Biblical Forgiveness, Part 1
Part 1 – Biblical Forgiveness – Are There Two Types?
Please read this study on Biblical Forgiveness … but, if you are in a hurry, here is a quick summary. (Opens in new window.) When you see the importance of it, you may want to return later to read the full study.
Introduction
Are you seeking for Biblical forgiveness? Have you ever struggled with whether or not God has forgiven you? In your relationship to God – do you feel forgiven? Or do you feel guilty? Do you know what the effects of guilt feelings are on emotional health? – they are not good. Health and forgiveness are definitely related. Guilt produces emotional pain and can even result in physical disease. If you are struggling with how to overcome guilt, then forgiveness is something you need to understand. It is something to seek after. But do we really understand what forgiveness is and how to get it?
How do you think that God regards you when you sin? Is He upset? Does He have to be appeased? Reconciled? Do you beg God to forgive you? Do you ever wonder if He does forgive you? There is, in the world, and, to a degree, even in Christianity, confusion over this topic.
There is a Fountain by Fountain of Life Productions
It Takes Two for Forgiveness to Happen
First, let’s understand that forgiveness is a transaction between two parties. In forgiveness, there is the forgiver, the one who offers, who gives the pardon and there is the forgivee, the one who accepts and receives the pardon. It isn’t just God forgiving us but it is Him forgiving us and us receiving forgiveness. Let’s try understanding forgiveness by looking at various scriptures on forgiveness. Scriptures that describe forgiveness from the perspective of both the forgiver and the forgivee. What does the Bible say about it?
For a continuation of this study on Biblical Forgiveness and some really good news, go to part 2 (of 6). Please do keep reading. This is indeed good news. You will find that just knowing that God always forgives you, that He holds nothing against you is very encouraging.
Other Languages Many people have appreciated the message in this study, so I am also making it available in PDF-file format with the summary and all parts in one file so that it can be easily shared. Click on the following links to download in different languages. I hope to add more as time goes on.
Biblical Forgiveness (in English)
E-book, 97 kb instant download; Version: 2008.11
Biblical Forgiveness (in Luo – Kenya)
E-book, 87 kb instant download; Version: 2012.04 Translation was done by Calvince Osongo of Rongo, Kenya who works to help the orphans, the poor and suffering in Kenya. If you wish to express thanks for his work or encourage him in his trials, you may email him at calvince-osongo@hotmail.com.
Biblical Forgiveness (in Telugu – India)
E-book, 246 kb instant download; Version: 2012.03
Translation was done by Anand Didla, a Pastor in Andhrapradesh, India who is actively working to share the gospel with young people.
If you appreciate this beautiful truth and know another language into which you would be willing to translate it, please contact me.
You will need Adobe Reader (the latest version is recommended) installed on your computer in order to open and read this ebook. You can get Adobe Reader here (a new window will open so you can download it without leaving this page).
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While the law (designed to protect us) was written in stone (signifying its permanence), Jesus recorded sins in the sand (signifying how ready God is to erase them). Before answering the Pharisees on the law, Jesus stooped down and wrote with his finger on the ground smybolising that they were questioning Him on the very law He wrote and gave them (in Exodus – written with the finger of God). But so blind were His accusers they discerned not the significance of His act. (explanation from http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/John/john_28.htm ) |
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December 6, 2011 @ 7:57 am
(Accra, Ghana)
Would God forgive my sins even if I keep going back to do the same things I pray for forgiveness for? How do I stay away from sexual immorality?
December 7, 2012 @ 8:10 am
Answer: As is described in the forgiveness study on this site, God does forgive every sin. However, that is a different act or event or decision or whatever you want to call it than you accepting that forgiveness. So for you to realize that you have been forgiven and accept it, you need to understand that God does forgive (and paid the price – the life of his only begotten son – so that you could be forgiven). Read the whole study if you can.
It also helps in dealing with any specific sin, to have an appreciation for God’s Character and to know how good he is. When we understand His love and forgiveness we can come to the point where
“We love Him, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
And that realization and motivation can help keep us from any sin. Of course, there may be specific steps you should be taking to avoid exposing yourself to temptation.
