Forgiveness is a fundamental principle emphasized throughout the Bible, highlighting the transformative power of letting go and extending grace to others. In examining 30 Bible verses about forgiving and forgetting, we unravel the profound wisdom and divine guidance surrounding the act of forgiveness in the scriptures.
Forgive And Forget Bible Verse
Genesis 50:17
“‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.’ Joseph wept when they spoke to him.”
Joseph’s response to his brothers exemplifies the transformative nature of forgiveness, as he weeps and extends grace despite past betrayal.
Joseph’s forgiveness serves as a poignant example of transcending hurt and choosing to forgive. It reflects God’s redemptive power, illustrating that forgiveness can bring healing and reconciliation.
Exodus 34:7
“keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
God’s character is revealed as forgiving and full of steadfast love, underscoring the divine model for forgiveness.
This verse emphasizes God’s forgiving nature, portraying a balanced view of justice and mercy. It encourages believers to emulate God’s forgiveness, grounded in love and accountability.
Numbers 14:19-20
“Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.’ Then the Lord said, ‘I have pardoned, according to your word.'”
Moses intercedes for the people, highlighting the interplay of divine forgiveness and the role of prayerful intervention.
Moses’ plea for forgiveness showcases the impact of intercessory prayer and God’s responsiveness. It reminds believers of the potency of seeking forgiveness on behalf of others.
2 Chronicles 7:14
“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
God’s promise of forgiveness is intricately tied to repentance and seeking His face, revealing a pathway to restoration.
This verse outlines a divine formula for forgiveness—humility, prayer, repentance, and seeking God’s face. It offers hope for restoration and healing through genuine repentance.
Psalm 32:1-2
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”
The psalmist celebrates the blessedness of one whose sins are forgiven, emphasizing the freedom found in divine pardon.
This psalm captures the joy and freedom that accompany God’s forgiveness. It encourages believers to embrace the blessing of forgiveness and live with transparency before God.
Psalm 86:5
“For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.”
The psalmist extols God’s goodness and forgiveness, emphasizing His abundant love for those who earnestly seek Him.
This verse highlights the intimate connection between God’s goodness, forgiveness, and love. It inspires believers to approach God with confidence, trusting in His gracious nature.
Psalm 103:12
“as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
The psalmist employs vivid imagery to convey the depth of God’s forgiveness, emphasizing complete removal of sins.
The metaphor of east from west underscores the infinite nature of God’s forgiveness. It assures believers of God’s thorough cleansing and separation from their sins.
Psalm 130:3-4
“If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.”
Acknowledging God’s forgiveness leads to reverence, highlighting the transformative impact of divine pardon.
The juxtaposition of God’s forgiveness and the fear of the Lord emphasizes the awe-inspiring nature of His mercy. It encourages believers to approach forgiveness with a profound sense of reverence.
Proverbs 19:11
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
Wisdom is linked to patience and the willingness to overlook offenses, elevating the act of forgiveness.
This proverb extols the virtue of patience and the glory found in forgiving and overlooking offenses. It underscores the wisdom of cultivating a forgiving spirit.
Isaiah 1:18
“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 like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
God’s invitation to reason and the promise of transformation from scarlet to white symbolize the radical impact of His forgiveness.
The visual imagery in this verse portrays the profound transformation wrought by God’s forgiveness. It inspires hope and conveys the depth of divine cleansing.
Isaiah 43:25
“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
God’s act of blotting out transgressions underscores His motivation—His own sake—highlighting the selfless nature of divine forgiveness.
This verse unveils the selfless and merciful nature of God’s forgiveness. It assures believers of God’s commitment to completely erase and forget their sins.
Jeremiah 31:34
“And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
The promise of God remembering sins no more signifies the completeness of divine forgiveness and a new covenant relationship.
This verse anticipates a new covenant characterized by profound intimacy and forgiveness. It echoes God’s commitment to not only forgive but also to forget sins.
Micah 7:18-19
“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
Micah marvels at God’s unique capacity for forgiveness, expressing awe at the divine willingness to cast sins into the depths of the sea.
