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74 Bible verses about asking for forgiveness
Facing up to my mistakes and saying "I'm sorry" takes guts. It means pushing past pride and arrogance, and showing true humility. It's not about whether I was the one hurt; it's about always trying to please God in everything I do.
Even if the other person doesn't apologize, and the Holy Spirit nudges me to say I'm sorry anyway, I know I'll receive God's grace and favor. It might be tough for a lot of folks, but choosing to forgive is truly liberating. It sets me free to move forward.
Holding onto grudges and refusing to forgive poisons my soul and can even cause physical pain. Forgiveness, on the other hand, is good for my body and soul. It's like a cleansing process that draws me closer to God.
It's so important to confess my sins and admit when I'm wrong to God, who frees me from all evil. His love and forgiveness cover every part of me; there's no limit to what He can forgive.
[But] if we confess our sins [to God], He is faithful [to His promise] and righteous [in His judgment], and will forgive us of those sins and cleanse us from all of our wrongdoing.
And whenever you stand praying, forgive whatever [grievance] you might have against anyone, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you of your sins.”
And do not pass [hypocritical] judgment [on other people. See Matt. 7:1-5] and you will not receive such judgment [on yourselves]. And do not condemn [others] and you will not be condemned [yourselves]. Release people [i.e., from guilt for offending you] and you will be released [i.e., by God (?)]
And forgive us of the wrongs we have done to others, since we have also forgiven the wrongs done to us.
Pay attention to yourselves! “If your brother sins, rebuke him [i.e., show him where he is wrong in hope of effecting a change]; and if he repents [i.e., changes his heart and life], forgive him.And if he sins against you seven times a day and [then] comes to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you should forgive him.”
and be kind and compassionate toward one another, forgiving each other, just as God also forgave you [because of your fellowship] in Christ.
Therefore, you people [must] repent [i.e., change your hearts and lives] and turn [back] again [to God] so that your sins will be blotted out and so that you may enjoy times of [spiritual] refreshment from the presence of the Lord [i.e., through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit].
And forgive us of our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who has wronged us. And do not allow us to be put to the test.’”
Then Jesus called out, “Father, forgive these people [i.e., the ones responsible for crucifying Him], for they do not know [i.e., realize] what they are doing.” Then the soldiers [See John 19:23] divided Jesus’ clothing among them by gambling for them.
“Brothers, you should know, therefore, that forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed [to people] through this man [Jesus],
And He is the One who provides a “covering over” [thereby the forgiveness] of our sins [See Heb. 2:17; Dan. 9:24; II Chron. 29:24], and not of ours [who are already Christians] only, but also of the sins of the people of the whole world.
So, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another to be healed [from sin sickness]. The special request of a righteous person is empowered with [great] effectiveness.
And if their prayer is [offered] by faith, [God] will heal the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up [from his sickbed]. And if he had sinned, he will be forgiven for them [Note: This may imply that the man’s sickness was the result of some sin. In any event, his forgiveness would follow his repentance].
He rescued us from the domain of [spiritual] darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son whom He loves,through whom we receive redemption [i.e., are bought back from Satan], which is the forgiveness of [our] sins.
So, repent [i.e., change your heart and life] of such a terrible thing and pray for the Lord to forgive you for even thinking of such a thing. Perhaps He will [if you are really sincere].
The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus [from the dead], whom you put to death by hanging Him on a tree [i.e., the cross].But God exalted Him at His right side to be a Prince and Savior and to give the people of Israel [an opportunity] to repent [i.e., change their hearts and lives] and [receive] forgiveness of [their] sins [through Him].
For I will be merciful to their wickedness [i.e., by forgiving them] and I will not remember their sins anymore.”
So, if you profess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe with your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.For a person believes [in Christ] with his heart in order to be made right with God, and he makes a profession with his lips in order to be saved.
Tolerate one another’s [weaknesses] and forgive each other if anyone [of you] has a complaint against someone else. You should forgive people just as the Lord forgave you.
So, you should submit yourselves to God, but oppose the devil, and he will flee from you.Come close to God and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinful people [i.e., this is an exhortation to repent of moral and spiritual corruption], and purify your hearts, you double-minded people.Be distressed and grieve and cry [over your sins]; your laughter should turn into grieving and your joy [should turn] into sorrow.Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you people.
Therefore, if you are offering your [sacrificial] gift on the Altar and [just then] you remember that your brother has a grievance against you,[stop right there]; leave your gift at the Altar and [immediately] go to that brother and settle the matter first, before returning to offer your gift.
Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against [the God of] heaven and against you. I do not deserve to be called your son.’
For if you forgive the wrongs people have done [to you], your heavenly Father will also forgive the wrongs you have done [to Him].But if you do not forgive the wrongs people have done [to you], neither will your Father forgive the wrongs you have done [to Him].
But [Prov. 25:21-25 says], “Feed your enemy if he is hungry; give him something to drink if he is thirsty. For when you do this, it will be [like] heaping burning coals on his head.” [i.e., it can cause him burning shame that can lead to his repentance and ultimate forgiveness].
