God blots out your transgressions and remembers them no more!

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and remembers your sins no more.” (Isa. 45:25)

God's amazing acts of forgiveness

God's incredible and gracious ability to forgive, even what is considered unforgivable, is astounding! On the cross, Jesus cried out, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" (Luke 23:34). Jesus also generously forgave His disciple, Peter, who had deserted him during His greatest time of need and denied Him three times—and even swore while doing it. Yet Jesus met with him afterward, forgave him, and then commissioned him for ministry. (John 21:15-25)

You must also offer forgiveness!

The Bible says that you must forgive others or you won't be forgiven! (Matt. 6:14). Another place it says, "As you have received, freely give" (Matt 10:8)

Forgive yourself, too!

Forgiving others is hard, but often forgiving yourself is even harder, especially if you've made some big mistakes you deeply regret. You may have repented (turned away from them). Although you may have asked and received forgiveness from others, you may not have forgiven yourself. And, truthfully, if you haven't forgiven yourself, you are not in a healthy position emotionally to help others. Therefore, forgive yourself and move forward!

Here are some reasons to forgive yourself

·     Forgive yourself because God forgave you first.

When you ask for God’s forgiveness based upon Christ having already paid for your sins and your having trusted in Him as Savior and Lord, He forgives you. It is as simple as that. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

·     Forgive yourself because you are a new creature in Christ.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5:17)

·     Forgive yourself because you are free to move ahead.

First, guilt can be a healthy emotion that alerts you to your mistakes and the need for change. However, holding onto guilt after repentance and making necessary changes can become unhealthy, keep you emotionally stuck in the past, and prevent you from moving forward. The Bible says, “Whom the Son, sets free, is free indeed!” (John 8:36)

·     Forgive yourself because failing to forgive yourself will blind you spiritually.

Not forgiving yourself will cause you to see things through the eyes of guilt, shame, and condemnation. It will ruin your faith and cause you to go blind spiritually: "But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." (2 Peter 2:9)

Therefore

So, just as Jesus Christ forgave you, do the same and be kind and tenderhearted with forgiveness toward yourself. Then, go do the same for others! 

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32)

“Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matt. 10:8b)