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By EveryStudent.com
First, it is important to understand the nature of forgiveness. It is costly.
Let's say you loaned someone $1,000 and they have not yet paid it back. For you to forgive that loan means you're willing to give up the $1,000 and consider it fully paid.
Or let's say a good friend, whom you've always trusted, shared some negative details about you to others.
The relationship was harmed, and it caused a barrier between you and your friend.
To forgive your friend means you're willing to bear the consequences of their actions, without getting back at them for it or holding it against them.
There is no, "I forgive you, but..." Forgiveness is always costly and it must be in full. There is no such thing as conditional forgiveness.
That's how forgiveness works. It must be complete forgiveness and there's always a cost for the person who is choosing to forgive.
What's involved in God forgiving us?
First we must see, from God's perspective, the consequences for our sin. It's severe. The Bible states that the penalty for sin is death.
That's why in Jesus' time in Jerusalem, each year they would sacrifice a lamb. That death was a temporary payment for their sin.
When Jesus Christ, the Son of God, left heaven, and was born near Jerusalem., the prophet John the Baptist, correctly said of him, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world."1
What does this mean for you?
To forgive us, Jesus personally bore the consequences for our sins. And it was incredibly costly.
Jesus was whipped, beaten, then his wrists and feet nailed to a cross where he hung until death.
He did this so that we could be fully forgiven.
The prophet Isaiah wrote, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity [sins] of us all."2
Every sin humanity ever committed or will commit, Jesus paid for it all on the cross. He now offers us his forgiveness.
"God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."3
At his last dinner with his disciples, before the cross, Jesus held a cup of wine and said, "This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."4
Jesus told them, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."5
Jesus chose to pay for our sins, rather than have us remain separated from him for all eternity.
He did not remain dead. Jesus stated multiple times before his crucifixion on the cross, that he would physically come back to life three days after being buried.
Knowing this, the authorities stationed guards at his tomb. Yet three days later the tomb was found empty. Jesus appeared to his disciples and crowds alive again in his physical body.
He now offers us complete forgiveness.
There is a third aspect to forgiveness. It is costly, it must be full forgiveness, and thirdly, it's up to the offending person to receive the forgiveness that's being offered.
Then the relationship is restored.
God offers to forgive us so we are not eternally separate from him by our sin. We can receive his forgiveness and right now enjoy a close relationship with God.
Some people don't want to be given forgiveness. In pride, they want to try to earn their acceptance with God. They want to be accepted by God for their good life, not by God's grace.
The problem is they can never be good enough to cover up their sin. It's like trying to pour perfume on rotting meat. It just doesn't work for God.
And given that Jesus went to the cross, is that person going to ignore what Jesus did for them, and instead try to suggest a better approach?
God sets the terms and they are abundantly merciful. He is offering you his forgiveness, gained by Jesus' death and resurrection for you.
Here is how you can accept God's offer of his forgiveness and a restored relationship with God that is secure forever.
Jesus invites you, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…"6
When we receive Jesus into our lives, we receive his full forgiveness for all of our sins. Even the sins we have yet to commit, Jesus knew about those and paid for them on the cross.
We can be fully forgiven, fully accepted by him, because of Jesus' death for us.
If you'd like to receive Jesus into your life, receive his forgiveness right now, restored to him, just ask him. If you need help with wording, you could say,
Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins. Thank you for your willingness and desire to forgive me and to give me a relationship with you. Come into my life right now. Help me live in a way that honors you. Thank you for your forgiveness and a relationship with you.
If you started a relationship with Jesus just now, what does that mean regarding your sin?
There might still be human consequences. If you killed someone, you might serve many years in prison. But in God's eyes, you are fully forgiven by him, fully accepted by him.
Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."7
"Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us."8
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Footnotes: (1) John 1:29 (2) Isaiah 53:6 (2) John 3:17 (2) Matthew 26:28 (2) John 15:13 (2) Revelation 3:20 (2) Hebrews 13:5 (2) Romans 5:1
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