So What About Forgiveness? - Part 1

Forgiveness is both a wonderful and a complex topic to discuss. What does forgiveness mean? What does it look like? What does it feel like? How do we know we have received forgiveness? How do we know that we have given forgiveness to someone else? These are all important questions to ask, and that is why I have decided to write a multi-part blog series on this issue.

One of the central themes that runs throughout the Holy Bible is that God is a forgiving God.  The One who holds all power in the universe and beyond is repeatedly described as a loving, compassionate, merciful, and forgiving God. This should make every human heart sing, rejoice, and want to experience a personal relationship with this God!

The world we live in is often cold, heartless, judgmental, and very unforgiving.  People often think that they are punishing the offender by not forgiving them, when in actuality, the person who chooses NOT to forgive is the one who is held in captivity.  I want to first address the forgiveness that God extends toward us.

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the God of Israel forgave His covenant Jewish people over and over again when they failed to keep all of His commandments.  Many times God would place His people into foreign captivity in order to discipline them for their disobedience to His word.  This was certainly true in 586 B.C. when God allowed King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army to enter into Jerusalem to destroy the city and the Holy Temple. The Babylonians carried off the surviving Jews and placed them into slavery for the next 70 years.  God allowed this to happen because He loved His people and wanted them to understand the seriousness of their sins. But God forgave His people, restored them, and brought them back to the Land of Israel.

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. - Micah 7:18

Throughout the Scriptures, even though God punishes His people for their sins, He also forgives them.  When God forgave Israel, it was an invitation for reconciliation. That simply means that God wanted a renewed relationship with His people.  What about you? Do you want God to forgive you of your sins? Would you like to become a more forgiving person? Would you like to experience the FREEDOM that comes from forgiveness? Check back later in future blogs to find out how you can experience the POWER of God through Forgiveness.  Till then ... Remember:

GOD WANTS YOU!!!!