How Can We Experience God’s Forgiveness
“FORGIVENESS”
Through the years, I have had problems with knowing Jesus has forgiven me of all my sins!
Not because I didn’t believe in Him, oh I do. It was because I was always an easy person to get along with, but easy enough of a person, I hated to say no to other’s.
I Love people so much, no matter what I had to give up or stop doing etc. I wanted to be there for other’s, and then I would sometimes loose my connection with myself and what I really needed to be doing.
I have always seemed to be down and felt empty, being insecure of being forgiven by Jesus for all the things I have done, and all the promises I have broken and not meaning to but I did. I always seem to always ask Jesus, “to forgive me of all my sins each time I prayed” because allot of times it seemed like I had forgotten something because I never felt that peaceful feeling of lightness at heart.
And that “evil devil” he always made me feel like I wasn’t forgiven that God was done with me and nothing I can do will please Him. The devil, always sticks his big over grown nose, and ears into my life, and many people’s lives, that his nose just get’s bigger and bigger.… but I know deep within my heart, that “God cannot lie” and He forgives us, when we are sincerely asking Him to forgive us of our sins.
So, to make a long story short, By reading this below it made me understand that no matter what I have done in my life, I AM FORGIVEN! And, I don’t have to keep asking the Lord Jesus to forgive me for sins I have already asked to be forgiven for. He is faithful and I know He lives in my heart, as my mind and heart is always on asking forgiveness of anything I may have done that day etc. It stays on my mind to do so. So , I pray the information and verses below will help you as it did me. God Bless Everyone!!!
GOD’S FORGIVENESS HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE GOD’S FORGIVENESS?
BIBLE READING: Psalm 51:1-19
KEY BIBLE VERSE: For I recognize my shameful deeds-they haunt me day and night. (Psalm 51:3)
EXPERIENCING GOD’S FORGIVENESS COMES THROUGH CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE
This psalm was David’s written confession to God after a particularly sinful episode in his life. David was truly sorry for his adultery with Bathsheba and for murdering her husband to cover it up. He knew that his actions had hurt many people. But because David repented of those sins, God mercifully forgave him. No sin is too great to be forgiven! Do you feel that you could never come close to God because you have done something terrible? God can and will forgive you of any sin. While God forgives us, however, he does not always erase the natural consequences of our sin-David’s life and family were never the same as a result of what he had done (see 2 Samuel 12:1-23).
BIBLE READING:John 20:19-31
KEY BIBLE VERSE:If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive them, they are unforgiven. (John 20:23)
WE CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT OUR SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN IN CHRIST
Jesus was giving the disciples their Spirit-powered and Spirit-guided mission-to preach the Good News about Jesus so people’s sins might be forgiven. The disciples did not have the power to forgive sins (only God can forgive sins), but Jesus gave them the privilege of telling new believers that their sins have been forgiven because they have accepted Jesus’ message. All believers have this same privilege. We can announce the forgiveness of sin with certainty when we find repentance and faith.
BIBLE READING: John 13:31-38
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. (John 13:34)
GOD CONSISTENTLY FORGIVES US EACH TIME WE ASK IN REPENTANCE
John describes these few moments in clear detail. We can see that Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen. He knew about Judas and about Peter, but he did not change the course of events, nor did he stop loving them. In the same way, Jesus knows exactly what you will do to hurt him. Yet he still loves you unconditionally and will forgive you whenever you ask for it. Judas couldn’t understand this, and his life ended tragically. Peter understood, and despite his shortcomings, his life ended triumphantly because he never let go of his faith in the one who loved him.
BIBLE READING: 1 John 1:1-10
KEY BIBLE VERSE:If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. (1 John 1:9)
FORGIVENESS IS COMPLETE EVEN WHEN CONFESSION ISN’T
Confession is supposed to free us to enjoy fellowship with Christ. It should ease our consciences and lighten our cares. But some Christians do not understand how it works. They feel so guilty that they confess the same sins over and over; then they wonder if they might have forgotten something. Other Christians believe that God forgives them when they confess, but if they died with unconfessed sins, they would be forever lost.
These Christians do not understand that God wants to forgive us. He allowed his beloved Son to die just so he could pardon us. When we come to Christ, he forgives all the sins we have committed or will ever commit. We don’t need to confess the sins of the past all over again, and we don’t need to fear that God will reject us if we don’t keep our slate perfectly clean. Of course we should continue to confess our sins, but not because failure to do so will make us lose our salvation. Our relationship with Christ is secure. Instead, we should confess our sins so that we can enjoy maximum fellowship and joy with him.
HONEST CONFESSION INCLUDES TURNING AWAY FROM SIN
True confession also involves a commitment not to continue in sin. We wouldn’t be genuinely confessing our sins to God if we planned to commit them again and just wanted temporary forgiveness. We should also pray for strength to defeat temptation the next time we face it.
