Word For The Day: We All Need Forgiveness

We all need forgiveness.

Can you remember a time when you messed up? Remember how miserable you felt, and scared about how someone would respond to your failure? Would they be angry, disappointed, or perhaps reject you?

If you are like me, when I experience failure and sin against someone, I often try to do things to “make it up” to them. It may be that I try to be extra-thoughtful, or I instantly make sacrifices to please the person that I offended.

Imagine with me the implications of someone knowing absolutely everything about you – every place you go, everything you do and think, terrifying, right? I mean, we know ourselves, and we know how we struggle with sin, and how many times a day we fail in that struggle.

Every one of my sinful failures is a direct sin against God! And He knows about every single one! I am so thankful that God forgives. We all need forgiveness.

Consider two truths about God’s forgiveness:

1. It is the very nature of God to forgive sin (Neh. 9:16-17).

“But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.” (Neh. 9:17)

No matter what wrong you have done, God will forgive you. God was ready to forgive you while you were still His enemy (Rom. 5:10), how much more now that you are His child (1 Jn. 1:9)! God’s forgiveness flows from God’s kindness, mercy, and grace, not because we merit that forgiveness. God does not offer forgiveness because we merit that forgiveness by penitence or good works. He provides forgiveness fully and freely because of His grace.

2. When God forgives you, He forgives completely (Ps. 103:10-12).

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Ps. 103:10-12)

God no longer deals with you according to your sins because those sins are removed, “blotted out” forever (Ps. 51:9). God’s forgiveness is free because it is so costly that if He charged you its value, no one would ever afford to obtain it! Forgiveness costs you nothing because it cost God everything (Jn. 3:16)!

Christian friend, no matter what sinful failure you have experienced, God loves you and will forgive you. God never withholds forgiveness regardless of the sin, when you humble yourself, confess your sin, and trust Him for cleansing.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Have a great “forgiven” Tuesday, everyone!
Pastor Phil