To forgive means to pardon or to show mercy. More important, forgiveness means to send away. The Bible says, forgiveness means separating the sinner from sin. Our heavenly Father accomplishes forgiveness by placing our sins on Christ on the cross and judging our sin there. When an individual accepts Christ as savior, he or she is forgiven.
God is love. He has destroyed us and started over again when Adam and Eve sin, but God our Savior appeared “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us” (Titus 3:4–5). The Word God became the Son of God and became a man who lived among us, and died on the cross for our sin. The Word of God says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). The Bible says, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, forgiving us of our sins and granting us reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19). “By grace are we saved” (Ephesians 2:5).
Scripture Verses for Meditation
“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
“The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.” (Psalm 34:22)
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7)
“Iniquities prevail against me; as for our transgressions, You will provide atonement for them.” (Psalm 65:3)
“The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.” (Psalm 145:8)
“I, even, I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” (Isaiah 43:25)
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from, you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31–32)
“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13–14)
Prayer:
Lord, we know that it’s not always easy to forgive. However, we know that if we are truly your faithful servants we must follow your example and forgive those who hurt us. Lord, please set us free from old grievances and harbored resentments. Heal our wounded hearts and give us the strength to forgive. After all, You forgave us, when you died on the cross. Heavenly Father, free me from resentment and self-righteousness. Make me humble to forgive those who have offended or wronged me. Free my heart so I can be at peace with everyone. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible.
By Constance A. Burns, NAAV Contributor for Moments of Meditation and Spiritual Readings; email: cburns@naavets.org