Forgiveness Promised
“And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.”
Matthew 6:12, KJV
*“I can’t do it, Tom.” Sam wrung his hands and hung his head. In a shaky voice, he explained. “I know what you say is true. Jesus did die to forgive my sin. He paid my penalty—But I’m afraid I can’t live it—afraid I will fail Him.”
Sam did not truly believe Jesus had the power to save him from himself. He did not know the promise the Lord made to Paul.
“And He has said to me,
‘My grace is sufficient for you,
for power is perfected in weakness.’”
2 Corinthians 12:9a; NASB
Sam believed he had to make himself perfect, not believing the Lord would be the one to finish the work of salvation once it was received. The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians—
“For I am confident of this very thing,
that He who began a good work in you
will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
(1:6; NASB)
Some believe when we receive God’s gift of forgiveness, when we are first saved from sin’s penalty and power, never again do we have to ask for forgiveness of our daily cleansing—and we don’t for salvation—but we do to know the joy of sweet fellowship with the Lord.
The apostle John writes the Lord’s promise to us, the saved, saying—
“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and righteous 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. My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin.
And if anyone sins,
we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous;
and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins;
and not for ours only,
but also for those of the whole world.”
1 John 1:8-2:2; NASB
The Promises:
- God’s grace is enough to finish His work of perfection in us.
- If we are compelled by guilt to confess our sin to the Lord, He forgives us all—no matter who we are or what we have done.
- Not only does Jesus forgive, He washes us from all unrighteousness. He makes us right with the Father.
- We have an Advocate—One who stands before the Father for us—His own and for those yet to become His own.
These promises are for all who walk in the forgiveness of our Lord, those who can say along with the apostle John—
“what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also,
that you also may have fellowship with us;
and indeed our fellowship is with the Father,
and with His Son Jesus Christ.
And these things we write,
so that our joy may be made complete.”
1 John 1:3-4, NASB
There is another condition and promise to add to promise number two.
“For if you forgive men for their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”
Matthew 6:14,15, NASB
A Prayer for Us: Heavenly Father, you have made complete provision for our salvation from sin’s penalty and power through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Your grace will see us through to life eternal. You have given us your Holy Spirit to have power over the flesh and provided for our daily cleansing to keep your joy flowing through us. May we be as quick and faithful to forgive those who hurt us or others as you are to forgive and comfort us from our sin. Thank you, Jesus.
*Tom is my husband and Sam is not his friend’s real name. We don’t know the end of that story.
Have a blessed weekend and be careful to not let unforgiveness rob your joy of being with the Father.