CONFESSION REESTABLISHES RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
If God has forgiven us for our sins because of Christ’s death, why must we confess our sins? In admitting our sins and receiving Christ’s cleansing, we are:
- agreeing with God that our sin truly was sin and that we are willing to turn from it
- ensuring that we don’t conceal our sins from him and consequently, from ourselves, and
- recognizing our tendency to sin and relying on his power to overcome it.
HUMAN FORGIVENESS WHY SHOULD WE FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER AND HOW CAN WE DO IT?
BIBLE READING: Genesis 45:1-28
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Don’t be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it. He sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. (Genesis 45:5)
JOSEPH IS A MODEL OF GENUINE FORGIVENESS
Joseph was rejected, kidnapped, enslaved, and imprisoned. Although his brothers had been unfaithful to him, he graciously forgave them and shared his prosperity. Joseph demonstrated how God forgives us and showers us with goodness even though we have sinned against him. The same forgiveness and blessings are ours if we ask for them.
BIBLE READING: Romans 12:1-21
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good. (Romans 12:21)
FORGIVENESS IS A MARK OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
Verses 17-21 summarize the real core of Christian living. If we love someone the way Christ loves us, we will be willing to forgive. If we have experienced God’s grace, we will want to pass it on to others. And remember, grace is undeserved favor. By giving an enemy a drink, we’re not excusing his misdeeds. We’re recognizing him, forgiving him, and loving him in spite of his sins-just as Christ did for us.
FORGIVENESS IS CONTRARY TO THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD
In this day of constant lawsuits and incessant demands for legal rights, Paul’s command sounds almost impossible. When someone hurts you deeply, instead of giving him what he deserves, Paul says to befriend him. Why does Paul tell us to forgive our enemies?
- Forgiveness may break a cycle of retaliation and lead to mutual reconciliation
- It may make the enemy feel ashamed and change his or her ways
- By contrast, returning evil for evil hurts you just as much as it hurts your enemy. Even if your enemy never repents, forgiving him or her will free you of a heavy load of bitterness.
FORGIVENESS IS AN ACT OF THE WILL
Forgiveness involves both attitudes and actions. If you find it difficult to feel forgiving of those who have hurt you, try responding with kind actions. If appropriate, tell such people that you would like to heal your relationships. Give them a helping hand. Send them a gift. Smile at them. Many times you will discover that right actions lead to right feelings.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 6:5-15
KEY BIBLE VERSE: If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15)
IF WE EXPECT TO BE FORGIVEN, WE NEED TO PRACTICE FORGIVENESS
Jesus gives a startling warning about forgiveness: if we refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse to forgive us. Why? Because when we don’t forgive others, we are denying our common ground as sinners in need of God’s forgiveness. God’s forgiveness of sin is not the direct result of our forgiving others, but it is based on our realizing what forgiveness means (see Ephesians 4:32). It is easy to ask God for forgiveness, but difficult to grant it to others. Whenever we ask God to forgive us for sin, we should ask ourselves, Have I forgiven the people who have wronged me?
BIBLE READING: Matthew 18:21-35
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” (Matthew 18:21)
REAL FORGIVENESS DOES NOT KEEP TRACK OF OFFENSES
The rabbis taught that people should forgive those who offend them-but only three times. Peter, trying to be especially generous, asked Jesus if seven (the “perfect” number) was enough times to forgive someone. But Jesus answered, “Seventy times seven,” meaning that we shouldn’t even keep track of how many times we forgive someone. We should always forgive those who are truly repentant, no matter how many times they ask.
REAL FORGIVENESS FOLLOWS GOD’S PATTERN
Because God has forgiven all our sins, we should not withhold forgiveness from others. Realizing how completely Christ has forgiven us should produce a free and generous attitude of forgiveness toward others. When we don’t forgive others, we are setting ourselves outside and above Christ’s law of love.
Here are some more reference Verses on “Forgiveness”
- 2 Chronicles 30:9
- Mark 11:25,26
- Luke 6:37
- Romans 4:7,8
- Colossians 3:13
- James 5:15
- 1 John 2:12
- Psalms 32:1,21
No matter what your problems are or how many or no matter what they contain, or how bad you feel about yourself as a result of it. God LOVES YOU, Jesus has given you a New Life. He will provide you with New Friends the right kind of friends to love, accept, appreciate and uphold you. You will make it because of the One Who Lives Inside Of You! He cares for you.
In the Book of Jeremiah 31:31-34 says:
31 “The day will come,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.
32 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.
33 “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
34 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their family, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will already know me,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness and will never again remember their sins.”
Matthew 11: 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.
Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:
Thank You Jesus , that you will ease and refresh my soul, when I am weary and that you will cause me to rest. Thank you Jesus that your yoke is not harsh, not hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable, it’s gracious, and pleasant, and that your burdens is light and easy for me to bear.
Now let’s see what Acts 4:12 says:
There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.
Here is a translation for this Verse:
And their is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no name under the heavens given to any one else, no man, no woman, by an which we must be saved.
Matthew 6:14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Here is another great verse in 2 Corinthians 3:17
16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away.
17 Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom.
18 And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.
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