Understanding the Mechanism of God's Forgiveness

Understanding the Mechanism of God's Forgiveness

Let us explore the mechanics of God's forgiveness: The significance of Jesus' sacrifice and God's perspective on forgiveness.

     What is forgiveness? Forgiveness is the act of pardoning or letting go of resentment, anger, or negative feelings toward someone who has wronged or hurt you. Now, let us explore this concept from God's perspective. According to the Bible, forgiveness is described as God pardoning us of our sins. What are the most prominent characteristics of God? He is holy, just, righteous, faithful, loving, compassionate, merciful, gracious, forgiving, jealous, and a God of judgment.

      I have listed some prominent attributes of God. First, let us focus on one of the paramount attributes of God, which is His justice. What does it mean for Him to be just? It means that He is morally upright and fair, completely unbiased, and operates according to His standard of righteousness as described in the Bible. Scriptural examples that demonstrate God's justice include: 

• "For I, the Lord, love justice" (Isaiah 61:8a).
• "Therefore the Lord will waits, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him" (Isaiah 30:18).
• "Surely God will never do wickedly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice" (Job 34:12).
• "He is the Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He" (Deuteronomy 32:4).

These scriptures affirm that God loves justice, is a God of justice, never perverts justice, and all His ways are just. Secondly, let us delve into the nature of God as love. Throughout the Scriptures, He is described as the God of love, actively demonstrating His love through the act of redemption. This profound love is most prominently displayed through His sending of His Son, Jesus Christ, to sacrifice Himself for our sins, thereby opening a path for our reconciliation with Him. It is essential to recognize that God is not merely the possessor of love, but He is love itself. Every attribute of love finds its essence in God Himself. His love is unconditional, selfless, forgiving, compassionate, patient, kind, trusting, accepting, protective, enduring, and beyond. As the Scripture affirms, "Because Your steadfast love is better than life" (Psalm 63:3a). It is indeed a concept that stretches our comprehension. God is love!

     I have expanded on two attributes of God: love and justice. God is equally loving and just due to His faithful nature. This means that whatever God says, He will do, and whatever laws He has established, He Himself must comply with because He is faithful and a God of order. Our heavenly Father is holy and just, and His laws are unwavering. Even God Himself cannot violate them. It is His faithfulness that upholds His perfect character. To demonstrate the harmonious interplay of God's love and justice, we can turn to the Scriptures. In 1 John 4:10, it states, "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." This verse reveals that God, out of His immense love for us, took action to reconcile us to Himself. He did so by sending His Son as the sacrificial offering for our sins, satisfying the demands of justice. God punished His Son on our behalf so that justice could be fulfilled. This act exemplifies the profound depth of God's love for us, as He willingly stepped out of His divine throne to become human and ultimately die for our sins.

       In our fallen state, when we sin, we are unable to approach God directly because His holiness cannot tolerate sin. In the Old Testament, animal sacrifices were required to seek forgiveness and reconciliation with God. This aspect of God reveals His role as a righteous judge, administering judgment for disobedience. However, when Jesus died for our sins, He became the ultimate sacrifice. Scripture affirms that through His sacrificial act, we can now boldly enter into God's presence and obtain mercy. As Hebrews 4:14-16 states, Jesus has accomplished the work on our behalf, allowing us to approach God with confidence and receive His mercy.

       God's forgiveness plays a crucial role in all of this. While it is true that Jesus' sacrifice has provided the way for our forgiveness and reconciliation with God, our active participation is still required. The question arises: Is repentance necessary? Let's explore some relevant scriptures to shed light on this matter. 

     One scripture that addresses this is found in, 1 John 1:7: "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." This verse emphasizes that walking in the light, meaning conforming to God's precepts, allows the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from all our sins. It signifies that God forgives us and removes our sins from us. The following verse, 1 John 1:8, states: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." This verse highlights that everyone sins, and denying this truth makes us liars, lacking the truth which is the light of God. Another scripture, Ecclesiastes 7:20, affirms that there is no righteous person who is without sin. The final two verses in this chapter, 1 John 1:9-10, further reinforce the significance of confession. They state: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." These verses urge us to confess our sins, assuring us that when we do, God not only forgives us but also cleanses us from our sins, meaning they are removed and forgotten. Additionally, they emphasize that denying our sinfulness makes God a liar, and His truth does not dwell within us. Therefore, based on these scriptures, repentance and acknowledging our sins through confession are crucial aspects of seeking forgiveness from God and experiencing the cleansing and removal of our sins.

       I want you to keep in mind that the reason why Jesus died was to save the world. We receive this grace by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, which involves forsaking our old ways and following Him. When we do so, God forgives us our sins. However, the question arises: Why do we still need to repent of our sins if we have already accepted Jesus and been forgiven? The reason is that, despite accepting Jesus and being forgiven, we still live in a fallen world and continue to sin. Repentance is an ongoing process of acknowledging our sins, turning away from them, and aligning ourselves with God's will. This is why the scripture says, "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). Furthermore, in verse 12, it states, "I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake" (1 John 2:12). It is important to note that while our sins are indeed forgiven through Jesus' sacrifice, repentance allows us to maintain a healthy relationship with God and strive towards a life that reflects His love and righteousness. Repentance demonstrates our humility and desire to continually seek God's forgiveness and grow in righteousness. It is through this ongoing act of repentance that we deepen our relationship with God and live in alignment with His will.

       Scripture teaches us that we need to acknowledge our sins, repent, and ask for God's forgiveness (2 Chronicles 7:14, Matthew 3:8, Act 17:30, Proverbs 28:13, Romans 2:4, Revelation 3:19, 2 Timothy 2:25). When we approach God, it is important to recognize our need for His forgiveness and to sincerely repent of our sins. Repentance involves a genuine change of heart, turning away from our sinful ways, and seeking to live in alignment with God's will. By confessing our sins to God and seeking His forgiveness, we demonstrate humility, genuine remorse, and a desire to walk in righteousness. As 1 John 1:9 states, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Cultivating a prayer life is of paramount importance for your spiritual journey, particularly in a fast-paced society where allocating exclusive time for prayer can be challenging. The solution is clear: "Simply Prayer for Our Daily Journey," a scripture-enriched prayer book designed for all aspects of life. Additionally, pair it with a Faith-building scripture book to assist you in persevering through the waiting time on God’s promises and strengthening your faith. However, it's essential to note that this prayer book doesn't replace genuine, quality time with God; you must spend dedicated time with Him.