Yesterday, we learnt about temptation and the sin it causes. However, we are not doomed. God promises forgiveness. Today, we will study some scriptures that reveal God’s promises around the forgiveness of sins.

1) God will not despise a broken heart

Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise

Repentance has an effect on God.

Psalm 34:18
The LORD is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Isaiah 57:15
For this is what the high and exalted one says - he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.

2) If we confess, God will forgive

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness

If we acknowledge that we have violated God’s holiness, our hope is that God’s unchanging, merciful and faithful nature will forgive us. This includes salvation to the lost and the ongoing cleansing necessary for fellowship with God

3) If we forgive, God will forgive, if we don’t, God won’t

Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

This does not mean that our actions earn our forgiveness, but our actions do indicate our attitude towards the forgiveness we have received. This is reiterated elsewhere i.e.

Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy;

Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins

4) God will not remember what we did (sins).

Hebrews 8:12
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more

Isaiah 43:25
I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remember your sins no more

Guilt is one of Satan’s biggest weapons. He uses it to make us feel that we are worthless and that we cannot change. Sadly, many of us treat each other the same way. But this is not the nature of God. The sins that God forgives, God forgets

Life application

Let us ask ourselves
- “Am I broken and contrite in spirit?”
- “Do I acknowledge the sins I commit regularly?”
- “Do I forgive the way I have been forgiven?”

Challenge

Based on the scriptures we studied today, pray for brokenness and choose to forgive all those who have wronged you.