To be forgiven by God means that your sins have been removed, and restoration has taken place. By God’s gracious gift of forgiveness through Christ, any wrong you have done is not held against you. God is eager to forgive and provides forgiveness to you through faith in Jesus Christ. It’s your choice to receive it.
Why Do You Need God’s Forgiveness?
The Creator of the universe is the one true God. The Bible says that humanity is designed to know and be in relationship with God. Romans 1:18 says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness…”
In other words, we have a void in life because we are designed to be in a relationship with God, yet that relationship is broken because of our sin. We have suppressed the truth about our sin and need for God. As a result, we look for other things to fix and fill us.
Only through faith in Jesus can that void be filled and forgiveness from God be received, thus being reconciled to Him once and for all.
How Did Sin Enter the World?
Because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the world and has been passed down to each generation.
- “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…”—Romans 5:12
The Impact of Sin and the Need for Forgiveness
As a result of original sin, our relationship with a holy and perfect God is broken. However, God provides a way for the relationship to be restored.
He sent His Son to die and pay the penalty for our sin (the penalty being death, see Romans 6:23) so that our relationship with God could be restored and we could receive eternal life.
Jesus blots out our transgressions, removing our sin from the record. Thus, we receive forgiveness for sins we have committed.
How does this transformation from transgressor to forgiven take place?
When the Holy Spirit stirs our hearts, we confess that we are sinners and admit we can never “earn” our way into the presence of a holy and pure God. Because of the Holy Spirit’s work, we can receive the grace and forgiveness that He freely gives through faith in Jesus Christ.
- “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”—John 14:6
- “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”—Acts 4:12
Sin is a heavy burden that God never intended for you to carry. He wants you to release any…
- Shame
- Guilt
- Doubt
- Unbelief
- Anger
- Sadness
… to Him. Once you accept Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live within you. He will teach and guide you in this life.
Because of your faith in Jesus, you are no longer condemned. Now you begin the process of sanctification. You are disciplined and taught as a child of God, not forgotten or left as orphans.
- “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.”—Hebrews 12:7-8
- “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”—John 14:18
To Be Forgiven by God…
Confess to God that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness and ask Him to cleanse you.
- “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”—1 John 1:9
Understand that Jesus is the source of your forgiveness.
- “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins…”—Acts 13:38
Trust in Jesus by faith that His work on the cross saves, frees, and forgives you.
- “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”—Ephesians 2:8-9
Receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who will guide and teach you.
- “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”—Acts 2:38
7 Things God’s Forgiveness Does
As a result of putting your faith in Jesus, you receive forgiveness from God! You have been given new life and access to the throne of God (see Hebrews 4:16.)
God’s forgiveness…
- Blesses you
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”—Psalm 32:1-2
- Adopts you into His family
“… having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…”—Ephesians 4:5
- Positions you as a co-heir with Christ
“…and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”—Romans 8:17
- Counts you as righteous
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.”—Romans 3:21-22
- Restores your relationship with God
“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. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”—Romans 5:10-11
- Gives you an inheritance
“…He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”—Hebrews 9:15
- Makes you a citizen of heaven
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”—Philippians 3:20-21
These are only a few of the ways God’s forgiveness transforms you. Forgiveness also releases freedom and allows you to forgive others. Meditate on the goodness of God’s forgiveness today.
Do you want to know more about God’s forgiveness and how He sees you? Discover your identity in Christ and start walking in freedom.
