Topical Bible: God Forgiving

Bible > Topical > God Forgiving

◄ God Forgiving ►

Jump to: Topical • Greek • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Introduction:
The concept of God forgiving is central to Christian theology and is deeply rooted in the narrative of the Bible. Forgiveness is portrayed as an essential attribute of God's character, reflecting His mercy, grace, and love towards humanity. Throughout the Scriptures, God's willingness to forgive is demonstrated in His interactions with individuals and nations, offering redemption and restoration to those who repent and turn to Him.

Old Testament Foundations:
In the Old Testament, God's forgiveness is often linked with His covenant relationship with Israel. The Hebrew word for forgiveness, "salah," is frequently used to describe God's readiness to pardon His people. In Exodus 34:6-7, God reveals His nature to Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and truth, maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin." This passage highlights God's enduring commitment to forgive despite human failings.

The sacrificial system established in Leviticus underscores the importance of atonement and forgiveness. Leviticus 4:20 states, "And he shall do with the bull just as he did with the bull of the sin offering; thus he shall do with it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven." Here, forgiveness is contingent upon the offering of sacrifices, pointing to the seriousness of sin and the need for divine intervention.

Prophetic Assurance:
The prophets consistently called Israel to repentance, assuring them of God's willingness to forgive. In Isaiah 1:18, God invites His people, "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." This imagery conveys the transformative power of God's forgiveness, cleansing and renewing the sinner.

Jeremiah 31:34 prophesies a new covenant, stating, "For I will forgive their iniquity and will remember their sins no more." This promise foreshadows the ultimate forgiveness that would be realized through the coming of the Messiah.

New Testament Fulfillment:
In the New Testament, the theme of forgiveness reaches its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus' ministry was marked by acts of forgiveness, as seen in His interactions with sinners and His teachings on the necessity of forgiving others. In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus teaches, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours."

The crucifixion of Jesus is the pivotal event through which God's forgiveness is made available to all humanity. Ephesians 1:7 declares, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." The sacrificial death of Christ satisfies the requirements of justice, allowing God to extend forgiveness to those who believe.

Apostolic Teaching:
The apostles continued to emphasize the importance of God's forgiveness in their writings. In 1 John 1:9, believers are assured, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This verse underscores the ongoing need for confession and the certainty of God's forgiveness.

Paul, in his epistles, frequently speaks of forgiveness as a gift of grace. Colossians 3:13 exhorts believers, "Bear with each other and forgive any complaint you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." This call to emulate God's forgiveness highlights its transformative impact on personal and communal relationships.

Conclusion:
The biblical narrative consistently portrays God as a forgiving deity, whose mercy and grace are extended to all who seek Him with a contrite heart. From the Old Testament sacrificial system to the New Testament revelation in Christ, God's forgiveness is a testament to His unchanging love and desire for reconciliation with His creation.

Topical Bible Verses

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Topicalbible.org

Ephesians 4:32
And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
Topicalbible.org

Colossians 3:13
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.
Topicalbible.org

Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Topicalbible.org

Greek

2436. hileos -- propitious
... forgiving Definition: propitious, forgiving, merciful. 2436 (an adjective, used
back in Attic Greek about ) -- properly, , describing God's covenant-mercy ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2436.htm - 7k

5483. charizomai -- to show favor, give freely
... 5483 ("favor that cancels") is used of God giving His to ... give freely NASB Word Usage
bestowed (1), forgave (2), forgive (3), forgiven (4), forgiving (2), freely ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5483.htm - 8k

3781. opheiletes -- a debtor
... He extends release to us, forgiving the penalty for each time we ... indebted; figuratively,
a delinquent; morally, a transgressor (against God) -- debtor, which ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3781.htm - 7k

Library

Fourteenth Lesson. When Ye Stand Praying, Forgive;'
... need. The deep sure ground of answer to prayer is God's forgiving love. When
it has taken possession of the heart, we pray in faith. ...
/.../murray/with christ in the school of prayer/fourteenth lesson when ye stand.htm

What the Immense Creation Teaches
... The immensity of creation is a symbol of the inexhaustibleness of the forgiving
love of God. ... No iniquity can shut out God's forgiving love. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/what the immense creation teaches.htm

Love, Goodness, and Communication of Good, is the Immutable Glory ...
... God creating, God illuminating, God sanctifying, God threatening and punishing,
God forgiving and redeeming, is but one and the same essential, immutable ...
/.../address 191 0 0 love goodness and.htm

The Philanthropy of the Instructor.
... The Lord ministers all good and all help, both as man and as God: as God,
forgiving our sins; and as man, training us not to sin. ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter iii the philanthropy of the.htm

The Forgiving Spirit in Prayer
... and despondency, and resentment, up into the sunshine of His own humble, loving,
forgiving heart. ... And when you stand praying, spread them all out before God. ...
/.../whyte/lord teach us to pray/xxi the forgiving spirit in.htm

God Proclaiming his Own Name
... 'Longsuffering':"'Father! forgive them!' God is 'plenteous in mercy and in truth,'
forgiving transgression and sin:"'Thy sins be forgiven thee.'. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/god proclaiming his own name.htm

1 Peter iv. 8
... Just as the Word Forgive is used both of God's forgiving our Sins, and of our forgiving
one another: So may the Word Cover be, in it self, equally proper in ...
/.../sermon xi 1 peter iv.htm

The Unmerciful Servant.
... From an upper spring in heaven the motive power must flow; it can be supplied
only by God's forgiving love, on us bestowed and by us accepted. ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/viii the unmerciful servant.htm

Forgiveness Made Easy
... The theme of God's forgiving love is so fascinating that we may linger awhile, and
a long while too, upon that bright example of forgiveness which God has set ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 24 1878/forgiveness made easy.htm

Love in the Triune Being of God.
... Superficial minds, however, conceive of the Love of God only as forgiving sin;
as too good to tolerate suffering; too peaceable to allow war. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xviii love in the triune.htm