Forgiveness as an act or process is as ancient as the first humans when they lived on earth.
For a person of faith, the forgiveness of sins is not just about divine pardon but healing of self and relational healing amidst fellow beings.
It’s the core in restoring harmony and peace with God, our own selves and with others that we live with.
What is Forgiveness of Sins?
First is to understand the meaning of sin. The meaning would be that a sin is an act considered to be transgression against divine law.
For the faithful is their belief in the presence of the Divine God and His law of good pious living which He as our Creator expects us to honor.
The Divine law of good pious moral living are not statutes to control or rules of the Creator for His Creation but is to bring bliss and peace amidst the Creation.
We with our human wisdom and limitations and also weaknesses against the earthly temptations, do things that are against the will of God or break the very Divine law that was designed or given to us for our own well-being and society in all. We go against the will of God thus commit a sin.
This transgression of God’s will or committing a sin separates us spiritually from our Creator, God.
We as humans are given the freewill to live our lives on earth by God, a gift and favor from our Creator, but still for the believer the presence of God in their lives is what they need the most.
A life without God seem a life not worth living, is their hopefulness and belief. They have a spiritual bond enlivened within themselves with their God.
A spiritual living cord unites the human with his God.
But there is a brokenness happening, a breaking of this cord of humans with God, resulting in separation with God, all as a result of our own wrongdoings and transgressions and sins.
We as Christians yearn to draw back to God, wish to have that same earlier bonding again with God. We desire to say a ‘hello’ to God, expecting a response from God in turn.
This needs us to change our ways and instead adhere to do the will of God and if we have fallen down because of our acts of immorality, we need to get up and stand and walk towards God’s spiritual presence.
There is a blessing, a mercy from God given to humanity in the forgiveness of sins.
Our committing sins has shattered our relationship with God, we need to in all humbleness walk towards God in faithfulness and repent of our sins and transgressions and ask and plead for God’s forgiveness of our sins.
Our God is a loving God, instead a loving father first.
He will in His highest magnanimity and benevolence in spirit forgive us all of all our sins and transgressions.
This forgiveness of sins by God of ours is an open arm invitation by God seeking us to come back to His presence thus love and peace.
If we as sons are sinners then always have a belief that we have a forgiving father in God.
Thus for Christians, forgiveness of sins is more than a noble ideal, it is a cornerstone of a Christian faith, intricately tied to God’s love and mercy.
Forgiveness of Sins: A Bible Perspective
The Holy Bible is rich with verses and teachings that emphasize on forgiveness of sins and the co-relationship between God and personages.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Forgiveness of sins is one the central themes of the Bible, reflecting the immeasurable love and grace of God.
From Genesis to Revelation, we learn of God’s desire to reconcile with humanity whenever they faltered and fell into sin and God would restart the correlation with the forgiveness of sins.
This forgiveness for a Christian is a profound truth and a source of hope of restoration of relations with God for us humans.
The Prodigal Son
The story of the Prodigal Son from the Bible is used as a metaphor that showcases the very nature of God in the forgiveness of sins.
The father in the story is just how God our father would not remember our sins and wrongdoings and our returning back like the prodigal son to his father thus God would always have God forgiving and accepting us wholeheartedly.
The prodigal son had realized his own wrongdoings and sinfulness and had regretted over it and had then chosen to return to his father’s house after he had suffered because of his separation from his father, God for us humans.
Though the son had wasted his life by squandering his wealth through reckless living and sinfulness there were a certain correct things he had chosen to do after he had lost all his wealth, which we can learn from and imbibe in our life when parted from the spirit of God.
- He regretted, he was remorseful of his
wrongdoings, he then repented over his sinfulness.
We should like the prodigal son in all humbleness seek pardon from God and forgiveness of sins.
- The prodigal son after being remorseful had chosen hope against hopelessness. He had chosen to go back to his father then regretting over his wrongdoings and hurting himself by taking away his life.
We should always remain hopeful seeking God over the advocacies of the devil, the evil one.
… “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more”
John 8:11
The above story accounts for the forgiveness of sins by Jesus to the woman caught in adultery by the Pharisees.
Here Jesus does not support her sinfulness but in His mercy is forgiving her as He is not going to stone her. Yet He explicitly tells her not to sin anymore.
Jesus is telling us that He would not always punish us for our sins, but Jesus also wants us to not commit that sin as it hurts Him.
Jesus forgives a paralytic
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5
There is no state or condition that our Lord Jesus cannot heal a person of and just as told to the paralytic man, Jesus can administer forgiveness of sins to any magnitude of sinfulness and its effects.
Jesus forgives the sinful woman
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven”
Luke 7:48
Jesus gave forgiveness of sins to the sinful woman who bathed Jesus’s feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
It’s the complete surrendering of the sinful woman to Jesus with a glimpse of her will that she would change herself to do the will of God instead that had the lord bless her with forgiveness.