Then Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, how often must I forgive my brother when he sins against me? As many as seven times?”Jesus replied, “I tell you, not [just] up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven [i.e., a large indefinite number of times].
But the tax collector stood at a distance [i.e., inconspicuously] and would not even look up to heaven, but struck his chest [i.e., in remorse], saying, ‘God, [please] have mercy on a sinner like me [i.e., “cover over” or forgive my sins].’
But [Prov. 25:21-25 says], “Feed your enemy if he is hungry; give him something to drink if he is thirsty. For when you do this, it will be [like] heaping burning coals on his head.” [i.e., it can cause him burning shame that can lead to his repentance and ultimate forgiveness].[So], do not be conquered by evil, but [instead] conquer evil by doing good [deeds to people].
In the same way my heavenly Father will also deal with you [i.e., punish you] unless every one of you forgives his brother from the heart.”
Brothers, if any one of you is overwhelmed by a [particular] sin, those of you who are spiritually minded should [attempt to] restore such a person [to faithfulness]. But do it in a gentle way, being very careful that you yourself do not become tempted [to get involved in any sin].
for this is [i.e., represents] my blood of the Agreement [i.e., between God and mankind], which is [to be] poured out for many people in order for [their] sins to be forgiven.
“And if your brother sins against you go and show him where he wronged you, [but] keep it between just the two of you. If he listens to you [i.e., accepts your reasoning and repents], you have won your brother [back].
Therefore, be humble [in your actions] before God’s powerful authority, so that you may be exalted [by Him] at the proper time.Place all your anxious cares upon God [in prayer], because He genuinely cares about you.
And in the same way, you younger [Christians] should be [respectfully] submissive to the older ones. And all of you should [be willing to] humbly serve one another, for God stands opposed to [the efforts of] proud people, but extends His unearned favor to those [who serve] with humility.
Actively seek to live in peace with all people. And be dedicated to God, because no one will see God without this.
Do not do anything from rivalry or from empty conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves.
Brothers, I consider that I, myself, have not yet taken hold [of Christ’s ultimate purpose for me]. But there is one thing that I am doing; I am forgetting about my past [See verses 5-7], and reaching forward to what lies ahead.I am pushing onward toward the goal for the prize of the upward call [i.e., to heaven] from God in [fellowship with] Christ.
Do not repay a wrong action with [another] wrong action, nor abusive [language] with [additional] abuse, but rather be a blessing [to one another]. For the purpose of your being called [by God] was so that you could receive a blessing [from Him eventually].
But [Prov. 25:21-25 says], “Feed your enemy if he is hungry; give him something to drink if he is thirsty. For when you do this, it will be [like] heaping burning coals on his head.” [i.e., it can cause him burning shame that can lead to his repentance and ultimate forgiveness].[So], do not be conquered by evil, but [instead] conquer evil by doing good [deeds to people].
Since we are now made right with God by the blood of Christ [i.e., by His dying on the cross], how much more certain it is that we will be saved from God’s wrath [in the future] by Him!
My little children [i.e., dear ones], I am writing this to you so that you will not sin anymore. But if anyone does sin, we have Someone to go to the Father on our behalf; it is Jesus Christ, the [only] righteous One.
So, with confidence we should approach God’s throne of unearned favor, so we can receive mercy and obtain that favor to help us when we need it.
[Love] does not act improperly [toward people]; it does not insist on having its own way [at the expense of others]; it is not easily irritated [by others]; it does not keep track of the wrongs [done by others].
In [fellowship with] Christ we have redemption [i.e., we have been bought back from Satan] through His blood, and have forgiveness of sins according to the abundance of God’s unearned favor,
But in order that you may know that the Son of man has authority to forgive people’s sins on earth, (then He said to the man afflicted with paralysis), ‘Get up, pick up your cot and go home.’”
Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven of every sin and abusive word spoken [against God]. But abusive words spoken against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
First of all, then, I urge you to offer [special] requests, prayers, intercessions [Note: “Intercessions” probably refers to praying on behalf of others], and thanksgivings for all people.
And when you were [spiritually] dead because of your sins and your lack of being physically circumcised [Note: This refers to their having been unconverted Gentiles and therefore outside of a relationship with God], God made you alive [again] together with Christ, having forgiven us for all of our sins.He canceled the document written in ordinances [Note: This obviously refers to the Mosaic Law] that was against us and was opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross.
for everyone has sinned and falls short of God’s glory [i.e., His approval, or His perfect character].But people are made right with Him as a free gift by His unearned favor, through being bought back [from Satan] by Christ Jesus.
Therefore, if any person is in [fellowship with] Christ, he is a new person. His old ways have passed away; now his ways have become new.
“Ask [God for something] and it will be given to you; look [to God for something] and you will find it; knock [on the door of opportunity] and it will be opened up to you.