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 I say to those of you who are listening: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you.

If those who hate you are hungry, give them food; if they're thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing so you pile fiery coals on their heads.

For if you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.But if you don't forgive those who sin against you, then your heavenly Father won't forgive your sins.

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

Be patient with one another, forgive others among you if you have grievances against one another. Just as the Lord forgave you, you should do the same.

Jesus said, “Father, please forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing.” They divided up his clothes by throwing dice for them.

Peter came to Jesus and asked him, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother for sinning against me? Seven times?”“No, not seven times. I would say seventy times seven!” Jesus told him.

Don't pay back anyone evil for evil. Make sure you show everybody that what you're doing is good,and as far as it's up to you, live at peace with everyone.

Don't pay back evil for evil, or retaliate when you're abused, instead you should give a blessing—because that's what you were called to do, so you could gain a blessing yourself.

Don't celebrate when your enemies fall; don't be glad when they trip up,

If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

Be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Blessed are those who work to bring peace, for they will be called children of God.

But God demonstrates his love for us in that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.

Anyone who says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, is a liar. Anyone who doesn't love a brother whom they can see, can't love God whom they can't see.This is the command he gave to us: those who love God love their brothers and sisters too.

No: love your enemies, do good to them, and lend without expecting to be repaid anything. Then you will receive a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people.

I am giving you a new command: Love one another. Love one another in the same way I have loved you.If you love one another you will prove to everyone that you are my disciples.”

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. Love is not boastful. Love is not proud.Love does not act improperly, or insist on having its own way. Love is not argumentative and doesn't keep a record of wrongs.Love takes no delight in evil but celebrates the truth.Love never gives up, keeps on trusting, stays confident, and remains patient whatever happens.

So then, imitate God since you're his much-loved children.demonstrating what the Lord really appreciates.Don't have anything to do with the pointless things that darkness produces—instead expose them.It's shameful even to speak about the things such people do secretly,but when anything is exposed by the light then it's revealed as it is. Light makes everything visible.That's why it's said, “Wake up, those of you who are sleeping, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”So be careful how you live your life, not foolishly, but wisely,making the best use of opportunities because the days are evil.So don't be ignorant—find out what the Lord's will is.Don't get drunk on wine which will wreck your life, but be filled with the Spirit.Share together with one another, using psalms and hymns and sacred songs, singing and making music to the Lord to express what you feel.Live in love, just as Christ loved you. He gave himself for us, a gift and sacrificial offering to God like a sweet-smelling perfume.

My dear friends, don't seek revenge, but leave it to God to execute judgment—as Scripture points out, “‘It's for me to dispense justice, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

As far as the east is from the west is how far the Lord has taken our sins away from us.

Most of all, you should love one another very deeply, for love covers many of the wrong things people do.

Hatred causes conflict, but love covers all wrongs.

Get rid of every kind of bitterness, rage, anger, verbal abuse, and insults, along with all forms of evil.Be kind and compassionate to each other, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

You've heard that the law said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’But I tell you, don't resist someone who is evil. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek to them as well.

But if we confess our sins, he is trustworthy and right so that he can forgive us our sins and make us clean from all that is not right in us.

Forgive our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.

Admit the wrongs you've done to each other, and pray for one another so that you'll be healed. Earnest prayer from those who live right is very effective.

Do your best to live in peace with everybody, and look for holiness—if you don't have this you won't see the Lord.Make sure that none of you lack God's grace, in case some cause of bitterness arises to give trouble and end up corrupting many of you.

If you forgive a wrong you encourage friendship, but if you keep talking about it you'll lose your friend.

So take care what you do. If your brother sins, warn him; and if he repents, forgive him.The day when the Son of man appears will be just like that.If you're up on the roof that day don't go down and get your things; and if you're out in the fields don't go back home either.Remember Lot's wife!If you try to hold on to your life you'll lose it; but if you lose your life you'll save it.I tell you, at that time two will be in bed at night; one will be taken and the other left.Two women will be grinding grain, one will be taken; and the other left.”“Where, Lord?” they asked. “Where the carcass is, that's where the vultures gather,” Jesus replied.Even if he sins against you seven times a day, and seven times comes back and tells you, ‘I'm really sorry,’ forgive him.”

So accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, and give God the glory.

But when you're praying, if you have something against someone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your sins.”

Since you are God's special people, holy and dearly loved, adopt a sympathetic nature that is kind, humble, gentle, and patient.Be patient with one another, forgive others among you if you have grievances against one another. Just as the Lord forgave you, you should do the same.

Blessed are those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

If you have good sense you'll be slow to get angry; you gain respect by forgiving wrongs.

Be completely dedicated to each other in your love as family; value others more than yourselves.

“Don't judge others, so that you won't be judged.Or if he asked for fish, would you give him a snake?So if even you who are evil know to give good things to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.Treat others the way you want them to treat you. This sums up the law and the prophets.Enter by the narrow entrance. For the entrance is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many travel that way.But the entrance is narrow, and the way is difficult that leads to life, and only a few find it.Watch out for false prophets who come wearing sheep's clothing, but who on the inside are vicious wolves.You can recognize them by their fruits. Do people harvest grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?So every good tree produces good fruit, while a bad tree produces bad fruit.A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit.Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.For whatever standard you use to judge others will be used to judge you, and whatever measurement you use to measure others will be used to measure you.

For you, Lord, are good; you are forgiving and full of trustworthy love for all who come to you.

Make sure none of you pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to one another, and to everyone.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters.

Love doesn't do wrong to anyone, so love fulfils the law.

Do to others what you want them to do to you.

When the way that people live pleases the Lord, he makes even their enemies be at peace with them.

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

This is my command: love one another as I have loved you.

Shouldn't you have been merciful to your fellow-servant as well, just as I was merciful to you?’

A kind reply wards off anger, but hurtful words make people mad.

Give up your anger! Let go of your rage! Don't get mad—it only results in evil!

and when he was badly treated, he didn't retaliate. When he suffered, he didn't threaten to take revenge. He simply placed himself in the hands of the one who always judges rightly.

We're not fighting against human forces, but against supernatural rulers and powers, the dark lords of this world, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.

Reject what is evil, do what is good. Look for peace, and work to make it a reality.

God did all this by changing us from enemies into friends through Christ. God gave us this same work of changing his enemies into his friends.For God was in Christ, bringing the world back from hostility to friendship with him, not counting anyone's sins against them, and giving us this message to change his enemies into his friends.

But God in his generous mercy, because of the amazing love he had for useven while we were dead in our sins, has made us alive together with Christ. Trusting in him has saved you!

“I won't remember their sins and lawlessness anymore.”

This is what my heavenly Father will do to every one of you unless you sincerely forgive your brothers.”

For the Lord's minister must not fight, but be kind to everyone, able to teach, patient,gently correcting opponents. Perhaps God may help them to come to repent and to understand the truth.

Don't judge, and you won't be judged; don't condemn, and you won't be condemned; forgive, and you'll be forgiven;

While we were his enemies, God made us his friends through the death of his Son, and so we can be absolutely sure that he will save us through the life of his Son.

They kept on demanding an answer, so he stood up and told them, “Whichever one of you has never sinned may throw the first stone at her.”

Turn away from evil and do good; search for peace—run after it!

Stupid people get angry immediately, but if you're sensible you ignore an insult.

Don't think proudly of yourselves; be gentle and patient, showing tolerance to each other in love.

Don't do anything from a spirit of selfishness or pride, but humbly think of others better than you do of yourself.

We struggle on doing manual work. When people curse us, we bless them. When they persecute us, we put up with it.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, not easily angered, and full of trustworthy love.

The second is just like it, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

So why do you criticize your fellow-believer? Why do you despise your fellow-believer? For all of us will stand before God's throne of judgment.

I will be merciful when they do wrong, and I will forget about their sins.”

My friends, if someone is led astray by sin, you who are spiritual should bring them back with a gentle spirit. Watch out that you don't get tempted too.

Go and discover what this means: ‘I want mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I didn't come to call those who do what's right—I came to call sinners.”

If you're kind, you'll be rewarded; but if you're cruel, you'll hurt yourself.

Instead by speaking the truth in love we ought to grow up in everything into Christ, who is our head.

but now you should get rid of such things as anger, rage, wickedness, abuse, and using obscenities.

