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 say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you,

“But I say to 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.

Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head.

“For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.

Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.

[But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”] Then they threw dice to divide his clothes.

Then Peter came to him and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?”Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times!

Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people.If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.

Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.

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

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,for you will heap coals of fire 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 the children of God.

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

If anyone says “I love God” and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.And the commandment we have from him is this: that the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian too.

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people.

“I give you a new commandment – to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples – if you have love for one another.”

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved childrentrying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention.But all things being exposed by the light are made evident.For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says: “Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!”Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise,taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is.And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit,speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord,and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us.

Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.

You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk.Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.

But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.

So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.

Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.

The one who forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.

Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.It will be the same on the day the Son of Man is revealed.On that day, anyone who is on the roof, with his goods in the house, must not come down to take them away, and likewise the person in the field must not turn back.Remember Lot’s wife!Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.There will be two women grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”Then the disciples said to him, “Where, Lord?” He replied to them, “Where the dead body is, there the vultures will gather.”Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God’s glory.

Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your sins.”

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.

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

A person’s wisdom makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another.

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.“Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.“Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves.You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they?In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit.Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive.

Certainly O Lord, you are kind and forgiving, and show great faithfulness to all who cry out to you.

See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.

We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians.

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

Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you.

When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he even reconciles his enemies to himself.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

My commandment is this – to love one another just as I have loved you.

Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?’

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

Do not be angry and frustrated! Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!

When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.

Turn away from evil and do what is right! Strive for peace and promote it!

And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us,even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved! –

then he says, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer.”

So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.”

And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient,correcting opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then 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 while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life?

When they persisted in asking him, he stood up straight and replied, “Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.”

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

A fool’s annoyance is known at once, but the prudent overlooks an insult.

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

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.

We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure,

The Lord is merciful and compassionate; he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love.

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

But you who eat vegetables only – why do you judge your brother or sister? And you who eat everything – why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

“For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer.”

Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too.

Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

A kind person benefits himself, but a cruel person brings himself trouble.

But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.

But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth.

The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart.

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

The one who pursues righteousness and love finds life, bounty, and honor.

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another.

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials,For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

No one has greater love than this – that one lays 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, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.

Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge someone else. For on whatever grounds you judge another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge practice the same things.

“I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you,so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people,but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God.A woman must learn quietly with all submissiveness.But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. She must remain quiet.For Adam was formed first and then Eve.And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was fully deceived, fell into transgression.But she will be delivered through childbearing, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him – for indeed what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ,so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).

I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.

And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’

But we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves.And again it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”And again, “Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him.”And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, and the one who rises to rule over the Gentiles, in him will the Gentiles hope.”Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.But I myself am fully convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.But I have written more boldly to you on some points so as to remind you, because of the grace given to me by Godto be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I serve the gospel of God like a priest, so that the Gentiles may become an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.So I boast in Christ Jesus about the things that pertain to God.For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem even as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.

Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.

The expert answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

Everything you do should be done in love.

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet.For I have given you an example – you should do just as I have done for you.

In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand

Brotherly love must continue.We have an altar that those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from.For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp.We must go out to him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse he experienced.For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name.And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect.I especially ask you to pray that I may be restored to you very soon.Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.

For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God.

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!

Do not say, “I will pay back evil!” Wait for the Lord, so that he may vindicate you.

(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 One,

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

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to settle trivial suits?For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Do not withhold good from those who need it, when you have the ability to help.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.” [

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.Therefore, strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees,and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord.See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.And see to it that no one becomes an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.For you know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing with tears.For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwindand the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged to hear no more.keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

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

What shall we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase?For the death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God.So you too consider 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,and do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments to be used for righteousness.For sin will have no mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace.What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not!Do you not know that if you present yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness?But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were entrusted to,and having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.(I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person,that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love,

So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Which of these three do you think became a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”The expert in religious law said, “The one who showed mercy to him.” So Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.

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

For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another.

I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day – and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.

And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water.He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation.

You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart.

making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of his good pleasure – is God.

But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.

Just then some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.”

God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects – bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God,

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.

We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him.

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

Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,and endurance, character, and character, hope.

But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.

And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.

The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged.

You keep completely safe the people who maintain their faith, for they trust in you.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.

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

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose.

Prayer