Forgiving and being forgiven are precious and liberating experiences that we have all had at some point. Feeling the power of forgiveness transforms us.
We children of God rejoice because we have received the forgiveness of our sins thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. However, it is important to know that in the same way that we have been forgiven, our hearts must be willing to forgive.
This is possible when we understand the magnitude of what Jesus did for us. Acknowledging Christ’s work on our behalf gives us the strength we need to allow forgiveness to flow from our hearts.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Mark 11:25
And when you are praying, if you have something against someone, forgive him, so that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive your sins.
Matthew 6:12
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Matthew 6:14-15
Because if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, if you do not forgive others their offenses, neither will your Father forgive yours.
Psalm 86:5
You, Lord, are good and forgiving; Great is your love for all who call on you.
Psalm 32:1
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are blotted out.
Take heart as you read these 3 biblical examples of lives transformed by forgiveness.
Psalm 32:3-5
While I kept silent, my bones were consumed by my moaning all day. My strength was weakening as in the heat of summer, because day and night your hand weighed on me. selah
But I confessed my sin to you, and did not hide my wickedness from you. I said to myself, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave my wickedness and my sin. selah
Acts 2:38
Repent and be baptized each of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins – answered Peter -, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:38
Therefore, brothers, know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is announced to you.
Matthew 18:21-22
Peter approached Jesus and asked him: Lord, how many times do I have to forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?
I’m not telling you up to seven times, but up to seventy-seven times,” Jesus replied.
Reflect on what it means to forgive up to seventy-seven times.
Luke 17:3-4
So take care! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and, if he repents, forgive him. Even if he sins against you seven times in one day, and seven times he comes back to tell you “I repent”, forgive him ».
Colossians 2:13-14
Before you received that circumcision, you were dead in your sins. However, God gave us life in union with Christ, by forgiving us all our sins and canceling the debt that we owed due to the requirements of the law. He annulled that debt that was adverse to us, nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 3:12-13
Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, saints and loved ones, clothe yourselves with tender affection and goodness, humility, kindness and patience, so that you bear with one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord forgave you, forgive you too.
Ephesians 4:32
Rather, be kind and compassionate to one another, and forgive each other, just as God forgave you in Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:5-8
If someone has caused sadness, it has not caused it only to me; to a certain extent – and I say this not to exaggerate – it has caused it to all of you. For him, the punishment imposed by the majority is enough. Rather they should forgive and comfort him so that he is not consumed by excessive sadness. That is why I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.
Proverbs 17:9
He who forgives the offense cultivates love; he who insists on the offense divides his friends.
Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Isaiah 43:25
I am the one who for love of myself blots out your transgressions and remembers your sins no more.
See how to receive God’s forgiveness and what it means.
Ephesians 1:7-8
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of grace, which God gave us in abundance with all wisdom and understanding.
Colossians 1:13-14
He freed us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the wicked his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, to our God, who is generous to forgive, and from him he will receive mercy.
Leviticus 4:20
The same thing will be done with this steer that is done with the sacrificial offering. Thus the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.
Psalm 103:3
He forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.
Psalm 130:3-4
If you, Lord, took sins into account, who, Lord, would be declared innocent? But forgiveness is found in you, and therefore you should be feared.
Mark 3:28-29
I assure you that all sins and blasphemies will be forgiven equally to everyone, except whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit. This one will never have forgiveness; he is guilty of eternal sin.
Luke 1:77-79
You will make known to his people salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, thanks to the tender mercy of our God. This is how the rising sun will visit us from heaven, to give light to those who live in darkness, in the most terrible darkness, to guide our steps along the path of peace.
Acts 5:30-31
The God of our ancestors resurrected Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. By his power, God exalted him as Prince and Savior, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.
Psalm 25:11
For your name’s sake, Lord, forgive my great iniquity.
James 5:15
The prayer of faith will heal the sick and the Lord will raise him up. And, if he has sinned, his sin will be forgiven.
Daniel 9:8-9
Lord, both we and our kings and princes, and our ancestors, are a source of shame for having sinned against you. But even when we have rebelled against you, you, our Lord, are a compassionate and forgiving God.
Daniel 9:19
Lord, hear us! Lord, forgive us! Lord, attend us and act! My God, honor your name and don’t delay any longer; your name is invoked over your city and over your people!”
Nehemiah 9:17
They refused to listen to you; They did not remember the wonders you did for them. Their stubbornness and rebelliousness was so great that they even appointed a chief to make them return to slavery in Egypt. But you did not abandon them because you are a forgiving, merciful and compassionate God, slow to anger and great in love.
Matthew 9:6
Well, so that they know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins —he then addressed the paralyzed man—: Get up, pick up your stretcher and go home.
Matthew 12:31-32
That is why I tell you that all sin and all blasphemy can be forgiven everyone, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven anyone. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.
Luke 23:33-34
When they reached the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
Father, said Jesus, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.
Meanwhile, they cast lots to divide Jesus’ clothing among themselves.
Psalm 79:9
O God and our Savior, for the glory of your name, help us; by your name, deliver us and forgive our sins.
Psalm 85:1-3
Lord, you have been kind to this land of yours by restoring Jacob; you forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins; selah
you completely put away your anger, and restrained the burning of your anger.
Jeremiah 33:7-8
I will change the fate of Judah and Israel, and I will rebuild them as at the beginning. I will purify them from all the iniquities they have committed against me; I will forgive all the sins with which they have rebelled against me.
Joel 2:17-18
Cry, priests, ministers of the Lord, between the porch and the altar; and say: “Lord, have mercy on your people. Do not give your property to disgrace, lest the nations mock it. Why should they say among the peoples: “Where is your God?”
So the Lord showed love for his land and spared his people.
Micah 7:18
Who is a God like you, who forgives wickedness and overlooks the crime of the remnant of his people? You will not always be angry, because your greatest pleasure is to love.
You may be interested in learning more about forgiveness in the Bible.