Forgiveness is one of the most radical and counter-cultural teachings in all of Scripture. It is also one of the most important—both for our relationship with God and for our emotional and relational health.
God's Forgiveness of Us
The Bible teaches that every human being needs forgiveness because every human being has sinned against a holy God. The good news is that God offers this forgiveness freely through Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:9 promises: 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.'
God's forgiveness is not reluctant or half-hearted. Psalm 103:12 says: 'As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.' When God forgives, He does not hold the sin over our heads or bring it up later. He removes it completely.
Our Forgiveness of Others
Because we have been so radically forgiven, God calls us to extend that same forgiveness to others. Jesus taught this vividly in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35), where a man who was forgiven a debt of millions refused to forgive someone who owed him a few dollars. Jesus' point was devastating: if you truly understand how much you have been forgiven, you will find it impossible to withhold forgiveness from others.
In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus explicitly links divine and human forgiveness: 'Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors' (Matthew 6:12).
What Forgiveness Is and Is Not
- Forgiveness is a decision to release bitterness, resentment, and the desire for revenge.
- Forgiveness is not pretending the offense did not happen or saying it was acceptable.
- Forgiveness is not necessarily the same as reconciliation. You can forgive someone without trusting them again or restoring the relationship to what it was.
- Forgiveness is not a feeling. It is a choice—often one that must be made repeatedly until the emotions catch up.
Ultimately, the Bible teaches that unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. It binds us to the offense and gives the offender ongoing power over our emotional life. Forgiveness sets us free.