January 9, 2012 @ 8:16 pm
Feeling that God May have Rejected Me
I am a young fellow in Kenya, East Africa. I am so much inspired with your work. Please, I am going through lots of pain in life and I am feeling that God may have rejected me. Please can you help me?
January 9, 2012 @ 8:16 pm
Thank you for your note. Since you have expressed concern that God may have rejected you I understand that your pain is not physical but spiritual. Perhaps this is because of feelings such as guilt over things you have done that you feel God does not approve of.
While God does not approve of sin, He still loves the sinner – that’s you and me and everyone else. We are all in the same category since all have sinned.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Rom 3:23)
So don’t feel that God loves you any less or rejects you because of anything you may have done. God is relentless in His attempts to connect with and form a relationship with us.
“… he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Heb 13:5)
If you are feeling concerned at about your relationship to God, then you have not even rejected Him and there is a basis for forming a relationship. Begin to read study your Bible and look especially for the goodness of God. As you come to see His goodness more you will receive the gift of repentance (or receive it more fully).
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Rom 2:4)
Compare your actions with God’s standard and you may find that you need to make some changes in your life. While you are not saved by good deeds – it is a free gift – God’s law is there for your protection. The more you stay within His will the better your life will be – certainly you will have less reason to have feelings of guilt.
If you haven’t already, please read the pages on my website dealing with forgiveness. You will see there that God, from His heart, forgives everyone, He is not having bad feelings towards you for what you have done – He loves you. That is the feelings part of it. Of course, there is still the legal aspect of forgiveness and that is taken care of through the blood of God’s dear Son that was shed to pay the penalty of death. If you claim that, then your sins are covered.
From that point, go forward learning of Him and relying on His strength to grow in obedience and knowledge of Him. Look for Christian fellowship and a group that teaches the Bible and keeps God’s Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) holy.
Take care and thank you for your comments. You have blessed me by letting me know that my efforts have been a help to you.
Ray
March 31, 2012 @ 3:02 pm
Does God hear? Can God really hear our prayers for Forgiveness?
(Mayfield Hts, Ohio, USA)
March 31, 2012 @ 7:02 pm
Answer: Yes, God can hear all our prayers. He can even “hear” our unspoken prayers. The good news is that He already forgives us even before we pray for it. God’s forgiveness towards us, His attitude toward us is not conditional on our praying for forgiveness or even feeling sorry for our sins. The verse:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
while it contains a condition, is not talking about forgiveness as granted by God but of forgiveness as accepted and experienced by us. It is a two party-transaction; forgiveness is both given and received. This is all explained on the page about the definition of guilt and how to deal with it.
Actually, the more important question is: can we “hear” or, better, understand and accept that God always forgives us? We need to understand that He does not hold our sins against us or love us any less when we sin. He is trying to get us to understand how great His love is so that we will respond and allow Him to help us through life that He might bless us and have a relationship with us.
March 31, 2012 @ 8:02 pm
Can God Forgive Anything I Do?
Does God forgive every sin? Now I need God to forgive my sin of the past.
(Lagos, Nigeria)
March 31, 2012 @ 8:02 pm
Yes, Chika God can and will forgive any sin. The really good news is that He already has forgiven your sins of the past. There is a sense in which He has even forgiven your future sins.
What most people (and even most theologians don’t know) is that forgiveness, in the Bible, is translated from different original words some of which refer to the act on the part of the forgiver (the one doing the forgiving) of giving forgiveness and some of which refer to the reception of that forgiveness by the one being forgiven (the forgivee). God never withholds forgiveness from us.
He always still loves us (Think of the words of the children’s song: “Jesus loves me when I’m bad even though it makes Him sad.”) and wants us to understand that. The problem we have is that we have been so misinformed about the character of God that we believe He is mad at us when we sin and will not forgive and smile on us again unless we meet certain conditions.
For more details on forgiveness including what those original Hebrew and Greek words are, see the full study on forgiveness.