Forgiveness is such an important truth and practice. Without God’s forgiveness, we do not have salvation or hope. In addition, without God’s forgiveness, we cannot forgive others. The forgiveness of God is amazingly wonderful and the foundation of our hope. Out of all of man’s problems, sin is our biggest. Only God can forgive sins and free us from the power of sin (Acts 2:38). Sin is so powerful. It plagues us with guilt, wearing down the joy and peace in life. When we sin, we have guilt and when others sin against us, we harbor bitterness and resentment. Sin is destructive wherever it manifests. We must understand we sin against the holy God and require His forgiveness.
In verse 4, right after teaching us to pray for our daily bread, Jesus teaches us to ask for God’s forgiveness. Just as we need daily bread, we need God’s forgiveness daily for our spiritual nourishment. This is because we sin daily. So understanding your fallenness and seeking God’s forgiveness is a sign of a healthy Christian who is receiving spiritual nourishment every day. In fact, the sign of a mature Christian is not a boastful righteousness but a daily humble seeking of forgiveness. The more mature Christians are, the more they realize how sinful they are and how much they need God’s forgiveness. Even though we are sinners, we can be confident in seeking God’s forgiveness. We are like the prodigal son, whose restoration began with his realization of his sin and seeking the loving compassion of his father (Luke 15:18,20). A mature Christian realizes we are like the prodigal every day.
What is forgiveness? The word forgiveness denotes to cut off, to separate, or to let go. To be forgiven by God means our sin is taken away, we are separated from our sin, and God no longer holds it against us anymore. Previously, we were separated from God because of our sins. But when we are forgiven we are with God and separated from sin. Like the scapegoat in Leviticus or as far as the east is from the west, our sins are sent far away (Psalm 103:12). How wonderful!
When God forgives, he commits to forget, never to revisit it again. In His grace, the omniscient God does not remember our sins (Isaiah 43:25). His forgiveness is absolute. His forgiveness is also abundant, coming first ahead of His wrath and in great amounts (Romans 5:20). His forgiveness is real and actual, not merely lip service. Look at Apostle Paul who was formerly a blasphemer and persecutor of the church (1 Timothy 1:13). How could he become an apostle and beloved child of God without real and true forgiveness (1 Corinthians 15:10)? Due to God’s forgiveness Apostle Paul was supplied with daily strength and motivation to serve God faithfully.
God’s forgiveness of our sins is eternal. You must know the forgiveness of God to practice forgiving others. How can our relationships be characterized by forgiveness?
God’s forgiveness is only possible through a sinner’s repentance. God is always ready to forgive anyone, anywhere. That’s why Jesus’ message from the beginning was repentance. Repentance is to turn from your sinful life and to hold onto Jesus with wholehearted devotion. Repentance is not mere lip service but a wrestling deep within the soul, a conviction born by the Holy Spirit. It is more than remorseful emotions, more than mental acknowledgement but a dramatic turning to God in the fear of God. In true repentance, you feel the wickedness and hopelessness of your sin before the Holy God while also realizing only Jesus can save you. True repentance is the work of the Holy Spirit transforming one’s soul from a desire towards sin to glorifying and worshipping Jesus.
Therefore forgiveness only comes through Jesus. If your repentance and forgiveness is 99.9% of God but 0.1% of your contribution, then you are damned (Acts 13:38-39). We contribute nothing to our forgiveness, we pay no part of the ransom or reparation. This is because God is holy and demands perfection which is only found in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:5). Only through Jesus can a sinner be forgiven.
God’s forgiveness is unlimited. There is no sin no matter how dark or how large that God cannot forgive. No person is too wicked or too lost. Jesus carried every single sin, past, present, and future, of every believer. Jesus cried out to God as forsaken while bearing our sins on the cross. He wasn’t forsaken for some of our sins but for every sin. Each and every one of those sins, no matter how bad, is completely forgiven. This was proven by Jesus’ resurrection. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they will be white as snow”. It doesn’t matter how wicked your crimes may be and how stained you are with guilt, God can make you new and clean. God is able to forgive and save.
God’s forgiveness is not measured by feelings. There is a huge gap between God’s forgiveness and your feeling of His forgiveness. Many people complain that they don’t feel forgiven even though they know they are. This is because they haven’t fully repented yet. What’s more important than feeling forgiven is believing and obeying because you are forgiven. God’s forgiveness is the truth and objective (1 John 2:1).
God’s forgiveness is immediate. God does not need time to evaluate before forgiving someone. There is no “grace period” or probation. The moment you repent you are forgiven because the Holy Spirit is there. The moment you repent you are forgiven and part of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15, Romans 8:1).
God’s forgiveness is promised. God is immutable which means He never changes His nature or His mind. He never breaks His promise. Man changes all the time and we fail to keep our promises. Before being the spark of the Reformation, Martin Luther was driven crazy by his guilt and obsession to be forgiven. He would constantly be in the confession booth, and the stress of guilt caused his body to fall sick. One time he climbed the stairs at St Peter’s Basilica on his knees, saying a prayer on every step, seeking forgiveness. When he had reached the top he questioned whether it had worked. Martin Luther had failed to realize God’s promise of forgiveness in Romans 1:17. “The righteous shall by faith” which means we are made righteous (forgiven) through faith in Jesus Christ. God promises to forgive and He never fails to. If God forgives then you are truly righteous.
God’s forgiveness is free. No cost to us. This does not mean it is cheap. God paid the ultimate price but He gives it for free to us because He is gracious and merciful. The gospel is freely offered to the poor (Luke 4:18). Just come and receive the grace of God (Isaiah 55:1).
God’s forgiveness is complete. There is no trace of sin left. God looks at a sinner and sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ. They are white as snow.
You cannot buy God’s forgiveness. It cannot be earned. If you were to die tonight what can you present to God? We can only depend on God’s forgiveness. If you are forgiven, then you are surely forgiven completely and for all eternal. How can forgiveness be obtained? We must simply ask. If we are forgiven, then we forgive others.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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