Forgiveness from God is not automatic. Through the blood of Jesus, every person
alive has the opportunity to receive forgiveness, but it does not happen
involuntarily. The Bible makes it clear that there are some conditions we must
meet to obtain God's forgiveness. Let's look at the following verses to find out what
we must do to obtain forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
(Hosea 14:2-3) "Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: 'Forgive
all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips...We
will never again say 'our gods' to what our own hands have made'" (NIV).
From the above verses, the first thing we see is that we must confess our sins. We
must recognize where we have erred, and hurt God by our actions. When
confessing your sins to God, be as specific as you can. General confessions do very
little to convict of sin, or to convince God of your seriousness, or to bring healing in
those areas.
(Isaiah 55:7) "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
(Ezekiel 18:21) "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed,
and keep all my
statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not
die."
Our next step in receiving forgiveness, is to turn from our wicked ways and change
them. We may
struggle with a certain sin, but if our intent is truly to change our ways and
overcome that sin, God will give us the grace to do it. Many want to receive
forgiveness from God without changing their ways. God knows the difference
between those who are sincere and those who are using Him to temporarily ease
their conscience. He is not mocked or deceived. If one comes to him in sorrow,
humility and sincerity, His grace is abundant. However, He has little patience for
those who would abuse His mercy. Search your heart and ask God to give you the
grace for true repentance, and the power of the Holy Spirit to make the changes
you need to do. His greatest joy is to help those who repent in sincerity.
This should include asking forgiveness of those you have wronged and making
restitution to them. True repentance will always be accompanied by corresponding
actions.Along these lines, the Bible also makes it clear that we are to "make right"
any situations where we have failed to meet in our responsibilities to others.
alive has the opportunity to receive forgiveness, but it does not happen
involuntarily. The Bible makes it clear that there are some conditions we must
meet to obtain God's forgiveness. Let's look at the following verses to find out what
we must do to obtain forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
(Hosea 14:2-3) "Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: 'Forgive
all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips...We
will never again say 'our gods' to what our own hands have made'" (NIV).
From the above verses, the first thing we see is that we must confess our sins. We
must recognize where we have erred, and hurt God by our actions. When
confessing your sins to God, be as specific as you can. General confessions do very
little to convict of sin, or to convince God of your seriousness, or to bring healing in
those areas.
(Isaiah 55:7) "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
(Ezekiel 18:21) "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed,
and keep all my
statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not
die."
Our next step in receiving forgiveness, is to turn from our wicked ways and change
them. We may
struggle with a certain sin, but if our intent is truly to change our ways and
overcome that sin, God will give us the grace to do it. Many want to receive
forgiveness from God without changing their ways. God knows the difference
between those who are sincere and those who are using Him to temporarily ease
their conscience. He is not mocked or deceived. If one comes to him in sorrow,
humility and sincerity, His grace is abundant. However, He has little patience for
those who would abuse His mercy. Search your heart and ask God to give you the
grace for true repentance, and the power of the Holy Spirit to make the changes
you need to do. His greatest joy is to help those who repent in sincerity.
This should include asking forgiveness of those you have wronged and making
restitution to them. True repentance will always be accompanied by corresponding
actions.Along these lines, the Bible also makes it clear that we are to "make right"
any situations where we have failed to meet in our responsibilities to others.
(Matthew 5:23-25) Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your
brother has something against you; Leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way; first be
reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly,
while you are on your way with him; lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge
hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
(Romans 13:7) "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then
revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor" (NIV).
If we are sincere in our repentance we must be willing to pay the penalty for our crimes against
others. This could include restoration of any goods, monies, or services that were taken wrongfully,
(or never given at all, if we owed them). The Lord says to "agree with our adversary." If we are in
dispute with someone, that means we must admit to what we have done and quit trying to defend
ourselves. If we are in the wrong (even partially) it is better to take responsibility for it, than to
argue for our rights.
Many of us have failed to give honor and respect to those who are due it. That includes elders of any
kind. They may be our parents, those in ministry, government leaders, our employers, those who
are merely older than us in general, etc. Even if we don't agree with all their decisions, we are to
honor and respect them for the office and position they hold. We are to refer to them with respect,
both to their face and behind their back. Furthermore, God also commands us to treat everyone
with common courtesy and respect regardless of who they are, because they are created in His
image. Again, we do not have to concur with everything they do, but we owe them basic respect,
out of respect for God. In fact, how much we really respect God will be evident in how we treat
others.
If you have failed to show proper respect and/or honor for someone, it is your responsibility to
apologize (if applicable), and to change your ways. No one can do this for you. If you do not change
your ways, you will face the inevitable slide into prideful self-deception and self-righteousness, both
of which are an abomination to God.
