Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Focus on the middle phrase, “the forgiveness of sins.” There are three types of forgiveness that the Bible speaks about.
1. The Forgiveness of God. It is a sobering thought when we are faced with the horrible truth that we are enemies of God. When a man or woman comes face to face with that truth, the blood drains from our face. The wrath of God is abiding over us. But God…because He is a loving and gracious God, made a way for us to have peace with him. Romans 5:1 is the life vest that we now hold on to. The Lord Jesus died in our place and now we have peace with God. No wrath abiding over us now. Do you think you are too sinful to be saved? What nonsense. The blood of Christ cleanses from all sin, I John 1:7. “God made it possible but each of us must make it personal.” That is a quote from an old Scottish preacher named George Duncan. Everyone can be saved if they will come.
2. The Forgiveness Concerning Others. Matthew 6:14-15 and Matthew 5:23-24 are two wonderful passages about forgiveness. Sometimes we must ask for forgiveness when we have wronged others. Other times we must offer forgiveness to others, even when they don’t seek it. If we cling to bitterness and hatred, it is like a cancer that eats away at us, not the other person. Be quick to forgive others and ask for forgiveness when we have wronged another.
3. The Forgiveness which Involves Myself. I am not real big on modern psychology. The overwhelming majority focuses on the person or is man centered instead of God centered. If we wish to know about fixing a problem or repairing a situation, it makes sense to me to go to the creator or the designer. We would do that in engineering, why not when we are broken. We consult the One that made us. Many people carry great guilt around because of a life badly lived. Poor decision after poor decision has taken the man or woman to a place where they can’t forgive themselves. If God is consulted and He gives forgiveness, isn’t it arrogant and prideful on our part to not accept what God has done through Christ? Do we think God won’t forgive when He clearly says through Christ He will? Do we think that God lied about forgiving? That flavor of pride must be rejected, smashed, and broken. When we accept forgiveness from the Lord, we can then accept it for ourselves. It isn’t because of how wonderful we are, it is how wonderful He is. That is how we have peace in our souls, knowing the sins that once separated me from a holy God have now been cast into the deepest part of the sea and as far as the east is from the west.
All three kinds of forgiveness are to be in our lives.