Forgiveness

God is ready and waiting to forgive anyone who asks. It's in the Bible, Psalm 86:5, **TLB. "O Lord, you are so good and kind, so ready to forgive; so full of mercy for all who ask your aid."

On what did David rest his hope of forgiveness? It's in the Bible, Psalm 51:1, NIV. "Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions."

How is God's mercy measured? It's in the Bible, Psalm 103:11-12, NIV. "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."

What promise is made to those who confess their sins? It's in the Bible, I John 1:9, TLB. "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.]"

Can I be forgiven while holding a grudge against someone else? It's in the Bible, Matthew 6:14-15, TLB. "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."

The forgiven are forgiving. It's in the Bible, Ephesians 4:32, NIV. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Real forgiveness does not keep track of mistakes. It's in the Bible, Matthew 18:21-22, NIV. "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."

When we're forgiven we shouldn't continue to feel guilty. It's in the Bible, Psalm 32:5, NIV. "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."

Through forgiveness, Christ provides complete deliverance from the penalty of sin. It's in the Bible, Colossians 2:13-14, TLB. "You were dead in sins, and your sinful desires were not yet cut away. Then He gave you a share in the very life of Christ, for He forgave all your sins, and blotted out the charges proved against you, the list of His commandments, which you had not obeyed. He took this list of sins and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ's cross."

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

First acknowledge your sin. It's in the Bible, Psalm 51:2-4, TLB. "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."

Second, Ask forgiveness for your sin. It's in the Bible, Psalm 51:7-12, TLB. "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."

Third, Believe that God has indeed forgiven you and quit feeling guilty. It's in the Bible, Psalm 32:1-6, TLB. "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."

**TLB= The Living Bible

Remain blessed