Good people produce what's good from the good things they value that they have stored inside them. Bad people produce what's bad from the bad things they have stored inside them. What fills people's minds spills out in what they say.

Blessed are those who are kind for they will own the whole world.

If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.

The Lord is not delaying the fulfillment of his promise, as some define delay, but he is being very patient with you. He doesn't want anyone to be lost, but everyone to come and repent.

So let's pursue the path of peace, and find ways to encourage each other.

Remember this, my dear friends: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak, and slow to get angry,My friends, choose to stay happy even when all kinds of troubles come your way,because human anger doesn't reflect the good character of God.

There is no greater love than to give your life for your friends.

Through him we gain salvation through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins as a result of his priceless grace

In fact this is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and gave you an example, so you should follow in his footsteps.He never sinned, he never lied;and when he was badly treated, he didn't retaliate. When he suffered, he didn't threaten to take revenge. He simply placed himself in the hands of the one who always judges rightly.

So if you judge others you don't have any excuse, whoever you are! For in whatever way you condemn others, you're judging yourself, because you're doing the same things.

Look, I'm sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

May the Lord increase your love so it overflows to one another, and to everyone, just as we love you.In this way may the Lord strengthen you so you may stand with minds that are holy and blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.

First of all, I want to encourage you to pray for everybody: make requests of God, ask on their behalf, and give thanks.but by the good things they do—as is appropriate for women who claim to follow God.Women should learn quietly, respecting their place.I don't allow women to be instructors, or to dominate men; let them remain quiet.For Adam was made first, and then Eve.Adam wasn't deceived, but Eve was completely deceived, and she fell into sin.However, women will be saved through becoming mothers, as long as they continue to trust and love, and to live holy, sensible lives.Pray like this for kings and all types of leaders so that we may live quiet and peaceful lives, always thinking about God and taking life seriously.

Remember: “Those who want to love life, and to see good days, must refrain from speaking evil, and not tell lies.Turn away from evil and do good; search for peace—run after it!

Anyone you forgive, I forgive too. What I have forgiven, whatever it may be, I have forgiven before Christ for your benefit.In this way Satan will not be able to take us in, because we know the tricks he thinks up.

I tell you that there's more joy in heaven over a sinner that repents than over ninety-nine good people who don't need to repent.

The king will tell them, ‘I tell you the truth: whatever you did for one of these least important brothers of mine you did for me.’

Those of us who are spiritually strong ought to support those who are spiritually weak. We shouldn't just please ourselves.And also: “Foreigners, celebrate with his people!”And again: “All you foreigners, praise the Lord, let all peoples praise him.”And again, Isaiah says, “Jesse's descendant will come to rule the nations, and foreigners will put their hope in him.” May the God of hope completely fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you will overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit!I'm convinced that you, my brothers and sisters, are full of goodness, and that you are filled with every kind of knowledge, so you are well able to teach one another.I've been blunt in the way I have written to you about some of these things, but this is just to remind you. For God gave me graceto be a minister of Christ Jesus to the foreigners, like a priest sharing God's good news, so that they could become an acceptable offering, made holy by the Holy Spirit.So even though I have something to boast about because of my service for God,(I wouldn't dare talk about any of this except as Christ has done it through me), I have led foreigners to obedience through my teaching and demonstration,through the power of signs and miracles done with the Holy Spirit's power. From Jerusalem all the way over to Illyricum, everywhere I've shared fully the good news of Christ.We should all encourage others to do what's morally right, building them up.

Lastly, whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, beautiful, commendable, whatever is truly good and deserves to be praised, think about these kinds of things.

Love must be genuine. Hate what is evil; hold on tightly to what is good.

“You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and your whole spirit, and your whole strength, and your whole mind; and love your neighbor as yourself,” the man replied.

Whatever you do, do it in love.

So if I, your Teacher and Lord, washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet.I have set you an example, so you should do just as I did.

In the same way you should let your light shine before everyone so they can see the good things you do and praise your heavenly Father.

Young people, do what the elders tell you. Indeed all of you should serve one another in humility, because “God is against the proud, but favors the humble.”Humble yourself before God's powerful hand so that he will lift you up at the appropriate time.

