What Does the Bible Say About Forgiveness?

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

Our forgiveness of others is grounded in what God did for us first.

As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

East and west never meet — God removes sin with infinite distance.

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Receiving and giving forgiveness are deeply connected.

bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

Paul's practical wisdom for living in Christian community.

I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.

God chooses to forget — not because He must, but because He wants to.

Don't judge, and you won't be judged. Don't condemn, and you won't be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free.

Releasing others releases us — a paradox Jesus knew well.

Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn't retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness.

God's forgiveness is not reluctant — He delights in showing mercy.

For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you.

God is not reluctant to forgive — He is ready and eager.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

The verdict for those in Christ: no condemnation. Ever.

He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

The prodigal's father — a picture of how God receives the returning sinner.

Blessed is he whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn't impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Forgiveness brings blessedness — a deep inner wellbeing.

'Come now, and let's reason together,' says Yahweh. 'Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red as crimson, they shall be as wool.'

God invites dialogue and offers radical cleansing.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.

God promises not just to forgive but to forget.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

Forgiveness is not just pardon — it is a complete new beginning.

Then Peter came and said to him, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I don't tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.'

Jesus sets the standard for forgiving — practically unlimited.

Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.'

Jesus forgave from the cross — the ultimate model of forgiveness.

But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God did not wait for us to deserve forgiveness before giving it.

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

Forgiveness brings spiritual refreshing — a new beginning.

He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

Forgiveness builds relationships; holding grudges destroys them.

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

God's pardon is abundant — not meager or grudging.