Embrace God’s Forgiveness
How do you deal with forgiveness? Do you think something you did is just too bad that even God wouldn’t forgive you? This is the second in a four part series on embracing God’s attributes. Read the first post here on God’s love.
Forgiveness indicates pardon, absolution, exoneration, clemency, mercy, pity, and lenience. Human forgiveness is often not as generous towards others as God’s is to His children. Proverbs 10:12 reminds us that “Hate stirs up trouble, but love forgives all offenses.”
As humans, we often struggle to forgive those who hurt us. This can make it hard to believe God truly forgives our sin.
God’s forgiveness is is clear in Romans 5:6-11, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died (substitution) for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person — though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by his blood (no debt!), will we be saved through him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life (resurrection). And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.”
Maybe you don’t really understand or accept that God forgives His children when they come to Him for salvation, or for forgiveness even after salvation. Please see the post my daughter wrote for my blog a while back, Redemption and Restoration as well as this post, Joy Restored, for more on God’s forgiveness.
If you struggle with feelings of guilt even after you have asked God’s forgiveness for sin, it’s not coming from God. Blame that on the enemy. But let this be a reminder to stay prayed up and confessed up on a daily basis. Mary Kassian calls that, “ditching the baggage” in her book, The Right Kind of Strong.
The thing is, when we draw closer and closer to Christ, we see how far we are from His perfection and we desire to obey and quickly repent when we sin.
Quote Psalm 139:23-24 often: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” 1 John 1: 9 reminds us that “if we confess our sins, “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
True heart repentance brings life change, turning away and seeking to live holy lives (watch for the third post in this series on God’s holiness).
Believe these 4 Take Aways:
- The Bible is full of stories of people who were lost, discarded, rejected and abandoned, yet, God was always there. Joshua 1:9 says, “God is with you – wherever you may go” and no matter what life brings.
- One thing God proved through people of the Bible, and also through me and you, is that He never fails to love, adore and choose us daily. Psalm 143:8 reminds us of His unending love: “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love.”
- Not only does God seek out those of us who are lost, but He chose to die for us. Romans 5:8 says that “while we were sinners, Christ died for us.”
- And because of His forgiveness…He desires that we forgive others. Paul says in Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” And he says this in Colossians 3:12-13, “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.”
If you have never accepted Jesus’ free gift of love and forgiveness for salvation,, perhaps this is the time to do that. Believe He died for you to make right what was made wrong in the garden. Turn to Him in repentance for your sin and desire to do life your way rather than His. Ask Him to come into your heart and then accept that He has forgiven you and is with you now forever!
Perhaps you are already a Christ-follower, but you struggle to forgive someone who has hurt you deeply. When we understand His forgiveness for us, we are able to forgive others as well. Maybe today you will fully understand all He has forgiven you, and you will lay down the unforgiveness once and for all.
He desires your heart and life, not to make it a perfect life, but to be a perfect Savior amidst life.
Read Part 3 here and Part 4 here.
Banner photo by Gus Moretta on Unsplash