Micah’s rhetorical question underscores the unparalleled nature of God’s forgiveness. The imagery of casting sins into the sea reinforces the completeness and finality of divine pardon.
Matthew 6:14-15
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Jesus emphasizes the reciprocity of forgiveness, linking the believer’s forgiveness to their willingness to forgive others.
Jesus’ teaching underscores the interconnectedness of human and divine forgiveness. It challenges believers to cultivate a forgiving spirit as a reflection of God’s forgiveness towards them.
Matthew 18:21-22
“Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”
Jesus challenges conventional notions of forgiveness, urging limitless forgiveness as a reflection of God’s boundless mercy.
Jesus’ response to Peter transcends human limits, emphasizing the boundless nature of forgiveness. It invites believers to embrace a continuous and abundant spirit of forgiveness.
Matthew 26:28
“for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Jesus’ declaration about the purpose of His blood underscores the redemptive nature of His sacrifice and its direct link to forgiveness.
This statement by Jesus encapsulates the central role of His sacrifice in securing forgiveness for humanity. It highlights the sacrificial love underpinning divine forgiveness.
Mark 11:25
“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Jesus ties the act of forgiveness to effective prayer, reinforcing the connection between human forgiveness and divine forgiveness.
Jesus’ directive underscores the spiritual dynamics involved in forgiveness and prayer. It serves as a reminder of the reciprocal nature of divine forgiveness.
Luke 6:37
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Jesus highlights the principle of reciprocity, linking the believer’s forgiveness to their willingness to extend forgiveness.
This teaching emphasizes the relational aspect of forgiveness, emphasizing that the manner in which believers forgive directly influences how they will be forgiven.
Luke 17:3-4
“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Jesus outlines a process of forgiveness tied to genuine repentance, emphasizing the responsibility of believers to forgive repeatedly.
Jesus’ instructions provide a framework for navigating forgiveness within the context of repentance. It encourages believers to maintain a heart of forgiveness.
Acts 2:38
“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'”
Peter links forgiveness to repentance and baptism, highlighting the transformative journey toward a forgiven and Spirit-filled life.
Peter’s proclamation underscores the pivotal role of repentance and baptism in obtaining forgiveness. It emphasizes the holistic nature of divine forgiveness.
Ephesians 1:7
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”
Paul connects redemption, forgiveness, and God’s abundant grace, revealing the multifaceted nature of divine forgiveness.
This verse encapsulates the richness of God’s grace, emphasizing that forgiveness is intricately tied to redemption and the overflowing abundance of divine favor.
Ephesians 4:32
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Paul exhorts believers to model forgiveness after God’s example, emphasizing kindness and tenderheartedness in interpersonal relationships.
Paul’s instruction underscores the transformative impact of forgiveness within the community of believers. It encourages a spirit of kindness and empathy.
Colossians 3:13
“bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
The principle of bearing with one another is coupled with forgiveness, emphasizing the necessity of mirroring God’s forgiveness.
This verse links the act of bearing with others to the imperative of forgiveness. It reinforces the call to forgive based on the profound example of God’s forgiveness.
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.”
John outlines the condition for divine forgiveness—confession—and highlights God’s faithfulness and justice in response.
Confession is presented as the catalyst for divine forgiveness, underscoring God’s unwavering faithfulness and commitment to cleansing believers from unrighteousness.
1 John 2:1-2
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
John introduces the concept of Jesus as an advocate and propitiation, highlighting the redemptive and intercessory nature of Christ’s role.
This passage emphasizes the continuous advocacy of Jesus for believers, serving as the propitiation for sins. It instills confidence in the ongoing work of Christ in securing forgiveness.
Revelation 1:5-6
“and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
The doxology in Revelation attributes glory to Jesus, highlighting His role in freeing believers from sins through His blood.
This doxology acknowledges Jesus as the liberator from sin, emphasizing His redemptive work and the resulting transformation of believers into a kingdom of priests.
Revelation 3:5
“The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.”
Jesus promises preservation in the book of life for those who conquer, emphasizing the security of believers in Christ.
This promise assures believers of eternal security and the certainty of their names being preserved in the book of life through Christ’s redemptive work.
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