When looking for advice on forgiveness the Bible is the best place to go. Forgiveness would not exist without the example given to us by Christ. Let’s find out more about this thing we should do seventy times seven times.
According to The NIV Exhaustive Bible Concordance by John R Kohlenberger III, that you can find here, there are 144 direct mentions of forgiveness in the bible. I searched through this concordance, and two others, and found 10 to highlight for now. They are in no particular order as they are all of equal importance.
1 – Psalm 130:3-6 ESV
“If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.”
If God were to look at us through the lens of our sins we could never stand to defend ourselves. But, when we believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, God then sees His Son, Jesus, as our defender. We have the hope and assurance of forgiveness from God because of Jesus’ defense of us.
2 – Daniel 9:8-10 ESV
“To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.”
God is the only one able to forgive our sins. And no one is exempt from sin, not even princes and kings. Sin effects every single person regardless of status and Jesus is the only cure.
3 – Acts 16:38-39 BSB
“Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.”
Forgiveness of sins through Jesus is available to anyone and everyone who believes in Him. We no longer live under the laws of the Old Testament that say only certain people can enter the presence of God at certain times. We no longer offer sacrifices to God as atonement. Jesus dying on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice that fulfilled the law. Plus, Jesus returning to Heaven and sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in us means we have access to God at any given moment.
4 – Psalm 103:1-5 BSB
“Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds— He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with loving devotion and compassion, who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Forgiveness of our sins is first about mournful repentance. It’s supposed to humble us. But, looking back on what has been forgiven in our pasts is also a joyful blessing to remember. We can be thankful for the countless things we’ve been forgiven for. God is good to each of us.
5 – Luke 7:48-50 BSB
“Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.””
The woman in this story is described in some versions of the bible as a “notorious sinner.” It was a wild social situation for Jesus to not only address her but, to bless her as well. The men asking who He was were looking for a to-do list to take away their sins. It was a radical idea, to them, that only faith was needed, and even the faith of notorious woman was accepted. They questioned if Jesus was who He said He was. Who He was and still is today is the one and only forgiver of sins.
6 – Ephesians 4:32 ESV
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
We are commanded to forgive. It isn’t just something we passively receive from God, it’s also an action we take towards others. It’s important to note that it does not say we should forgive after we’ve sought revenge. Or after we’ve made the other person suffer for a little while. Or after we’ve made our point loud and clear. We are first reminded that it takes kindness and tenderheartedness when we forgive others. Christ forgave us because of His kindness, His tenderheartedness, and His love for us.
7 – 2 Chronicles 7:13-15 BSB
“If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people, and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.”
God has the power to forgive in huge ways. He can stop plagues. He can send the rains to dry places in our lands and in our hearts. And all we have to do is repent and believe. He stands at the door waiting for us to knock.
8 – Psalm 86:5 ESV
“For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.”
As humans we often forgive people only to end the relationship with them. Or, to just make the awkwardness stop. But, God forgives us and then continues a relationship with us that is steadfast and full of love. He doesn’t forgive us with sinister, ulterior motives the way we often do. He is the definition of goodness.
9 – Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Bearing with each other is the real, messy part of life. It’s the part where two messy people try to clean things up a little. It requires a lot of patience and gentleness that we can only find through humility. We have to remember our own need to be forgiven to be compassionate towards that need in others. Love is what makes all of that possible.
10 – Psalm 78:38 NIV
“Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.“
God’s mercies are new every morning. Each new day brings the opportunity to repent and be forgiven. We may be struck down but, we can trust that we will not be destroyed. God continues to restrain His full wrath on those who are seen washed by the blood of Christ. It’s all because of Jesus.
Forgiveness is a key theme throughout the Bible. God knows every wrong thing we’ve done but chose to love us anyways. And love us enough to send His only Son, Jesus. Through Jesus we can all receive total forgiveness.