Understanding Forgiveness


 Understanding Forgiveness 

By Liz King


John 14:26-27 - “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”


    I’m forgiven!! I’m forgiven for everything I have done. All my selfishness and transgressions against God. Even though I still actively sin, I do not wish too. I seek forgiveness daily and repentance is a daily thing. Repentance means to turn away from, to walk away from things that separate us from God. Sin is sneaky, deceptive and first nature to us. We actively do it without thinking and sometimes without even evaluating the sin.

    Forgiveness is something I struggle with. I know in my head God has forgiven me but sometimes in my heart I struggle with forgiveness., KNOWING I am forgiven.  As a child I was told by some teachers and sometimes my parents how I was bad. I got blamed for things I didn’t do. Some things I did, but there were times I pleaded my innocence only to be told my guilt. So, I struggled most of my life with not being believed, feeling unloved, and lived in fear of rejection, it also ties in with worth. I think someone’s worth has a lot to do with forgiveness. I have to SEE my worth especially through the eyes of Jesus. I was worth dying for…..!!!

    Repeat that phrase to yourself and let that sink in…. I WAS WORTH DYING FOR!!! The One true holy God of all the universe took human form and took my debt of sin upon himself, conquering it AND death by destroying the grave!! Satans plan to separate us from God was now destroyed! Satan wants us to live in defeat, he wants us to live in hopelessness, feeling unloved and feeling unforgivable.

    How do we accept that forgiveness and live in it KNOWING we are forgiven? First, I have to take God at his word. Numbers 23:19 — New Living Translation (NLT) says,  “19 God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Hebrews 6:18 says, NIV

“God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.” Also, God’s word is true!!! Everything in His word is true!! God gave us His word. It is our sword and shield!!  Deuteronomy 33:29 “Blessed are you, O Israel;

Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, who is the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you, And you will tread upon their high places.”  Ephesians 6:17 says, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  Even king David knew that God’s word is true. Psalm 119:160 “The entirety of Your word is truth,And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. “

First off,  God does not lie and cannot lie which is hard to grasp in our human nature. Second, He is a LOVING Father! In Luke 11:11 Jesus says, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?”

I have done a lot of things. I am not a murder In the physical sense but I have hated making me just as guilty.  I dabbled in witchcraft, which is detestable to God, I’ve stolen, lied, many things I’m not proud of, but why is it when God says I am forgiven when I put my faith in Jesus and repent, can I not accept it? We have to be willing to be forgiven, willing to be healed, willing to RECEIVE what God has given us. The reason Jesus could not do healing and ministering in some towns was because of lack of belief!! Matthew 13:58 

“And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” How many times do we lack faith in God? We rely on our own strength and power. If we can’t forgive others or forgive ourselves then how can we expect to allow God to forgive us? I once heard a pastor say if someone says I’ll give you a hundred dollars after church we wait expectantly to receive it, but When God our father offers us forgiveness or healing some are like “yeah, right, sure….” Are we the same way with his forgiveness? It is a free gift. Bought and paid for with our savior's own blood. Isaiah 53:4-5 all we have to do is accept and believe and turn from the things we need forgiveness from and when we screw up, seek forgiveness and LEAVE IT at the cross. Sometimes I choose to wallow in the guilt of my mistakes, which the enemy loves! I feel if I screwed up again how can God forgive me because I don’t want to disappoint him. 

What I have to remember is my worth, not by the world’s standards but by Gods. I was worth dying for, I am worthy! I am forgiven!! 

    Jesus last words on the cross were, “it is finished!!!” He was saying the debt has been paid. His blood paid my price and covered every sin and dark secret I have ever done. How amazing is the Father's love!  Psams 103:10-14 - “He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for his mercy toward those who fear and honor him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. He is like a father to us, tender and sympathetic to those who reverence him. For he knows we are but dust. “ 

    So, as I write about my own struggle and acceptance of forgiveness this verse is a key reminder and promise by the God who does not lie, and his word is truth!

1John 1:9 - “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” Romans 8:1-3

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those WHO ARE IN Christ Jesus.”

I leave my ramblings with this verse in which I relate so much. Remember you are worthy to receive forgiveness which God has so freely given through his son!

    1 Timothy 1:15-16 - “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”

Liz King

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