VERSES ABOUT FORGIVENESS

Forgiving others brings such freedom. It's like taking off a heavy backpack you've been carrying for way too long. There's a real beauty to forgiveness, and anyone who's experienced both giving and receiving it knows what I mean. God is our ultimate example, right? He shows us how it's done and calls us to practice it every single day.

So, I encourage you to forgive, just as Christ forgives you – every single day. It's time to let go and be free. Let's be real, in this life, someone is bound to hurt or offend you. But even then, we're called to learn to forgive and love again. Get that bitterness out of your system. Trust me, it'll help you grow and move forward. It'll even strengthen your relationship with God.

As children of God, we rejoice because we've received forgiveness for our sins through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. But it's important to remember that just as we've been forgiven, our hearts need to be ready to forgive others. Mark 11:25¹ says, "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." As long as we repent and are faithful in forgiving others, God will completely forgive us. And that's when we can truly have a fresh start!

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

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.

Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,Test and prove what pleases the Lord.Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself.So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,redeeming the time, because the days are evil.Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.

Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.

Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.

Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.It will be just like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed.On that day, let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve his possessions. Likewise, let no one in the field return for anything he has left behind.Remember Lot’s wife!Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed: One will be taken and the other left.Two women will be grinding grain together: One will be taken and the other left.” “Where, Lord?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.”Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God.

And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

“Do not judge, or you will be judged.Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.

Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.

By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm.

When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!

Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”

That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”

He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Why, then, do you judge your brother? Or why do you belittle your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.

For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.

But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness.I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet.For Adam was formed first, and then Eve.And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression.Women, however, will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake,in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.

And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’

We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.Again, it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and extol Him, all you peoples.” And once more, Isaiah says: “The Root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.” Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, brimming with knowledge, and able to instruct one another.However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God has given meto be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.Therefore I exult in Christ Jesus in my service to God.I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Do everything in love.

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

Continue in brotherly love.We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.Although the high priest brings the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, the bodies are burned outside the camp.And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood.Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.And I especially urge you to pray that I may be restored to you soon.Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the Lord, and He will save you.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm;to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken.Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase?The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not!Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed.You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?

being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”“The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.

And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.

Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.

and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.

But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,

Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”

God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.

You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.

Prayer