Dr. Aaron Perdue

Many people seek to understand the essence of Christianity, but forgiveness stands as a cornerstone of the Christian faith. When I preach sermons on forgiveness, I know that just mentioning the word “forgiveness” can cause some to stop listening, as past hurt and trauma make them unwilling to consider forgiving others or even God for not preventing their pain. Many who have suffered abuse refuse to forgive, often fearing that forgiveness means instant reconciliation and reliving their pain. If you or someone you know feels this way, keep reading to discover the power of forgiveness in the Bible, and let God’s Word guide you toward hope, freedom, and inner peace.

When a person receives salvation, the person receives forgiveness of the debt caused by sin. Jesus’ death on the cross paid your debt of sin that you could not pay, and you can never earn or deserve the forgiveness He freely gives. The ultimate forgiveness takes place when you receive the gift of forgiveness from God through Jesus’ finished work on the cross. Once a person understands the scope of undeserved forgiveness from God, a door opens to share forgiveness with others. In the New Testament, when Jesus taught His disciples about prayer, He emphasized the importance of recognizing their need for forgiveness from God and then offering forgiveness to others, which ties closely to Bible verses about reconciliation. Take time to meditate on some Bible verses on forgiveness that remind us that God’s forgiveness sets a precedent for us to forgive others:

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

“Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Colossians 3:13

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”  Mark 11:25

Forgiving someone is a gift to yourself. Anger, stress, and torment from holding onto unforgiveness damage your spirit, soul, and body. When you truly forgive, you lift a heavy weight off your shoulders. You may long to release that burden but fear that forgiveness will lead to reconciliation, allowing the other person to return and cause pain again. Even when you forgive, the other person must earn your trust. This misunderstanding about trust keeps many people from forgiving.

Let’s look in the Bible at the life of Joseph to see an example of forgiveness that led to reconciliation. After Joseph’s brothers sold him, he spent many years in a foreign land as a slave and prisoner (Genesis 37, 39). Bitterness could have consumed him, but he recognized God’s presence and purpose. God prospered him until he was second in charge of Egypt and all the grain during a famine (Genesis 40-41). When his brothers came to buy grain from him, Joseph showed wisdom in concealing his identity and tested them to see if they were trustworthy, and their attitude changed (Genesis 42-44). Joseph broke down when he finally saw his brothers’ compassion for their father and younger brother and wept. As he offered forgiveness to his stunned brothers, the atmosphere of reconciliation allowed Joseph an amazing insight that reflected the truth of Bible verses on forgiveness and reconciliation, showing how God worked through terrible injustices to bring about the situation where he could save his whole family and countless others in Egypt and surrounding countries. “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20).

When you forgive, you leave revenge and the desire to punish in God’s hands. This allows steps toward relationship reconciliation to begin. These same steps occur spiritually when God forgives a person’s sins, leading to reconciliation with Him. Here are some Bible verses about reconciliation with God that is not earned or deserved:

“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10

“18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18–19

God has reconciled Christians to Himself, holding no debt or offense against us, and offers Christ’s righteousness. This empowers us to begin a ministry of helping others experience the reconciliation of salvation with God. If you withhold forgiveness from someone, how can you help them experience reconciliation with God for their sins? Offering forgiveness to someone and reconciling with that person might be the key that unlocks their heart to receive the ultimate forgiveness from God and reconciliation with Him.

If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and would like to experience forgiveness for your sins, please call us at 719-227-0380. We are here to support you on your journey of forgiveness and reconciliation. We would love to pray with you!