May love for each other as brothers and sisters always continue!We have an altar that those priests of the Tabernacle have no right to eat from.The carcasses of the animals, whose blood is carried by the high priest into the most holy place as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.In the same way Jesus also died outside the city gate so that he could make God's people holy through his own blood.So let us go out to him, outside the camp, experiencing and sharing in his shame.For we don't have a permanent city to live in here; we're looking for the home that is still to come.So let us through Jesus always offer a sacrifice of praise to God—this means speaking well of God, declaring his character.And don't forget to do what is good, and to share with others what you have, for God is pleased when you make such sacrifices.Follow your leaders, and do what they tell you, for they are watching out for you and are accountable. Act in such a way that they can do this happily—and not with sadness, for that wouldn't help you!Please pray for us. We're convinced we have acted in good conscience, always wanting to do what's good and right in every situation.I really want you to pray hard so that I can come back to see you soon.Don't forget to show love for strangers too, because by doing so some have welcomed angels without knowing it.

For the whole law is summed up in this one command, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Dear friends, let's go on loving one another, for love comes from God. All those who love are born of God and know God.

Finally, brothers and sisters, I say goodbye. Continue to improve spiritually. Encourage one another. Be in agreement. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Who can separate us from Christ's love? Can oppression, distress, or persecution? Or hunger, poverty, danger, or violence?Just as Scripture says, “For your sake we're in danger of being killed all the time. We're treated like sheep to be slaughtered.”No—in all that happens to us we're more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Don't say, “I'll get you back for doing me wrong.” Leave it to the Lord, and he'll help you.

My dear children, I'm writing this to you so you shouldn't sin. But if anybody should happen to sin, we have someone who defends us before the Father—Jesus Christ, who is truly good and right.

Blessed are those whose greatest desire is to do what is right, for they will be satisfied.

Don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit that is within you, that you received from God?Don't you know that Christian believers will judge the world? If you're going to judge the world, are you not fit to judge in the most minor cases?You don't belong to yourself—a price was paid for you! So glorify God in your body!

Don't hold back good from those who deserve it when it's something you have the power to do.

My friends, I don't consider that I've already won, but this is my one objective: disregarding what is behind me, I strain forward to what is in front of me.I run towards the finish line to win the prize of God's invitation to heaven through Christ Jesus.

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, those whom he has called to be part of his plan.

I've been crucified with Christ— so it's no longer I who lives, but it is Christ living in me. The life I now live in this body, I live by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me, and who gave himself for me.

Anyone who doesn't show mercy will be judged without mercy. Yet mercy wins out over judgment!

“Father,” he prayed, “if you're willing, please take away this cup of suffering from me. But I want to do what you want, not what I want.”

For that reason, since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of people who gave evidence of their trust in God, let's get rid of everything that holds us back, the seductive sins that trip us up, and let's keep on running the race placed before us.They disciplined us for a short while as they thought appropriate, but God does so for our benefit in order that we can share his holy character.When it happens, all discipline seems painful and not something to be happy about. But later on it produces peace in those who have been trained in this way so that they do what is good and right.So strengthen your feeble hands, and your weak knees!Make straight paths to walk on, so that those who are crippled won't lose their way, but will be healed.Do your best to live in peace with everybody, and look for holiness—if you don't have this you won't see the Lord.Make sure that none of you lack God's grace, in case some cause of bitterness arises to give trouble and end up corrupting many of you.Make sure there's nobody who is sexually immoral, or irreligious, like Esau was. He sold his birthright for a single meal.You remember that even when he wanted to receive the blessing later on he was refused. Even though he really tried, and cried hard, Esau couldn't change what he had done.You haven't arrived at a physical mountain that can be touched, that burned with fire, to a stormy place of black darkness,where the sound of a trumpet and a voice speaking was heard—and those who heard the voice begged never to hear it speak to them again.We should keep on looking to Jesus, the one who begins and completes our trust in God. Because of the joy ahead of him Jesus endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God's throne.

Don't be fooled: “Bad company ruins good character.”

