Issue 2 - August 2004
God's Forgiveness
Michael A. Verdicchio

The Scriptures reveal to us that God is a God of love and of forgiveness.

Psalm 103:1-10:

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

In that last verse God says basically the same thing twice. In the NIV version, it is stated this way:

He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

That sure contradicts what people say many times, doesn't it?

Verses 10-13:

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth [has compassion on] his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

God's very nature is to forgive us! Why? Why is He so willing to forgive? Because God does not want us living in shame.

After Adam and Eve sinned, they were hiding in the garden, afraid of God and ashamed. They had to deal with the consequences, but God forgave them, and God promised a redeemer, a savior.

I Peter 2:22-24:

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

The price for sins has been paid in full. If it has been paid in full, what is left to pay? What is left to atone for? When a person gets born again, (confesses Jesus as lord and believes in his heart that God has raised him from the dead) they receive remission of sins, every one of them, at that moment! They are gone, remitted, wiped away! You start with a clean slate!

But what happens after that, when a born again one sins? Because of what Jesus Christ did for us, being the payment for all sins, forgiveness is available.

I John 1:4:

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

JOY! Not shame, not condemnation, not feelings of being a failure, but JOY!

:5-9:

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

And why is God faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness? Why would He do that? Is it because we are very sorry? Is it because we really mean it, and we are not going to do that again? The reason why God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness is in verse 7. The price has been paid for us. Now, forgiveness is available if we want it.

:9-2:2:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.

And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation [full payment] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

God doesn't forgive us because we're really sorry this time. God doesn't forgive us because we feel badly about what we have done. God doesn't forgive us because we promise to never do it again. God doesn't forgive us because we really didn't mean to do it.

God forgives us because Jesus Christ paid the full price for all sins. When we go to our heavenly Father and tell Him that we have sinned and ask for forgiveness, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Then we can lift up our head, stop allowing ourselves to feel ashamed, and instead walk with Him. Then we can have fullness of joy.

It says, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. How many times? How many sins in one day?? So, is this then a license to sin as often as we want to? Verse 1 said, "These things write I unto you that ye sin not". Sinning does not bring joy to the heart - it brings shame, condemnation, and frustration. But, when we do fall short, our loving God has made forgiveness available so that our joy may be full!

So, what about the question, "What does God think of me?" When we're happy and blessed and walking with Him, we seem to know that He loves us, and that we are His child, and life is sweet. But, when we sin, then what? Does God change His opinion of us? Are we any less righteous before Him? Are we still holy and beloved in His sight? Do we still have eternal life?

God continues to see us as He made us: righteous, lovely and acceptable. But when we fall short, we feel like we have disappointed God and that He can't count on us, and that He must really be upset. God hasn't changed. We have just changed our opinion of ourselves because of our sin, and we are now afraid and ashamed and hiding. We may be feeling guilty and ashamed, but feelings do not change God's Word!

Yes we have stumbled, and yes we were wrong. But we need to pick ourselves up off the floor, and go to our heavenly Father. Tell Him that we have sinned and ask for forgiveness. We just cannot allow selfish pride to stop us from doing that. God has promised us in His Word that He is faithful to forgive us. God does not want us living in shame. He wants us to live with joy, not condemnation and guilt.

So, go to the Father and bear your heart and soul. Believe that He truly does forgive you your sins and cleanses you from all unrighteousness. Then walk with joy.