(Matthew 6:14-15) "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive
you: But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
(Mark 11:25-26) "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive
him and let it drop--leave it, let it go--in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive
you your (own) failings and shortcomings and let them drop. But if you do not forgive, neither will
your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings."(Amplified)
These verses are perhaps some of the least applied Scriptures in the Kingdom of God. Somehow,
many of us are deceived into thinking that we do not have to take them literally. However, Jesus
emphasized this principal over and over again in His parables and teachings. If we receive God's
forgiveness, it is our duty to forgive those who have wronged us. The two are inseparable. Jesus
said plainly that God will not forgive us, if we do not forgive others. Many Christians are full of
condemnation and guilt because they still feel the weight of their sins, even though they've asked
God to forgive them. Could it be that they have not been able to receive God's forgiveness because
they still have bitterness in their own hearts toward others? Sometimes, we may carry bitterness and
hurt so long, that we no longer even recognize it as a problem. It becomes a part of our very nature.
We may not scheme for revenge, but our souls are clouded with a quiet, persistent bitterness.
Some of us have been betrayed in devastating ways, and have suffered profoundly at the hand of
abusive people. Others have been horribly mistreated by those of other races, nations, and religions.
If you are suffering with deep unhealed wounds, know the Lord has also been hurt with your pain.
He loves you and wants to heal you. It is because of His great love for you that He is calling you to
forgive. It is your only release from the emotional prison that you are now in.
You do not have to live in a continual state of submission to evil emotions. You can be free of them,
through the power of the cross. "Behold, I make all things new" says the Lord. You can be made
new on the inside, and no longer staggering under a load of bitterness, hatred, pain, and depression.
God wants to set you free right now! Let us pray on this now:
brother has something against you; Leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way; first be
reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly,
while you are on your way with him; lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge
hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
(Romans 13:7) "Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then
revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor" (NIV).
If we are sincere in our repentance we must be willing to pay the penalty for our crimes against
others. This could include restoration of any goods, monies, or services that were taken wrongfully,
(or never given at all, if we owed them). The Lord says to "agree with our adversary." If we are in
dispute with someone, that means we must admit to what we have done and quit trying to defend
ourselves. If we are in the wrong (even partially) it is better to take responsibility for it, than to
argue for our rights.
Many of us have failed to give honor and respect to those who are due it. That includes elders of any
kind. They may be our parents, those in ministry, government leaders, our employers, those who
are merely older than us in general, etc. Even if we don't agree with all their decisions, we are to
honor and respect them for the office and position they hold. We are to refer to them with respect,
both to their face and behind their back. Furthermore, God also commands us to treat everyone
with common courtesy and respect regardless of who they are, because they are created in His
image. Again, we do not have to concur with everything they do, but we owe them basic respect,
out of respect for God. In fact, how much we really respect God will be evident in how we treat
others.
If you have failed to show proper respect and/or honor for someone, it is your responsibility to
apologize (if applicable), and to change your ways. No one can do this for you. If you do not change
your ways, you will face the inevitable slide into prideful self-deception and self-righteousness, both
of which are an abomination to God.
(Matthew 6:14-15) "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive
you: But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
(Mark 11:25-26) "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive
him and let it drop--leave it, let it go--in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive
you your (own) failings and shortcomings and let them drop. But if you do not forgive, neither will
your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings."(Amplified)
These verses are perhaps some of the least applied Scriptures in the Kingdom of God. Somehow,
many of us are deceived into thinking that we do not have to take them literally. However, Jesus
emphasized this principal over and over again in His parables and teachings. If we receive God's
forgiveness, it is our duty to forgive those who have wronged us. The two are inseparable. Jesus
said plainly that God will not forgive us, if we do not forgive others. Many Christians are full of
condemnation and guilt because they still feel the weight of their sins, even though they've asked
God to forgive them. Could it be that they have not been able to receive God's forgiveness because
they still have bitterness in their own hearts toward others? Sometimes, we may carry bitterness and
hurt so long, that we no longer even recognize it as a problem. It becomes a part of our very nature.
We may not scheme for revenge, but our souls are clouded with a quiet, persistent bitterness.
Some of us have been betrayed in devastating ways, and have suffered profoundly at the hand of
abusive people. Others have been horribly mistreated by those of other races, nations, and religions.
If you are suffering with deep unhealed wounds, know the Lord has also been hurt with your pain.
He loves you and wants to heal you. It is because of His great love for you that He is calling you to
forgive. It is your only release from the emotional prison that you are now in.
You do not have to live in a continual state of submission to evil emotions. You can be free of them,
through the power of the cross. "Behold, I make all things new" says the Lord. You can be made
new on the inside, and no longer staggering under a load of bitterness, hatred, pain, and depression.
God wants to set you free right now! Let us pray on this now:
| The Lords Church.org Ministries Website. All Rights Reserved 2005-2008 |
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| By Rev. Mark E. Vatcher |