We can get inspired from the sinful woman and surrender our shortcomings and sinfulness completely and with a regretful heart, plead to God for forgiveness of sins.
Zacchaeus receives forgiveness
The story of Zacchaeus testifies as an important teaching on forgiveness of sins for Christians.
It exemplifies the belief that a sinner (even a tax collector like Zacchaeus) could repent and change his life and be saved after coming to Jesus who judges you not by your sinful life but wants to save you by forgiving your sins.
David and the Forgiveness of Sins: A Story of Redemption
Known as the man after God’s own heart, David story is inspiring for us as we can relate easily over his shortcomings and sins and just how he received, so can we receive the grace of forgiveness of sins.
His life teaches us profound lessons about sin, repentance, and the unrelenting forgiveness of God.
David’s actions remind us of the destructive power of sin and its far-reaching consequences, not only for ourselves but also for those around us.
The Power of Repentance
David’s life can inspire us of just how was his response to his sins.
When confronted by Prophet Nathan, David did not justify his actions or shift blame. Instead, he acknowledged his guilt, saying,
“I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13)
This confession was genuine and heartfelt, as reflected in (Psalm 51), a prayer of repentance attributed to God for the forgiveness of sins.
We learn for ourselves that David recognized the seriousness of his sin against God, and seeks cleansing and restoration.
This (Psalm 51) written by David as a confession to God for his sins is a model of true repentance, it involves acknowledgement of sin, a broken spirit, and a desire for renewal.
The Gift of Forgiveness
God’s response to David’s repentance reveals God’s boundless grace and mercy towards humanity.
Although David faced the consequences of his wrong-doings, including turmoil in his family, God forgave him and restored His relationship with David.
Psalm 32, another psalm of David, celebrates the joy of forgiveness of sins by God.
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered” (Psalm 32:1)
David’s life teaches us that no sin is too great for God’s forgiveness. When we humble and with a contrite heart pray to God for forgiveness of sins, God is faithful to forgive.
We like David should reach to Jesus as He is the ultimate source of forgiveness.
As 1John 1:9 declares,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”
(1 John 1:9)
Forgiveness of Sins: The Need of Humanity
“If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.” (Psalms 130:3–4)
We humans with our sinful lives are not worthy surviving the next second on earth, but it’s only the grace and mercy of God that we are living on borrowed and gifted moments.
The Bible teaches that all humanity has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
Sin separates us from God, creating a spiritual chasm that we cannot bridge and fill by our own efforts.
Yet, forgiveness of sins by God because of His love for us is so great that He, God initiates a way to restore our spiritual relationship again.
As Paul writes,
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace”
(Ephesians 1:7)
The ultimate expression of God’s forgiveness is found in Jesus Christ.
His love for us though we are sinners is that the lord wants that we be saved, and thus He sacrificed His own life on the cross as a redemption for our sins.
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
(Acts 3: 19)
Forgiveness of sins by God will happen for us through a true repentance and faith in Jesus, we will be justified before God and all our sins forgiven and forgotten.
… that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
Yes thus refreshing moments with the presence of God will happen again, the hand we had left of the lord will be held again. The presence we had left of Jesus will be like Jesus living within us.
Once we have received the forgiveness of sins from God, we are called to extend the same grace of forgiveness to others. Jesus taught,
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37)
Jesus practiced the same forgiveness on the cross when He prayed,
“Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”
(Luke 23: 34)
As followers of Christ, we are to forgive others, not out of obligation but as an extension of grace of the forgiveness we have received.
The parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18: 23-35) teaches us that just as God has granted forgiveness of sins to us, so we as Christians should also practice this virtue of forgiveness with others.
We should believe that God’s forgiveness of sins is complete and final.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us”. (Psalm 103: 12)
When we confess our sins sincerely, God not only forgives us, but also cleanses us from all unrighteousness…(1 John 1-9)
This belief in the promise of forgiveness allows the Christian to live in freedom and peace, knowing the forgiveness of sins has removed all condemnations and curses.
Forgiveness of sins is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, demonstrating the depth of God’s love, mercy and grace.
Sin brings separation with God and the forgiveness of sins by God restores our relationship with God again.
When we receive and practice forgiveness as a virtue with others we bring newness and blessings to our own life and the lives of our fellow beings.
Forgiveness is an extraordinary virtue a core teaching of Jesus Christ. Let us continually turn to God in repentance and gratitude, embracing the forgiveness that brings peace and eternal hope.
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” Psalm 32: 1
The symbol below has a Cross and a heart reaching down…
The Cross means Jesus, the heart says “love” and its reaching down means towards us.
In all it means … 
Jesus loves us.