So what's our response? Should we continue to sin so we can have even more grace?In dying, he died to sin once and for all, but now he lives, and he lives for God!In just the same way you should consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God through Christ Jesus.Don't let sin have control over your mortal body, don't give in to its temptations,and don't use any parts of your body as evil tools of sin. Instead dedicate yourselves to God as those who have been brought back from death to life, and use all parts of your body as tools to do something good for God.Sin won't rule over you, because you're not under law but under grace.So then, should we sin because we're not under law, but under grace? Of course not!Don't you realize that if you make yourselves someone's slaves, obeying their orders, then you are slaves to the one you obey? If you are slaves of sin, the result is death; if you obey God, the result is you are made right with him.Thank God that though you once were slaves to sin, you whole-heartedly chose to follow the truth about God that you learned.Now that you've been freed from sin, you've become slaves of doing what is morally right.I'm using this everyday example because your human thinking is limited. Just as you once enslaved yourselves to immorality, piling up sin upon sin, now you must enslave yourselves to what is pure and right.Of course not! Since we're already dead to sin, how can we continue to live in sin?

I'm absolutely sure that God who began this good work in you will continue working and bring it to a successful conclusion when Jesus Christ returns.

asking him that out of his wealth of glory he may strengthen you in your innermost being with power through his Spirit.May Christ live in you as you trust in him, so that as you are planted deep in love,

Grow up and become completely trustworthy, just as your heavenly Father is trustworthy.”

Which one of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by robbers?”“The one who showed him kindness,” the man replied. “You go and do the same,” Jesus told him.

God made Jesus, who never personally sinned, experience the consequences of sin so that we could have a character that is good and right just as God is good and right.

You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt becomes tasteless, how can you make it salty again? It's good for nothing, so it's thrown out and trodden down.You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill can't be hidden.

We have all been recipients of his generous nature, one gracious gift after another.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept my trust in God.Now there's a prize reserved for me—the crown for a life lived according to what is good and right. The Lord (who is the judge that always does what's right), will give that to me on that Day. And not just to me, but to everyone who longs for his coming.

We can be confident that he will listen to us as long as we ask in accordance with his will.If we know that he hears our requests, we can be sure that we will receive what we've asked him for.

Since the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.He gives me rest in green fields. He leads me towards quietly flowing streams.He revives me. He guides me along the right paths because that's the kind of person he is.

Now that you've dedicated yourselves by following the truth, love each other sincerely like a true family.

Make every effort to remain one in the Spirit through the peace that binds you together.

Seek his kingdom first, and his way of living right, and everything will be given to you.

For it's God who is working within you, creating the will and the ability to do what he wants you to do.

just keep your mind focused on Christ as Lord. Always be ready to explain to anyone who asks you the reason for the hope that you have. Do this in a gentle and respectful way.

There they brought to him a paralyzed man lying on a mat. When Jesus saw how they trusted him, he told the paralyzed man, “My friend, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven.”

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

That way you'll live lives that rightly represent the Lord and please him, producing all kinds of good results and gaining greater knowledge of God.

“Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually poor, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Trusting in God comes from hearing—hearing the message of Christ.

We recognize that those who are born of God don't keep on sinning. The Son of God protects them and the devil cannot harm them.

At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. You are to live as children of light(and the fruit of light is everything that's good and right and true),

Not only this—we also remain confident when problems come, because we know that experiencing problems develops spiritual stamina.Spiritual stamina in turn develops a mature character, and this mature character results in confident hope.

If any of you need wisdom, ask God, who gives generously to everyone without holding back.

My God will fill you with everything you need in accordance with his glorious wealth in Christ Jesus!

Peace I leave with you; my peace I'm giving you. The peace I give you is nothing like what the world gives. Don't be anxious, and don't be afraid.

The Lord is close beside those who are broken-hearted; he saves those whose spirits are crushed.

You will keep in complete peace those who keep their minds focused on you, because they trust in you.

Put your trust totally in the Lord—don't rely on what you think you know!Remember him in everything you do, and he'll show you the right way.

We have all sinned, and we fall far short of God's glorious ideal.

Brothers and sisters, I plead with you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you all agree and that you're not divided. Instead develop a united attitude and purpose.

Prayer