Have you ever received forgiveness without deserving it? You do or say something that hurts a loved one and you know that you have crossed the line, that you do not deserve forgiveness. But, oh, what greater happiness! The other person decides to forgive you.
The Bible tells us about this kind of forgiveness. It is the forgiveness that God gives us, one that we do not deserve and that many times we do not understand.
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are blotted out. Blessed is he to whom the Lord does not take into account his wickedness and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
(Psalm 32:1-2)
In the Bible there are examples of people who made big mistakes, but God forgave them. Here we see three men that God used in a very special way even when, at a certain moment, they failed and acted incorrectly.
Three people forgiven by God:
David
David was the second king of Israel. God chose him from a very young age for that position. He was the youngest of 8 siblings and his father’s name was Jesse. As a child he was a shepherd of sheep; he also enjoyed music very much, played the harp and composed. He wrote many of the Psalms that we have in the Bible.
In the books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles we find many accounts of David’s life. One of the best known is in 1 Samuel 17 and tells of his victory over Goliath, a giant from the Philistine army. There David showed great courage and confidence in God’s protection. His fame began to grow and this fueled envy in King Saul’s heart which began to persecute him. That is why David had to flee and spent time in exile.
The story of David and Goliath in the Bible
After Saul’s death, David returned, was crowned king of Judah, and then king of Israel. His fame and daring grew with the passage of time thanks to triumphs over many armies. One of his most important achievements was to return the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. As a result he received great promises from God.
However, in 2 Samuel 11 and 12 we read of a dark episode in David’s life. During the siege of the city of Rabbah, David committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of the soldiers. He indirectly had Uriah killed so he could marry Bathsheba. As a consequence of all this plot, God sent the prophet Nathan to reveal to David the consequences of his actions. We read that the baby from that relationship died. Huge problems and fights also broke out between David and his other children.
This whole situation greatly displeased God. It seems that David’s repentance came when the prophet Nathan went to speak with him. David reflected and realized his sin, that he had failed God. Psalm 51 expresses the pain he felt. David begins the psalm asking God for compassion and then begs God to intervene in his life.
Wash me from all my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin. (…)
Against you I have sinned, only against you, and I have done what is evil in your eyes.
(Psalm 51:2 and 4a)
David recognized that his bad actions affected his relationship with others and with God. He needed the restoration that comes with God’s forgiveness and we know he received it. God never rejects the heart that humbles itself and recognizes its mistakes. In the same Psalm 51, in verse 7, David writes: “You, O God, do not despise a broken and repentant heart.”
God’s forgiveness came. In Acts 13 we read that Paul was speaking to the synagogue leaders in Pisidia and among his words of encouragement to them is a mention of David:
After deposing Saul, he made David their king, of whom he gave this testimony: “I have found in David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want.”
(Acts 13:22)
A man after God’s own heart! This is what God’s forgiveness accomplishes. He draws us closer to him and impels us to be transformed to become all that he wants us to be.
Learn how to receive God’s forgiveness.
Pablo
Saul was born in Tarsus into a family faithful to the Jewish religion. As a young man he learned the trade of making tents. He grew up within the strictness of the Pharisees and became a defender of their beliefs. His great zeal led him to persecute Christians, he considered them a sect that threatened everything he had believed in. Saul was present during the stoning of Stephen, considered the first Christian martyr. From that moment his desire to finish off those who believed in Jesus grew even more.
That day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all but the apostles were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Some pious men buried Stephen and mourned him greatly. Saul, for his part, caused havoc in the church: going from house to house, he dragged men and women and put them in jail.
(Acts 8:1-3)
Despite all this God had his eyes on Saul. He saw great potential in him and decided to reveal himself. Where others saw a hard heart, full of hatred and eager to destroy Christians, God saw a heart thirsty for him and for purpose, an opportunity to transform a life giving it new meaning.
Saul asked the high priest for permission to go and persecute the Christians in Damascus. Permission was granted and the journey began. But God had a much more special plan.
On the journey it happened that, as he approached Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” he asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you persecute,” the voice replied. Get up and go into the city, for there you will be told what to do.
The men traveling with Saul stopped in astonishment, because they heard the voice, but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he couldn’t see, so they took him by the hand and took him to Damascus.
(Acts 9:3-8)
Saul’s life was never the same after his encounter with God. From a persecutor he became a faithful follower of Jesus. That same zeal that he had previously had to persecute Christians he used to talk about God, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the change he had experienced. Many Christians had a hard time accepting him as part of the church, they suspected him. But Saul (now Paul) continued to faithfully serve God and help spread the message of salvation.
Paul became a great missionary and church planter. The Bible tells of his three missionary journeys, his visits to churches, and also tells of his sufferings. In the midst of sickness and persecution Paul remained faithful to the one who had forgiven his mistakes and had given him the opportunity to make amends for the wrong he had done.
In the New Testament there are 13 epistles of his authorship. In them we see reflected the great work that he carried out carrying the message of salvation through Jesus.
Pedro
Pedro belonged to a family of fishermen from the city of Bethsaida and was married. The first encounter he and his brother had with Jesus was special as it gave them a new purpose.
While walking along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: one was Simon, called Peter, and the other Andrew. They were casting the net into the lake, as they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Instantly they left their nets and followed him.
(Matthew 4:18-20)
From that moment Peter became one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He was rather coarse and had an impulsive temperament, characteristics that are reflected in several biblical passages. His impulsiveness led him to speak or act before thinking as we see, for example, in Matthew 14: 25-31. He was with the other disciples in a boat when Jesus approached them walking on the water. Peter said, “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water. “Come,” said Jesus. Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
Peter was part of the inner circle of Jesus, the apostles who shared special moments with the Master. He became a kind of spokesman for the twelve, sometimes declaring great truths.
When he arrived in the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples: Who do people say that the Son of man is?
They answered him: Some say that it is John the Baptist, others that Elijah, and others that Jeremiah or one of the prophets.
“And you, who do you say I am?”
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” said Simon Peter.
(Matthew 16:13-16)
During the last supper we see a very special scene. The disciples begin to argue about which of them would be the most important. Jesus tells them that in his kingdom the most important is the one who serves. He encourages them to follow his example of service, and goes on to speak directly to Peter.
Simon, Simon, see that Satan has asked to sift you as if you were wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have returned to me, strengthen your brothers.”
“Lord,” replied Pedro, “I am willing to go with you both to prison and to death.
“Pedro, I tell you that today, before the rooster crows, three times you will deny that you know me.”
(Luke 22:31-34)
Jesus knew what would happen and gave a prophetic word. He knew that Peter would deny him and prayed for him, for strength in his faith. Jesus said that Peter would recover from that great mistake and that he would become an example for the other disciples of Jesus. So it was!
When Jesus was arrested and taken to the high priest’s house, Peter denied three times that he knew him, just as Jesus had said. Realizing what he had done, Peter felt a bitter pain in his heart. He had failed the Master! But after the resurrection of Jesus, in John 21:15-19, we read one of the most beautiful stories of forgiveness and restitution. Jesus asks Peter three times “do you love me?” and every time Peter replies “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you”, Jesus gives him a task: feed my lambs; take care of my sheep; feed my sheep.
We know that Peter was one of the leaders of the early Christians. In the book of Acts we read how God used him to heal and of his powerful preaching. The church grew thanks to his fidelity, his perseverance in carrying the message of salvation.
That’s how God is. full of love and forgiveness. He is always waiting, longing for us to humbly approach him, to give him a chance. He not only forgives us, he also gives us a new purpose.. Do not delay in accepting her love and her forgiveness.
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