long-held resentment toward a family member or friend, unresolved conflict can go deeper than you may realize—it may be affecting your physical health. The good news: Studies have found that the act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, lowering the risk of heart attack; improving cholesterol levels and sleep; and reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression and stress. And research points to an increase in the forgiveness-health connection as you age.”
Forgiveness is critical. To gain a better understanding of why, I think it’s important to remind ourselves what the Bible has to say about forgiveness:
1. All of us are in need of forgiveness.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). From a spiritual perspective, we were all born with a sin problem, eternally separated from God. We’d be lost forever without Him intervening and offering us forgiveness. I often think about how many times I’ve messed up. Each and every time, God is there with open arms to offer forgiveness. The same is true in my marriage, particularly in those early years. Yet, every time, my wife offers her forgiveness. It’s much easier to extend forgiveness to others when we consider the grace we have been shown.
2. Forgiving others is a prerequisite for our own forgiveness.
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6: 14-15). This is a difficult verse to process. God stands ready and willing to forgive us, but asks that we extend the same forgiveness to others first. If we have resentment and bitterness in our hearts, it’s time to give it over to God. Let Him heal us and give us the ability to forgive. Our eternity is dependent on it.
3. 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” (Matthew 5: 23-24). The Bible is very clear that harboring bitterness in our hearts is sin. And, if we aren’t actively seeking to kill it, it will break our fellowship with God. We won’t experience everything God has to offer us.
4. We owe others forgiveness even when they don’t 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” (Matthew 18: 15). How often do we hold it against someone when they haven’t apologized? When we are wronged, we expect someone to come to us and say, “I’m sorry.” Yes, that is the right thing to do, however, the Bible doesn’t 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. It’s not an easy thing to do, but it’s critical in being able to move forward.
5. We owe forgiveness to those who don’t deserve it.
“And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7: 59-60). There are numerous examples that charge us to forgive others, even when they don’t deserve it. In addition to this example of Stephen, I think about Jesus on the cross in the midst of his executioners: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Every time I find myself having trouble extending forgiveness to someone I’ve deemed undeserving, I think about how unworthy I am of forgiveness. Yet, God saw fit to love me and forgive me. When considering the magnitude of that, every situation in my life where I was reluctant to forgive seems trivial.
6. We owe others an unlimited amount of forgiveness.
“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven” (Matthew 18: 21-22). Forgiving is hard, but doing it over and over again can seem impossible. But, with God, anything is possible. Jesus is clear in this passage that there is no “final straw” that warrants us withholding our forgiveness. God doesn’t have a “final straw” for us. To be clear, this doesn’t mean allowing others to take advantage of your forgiveness. God also gave us the ability to be reasonable and make smart choices with our lives. Holding on to resentment only takes our joy, while doing no harm to the other party. We should forgive repeatedly because God commands it and He knows what’s best for our lives.
7. There are consequences for choosing not to forgive.
“And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart” (Matthew 18: 34-35). God takes forgiveness seriously, and this parable is proof. If we don’t forgive others, there are consequences – eternal consequences! That’s a scary thing, and it challenges me to evaluate my own heart. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!” (Psalm 139:23). If forgiveness is needed, today is the day to make it right.
8. 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” (John 8:7). Now, I don’t 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. It’s 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” (John 8:11). Our challenge is to follow Jesus’s example and do the same.
9. God gives us the ability to forgive others.
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). Forgiving can be one of the hardest things that God requires of us. But, the good news is He doesn’t command it of us and then leave us to do it on our own. He gives us Jesus as an example. And, He gives us the power, through the Holy Spirit.
10. After forgiveness, comes love – even if forgetting isn’t possible.
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). 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. It’s hard to harbor ill will toward those we actively serve, love and pray for.
What Is Forgiveness Bible Study
A Quick Bible Study on Forgiveness
- We have been forgiven (Colossians 2:13-15).
- Forgive because you’ve been forgiven (Colossians 3:13).
- Forgiveness restores broken relationships (Genesis 50:17).
- Forgiveness is a path to love (Luke 7:47).
- Forgiveness precedes healing (Luke 5:17-26).
- God tells us to forgive instead of seeking revenge or bearing a grudge (Leviticus 19:18).
How to Forgive
- Realize and admit your part in the conflict.
- Ask Jesus, the ultimate forgiver, to empower you, remembering that he has forgiven you.
- Decide that you don’t want to keep on letting that person hurt you by holding the grudge.
Discussion Questions:
- Why do you think it is difficult to forgive those who hurt you?
- Read Luke 5:17-26, the healing of the paralytic. What does this passage imply about the relationship between forgiveness and healing?
- How could extending forgiveness heal a relationship? How might it heal the other person? How might it heal you?
- Respond to the Lewis Smedes quote from above: “When you refuse to forgive, you are giving the person who walloped you once the privilege of hurting you all over again—in your memory.” Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?
- Share an example from your own experience when refusing to forgive hurt you.