What Does Forgiveness Really Mean?
Forgiveness is the process of recognizing we’ve been hurt but choosing to release ourselves from that pain, as well as the desire to seek revenge or wish ill upon those who hurt us. Instead of holding a grudge, we embrace the Christian teachings on forgiveness by letting go of bitterness. This act of forgiving others is like a gift we give ourselves and even to the wrongdoers, despite the fact that they may never ask for it or admit they were wrong. Forgiveness reflects both great strength and great love.
This gift of forgiveness originates in the very heart of God. He sent Jesus to bring us 'redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins' (Colossians 1:14, NKJV).
What does this verse mean? It refers to how Jesus came to this earth and willingly died for us. Here’s why He did it. In the beginning of earth’s history, God created two perfect human beings (Adam and Eve) who, when given the chance, chose to disobey Him. They turned away from God to gain knowledge (to know both good and evil). The consequence? Death. They became mortal (Genesis 2:16–17).
Now, we are living with the consequences of their actions in a world of both good and evil, faced with constant choices between the two.
But God didn’t want us to be separated from Him forever. He didn’t want one mistake (even a big one) to be the end of His relationship with us. So He designed a plan for us to receive God's forgiveness and be reconciled to Him if we choose. He sent His Son Jesus to this earth.
Through His death on the cross, Jesus took on the wrongs we’ve committed against Him—and others. We deserve the pain and penalty, but He chose to absorb it for us. Now here is the big question: Do you need to forgive someone or accept Christ's forgiveness? Why not invite Christ to help you begin the process of healing to forgive someone who has wronged you, or to accept the forgiveness offered to you by someone you have wronged, along with the forgiveness of Christ? We would love to work with you through any of these processes. Contact us.
HOW DOES GOD FORGIVES US?
God's forgiveness is evident in how He forgives us by choosing to pay our deserved penalty—death—and taking upon Himself the pain that sin causes. He doesn’t hold that pain against us. This is a core principle in Christian teachings on forgiveness.
When Jesus knew His crucifixion was imminent, He agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane, feeling that pain so intensely that He sweat drops of blood and felt as though He would be crushed by it (Luke 22:44; Matthew 26:38).
As He took our sins upon Himself (1 Peter 2:24), He cried out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). In that moment, He absorbed the pain of separation that sin causes between humans and God.
Yet even then, He murmured the profound words that resonate with us today:
Father, forgive them (Luke 23:34).
This message of forgiving others is a reminder that God's forgiveness is available to each one of us—no matter who we are or what we’ve done.
GOD'S PLAN OF FORGIVENESS
The penalty of sin is death, as God explained to Adam and Eve before they disobeyed Him (Genesis 2:16–17; Romans 6:23). In order to offer God's forgiveness to humanity, Jesus would have to take on that penalty.
In doing this, Jesus demonstrated the ultimate act of love (John 15:13). Forgiveness was going to cost Him His very life (Matthew 26:28). But that’s how far God will go, just for the chance to reconcile with us through Christian teachings on forgiveness.
This was all part of the plan to save humans from evil and bring them back into connection with Him. He loves us so much that there’s nothing He won’t do for us, while always preserving our freedom of choice.
Until that occurred, God provided a model for forgiving others. He set up an example of this process through the animal sacrifices the Israelites performed in the Old Testament.
A person who sinned had to bring an animal—often a lamb or goat—to the building in the Israelite camp known as the sanctuary. That person would place a hand on the innocent creature to symbolize the transferring of sin to it (or to Jesus), confess the sins, and slit its throat (See Leviticus 4:27–35).
Yes, it was an awful ritual. Death is always awful. But it shows us what we sought to learn about back in the Garden of Eden—evil. Our choice to know about both good and evil means that we now see it all. Yet God is still willing to save us from it through His forgiveness.
Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22, ESV). For a time, animal sacrifices served that purpose because they symbolized and pointed forward to Jesus’ death—which would pay the penalty of eternal death and provide forgiveness and eternal life (Romans 6:23).
We could compare these sacrifices to a postdated check. If you wrote a check to buy an item but didn’t have enough money in your account, the seller might allow you to put a future date on the check. That check is a promise of your payment, although it won’t be cashed until later.
Likewise, the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament were like God’s postdated checks for the penalty of sin. Whenever people brought their animal sacrifices to the sanctuary, they came burdened with the guilt of their sins. But after the sacrifice, they could leave with a clear conscience and experience God’s transforming guidance.