Biblical definition of forgiveness:
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness
Character study:
Manasseh – 2 Kings 21:1-18; 2 Chronicles 32:33 – 33:20; Jeremiah 15:4
His father was King Hezekiah who was known for his civil and religious reforms. His mother was Hephzibah.
2 Kings 21:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king and reigned in Jerusalem for fifty-five years.
2 Chronicles 33:12 In his distress he sought the favour of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. V13 And when he prayed to Him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.
Manasseh is known for his:
Detestable pagan practices:
2 Chronicles 33:3-5, Manasseh followed the detestable practices of the pagan nations. He rebuilt the pagan shrines that his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He constructed altars for the images of Baal and set up Asherah poles. He also built pagan altars in the Temple of the LORD and bowed down to them.
His blatant sins against God:
2 Chronicles 33:6-9, he sacrificed his sons in the fire; he practised sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and he consulted with mediums and psychics; he set up a carved idol in God’s Temple,
The Consequence of his sins:
2 Chronicles 33:11, the LORD sent the Assyrian army, who took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains and led him away to Babylon.
Repentance and Confession:
2 Chronicles 33:12-16, Manasseh sincerely humbled himself before God. When he prayed God heard his prayer and forgave his sins bringing him back to Jerusalem. He realized that “the LORD alone is God.” He rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David; removed the foreign gods and the idol from the LORD’S Temple; he encouraged the people of Judah to worship the LORD.
What the Bible teaches about forgiveness.
Old Testament:
2 Chronicles 7:14 is a verse we’ve heard many times recently, as we see the evil and decay of our societies.
God gives His people, the Israelites some conditions for forgiveness: they are to humble themselves; pray to ask for forgiveness; seek God continually; turn from their sinful behaviour.
Nehemiah 9:16-21 In this passage we see that the people repented of their sins. God shows His patience with them and that He is always ready to forgive them for their failures, pride and stubbornness
Psalm 130:1-8 This Psalm assures us that there is forgiveness from the LORD when we confess our sins.
In Isaiah 1:16-19 Isaiah has a message for rebellious Judah. The LORD admonishes them for their sins, but in
v18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” This is such a beautiful verse – we have the promise that, when we are willing and obedient, the LORD will forgive us and remove our most indelible stains.
Micah 7:1-20 is a chapter where misery turns to hope. We see from vv14-20 that once again the LORD shows His compassion for Israel.
New Testament:
Jesus and Forgiveness:
Matthew 9:2-6 – Jesus heals a paralytic – when the people brought a paralyzed man on a mat to Jesus for healing He commended their faith. The first words Jesus said to the man were that his sins have been forgiven. Some of the teachers of the law said that Jesus was blaspheming! Jesus had seen that man not only needed physical healing but also spiritual healing.
Matthew 18:21-22 Peter came to Jesus asking how many times we need to forgive someone that has sinned against us. Jesus told him “seventy times seven”, meaning we should not keep track of how many times we forgive someone.
Luke 7:44-47 – Jesus anointed by a sinful woman – Jesus was having dinner at the home of Simon the Pharisee. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume and stood behind Jesus, wetting His feet with her tears and wiping them with her hair. When questioned about it, Jesus answered that even though she had many sins, they had been forgiven. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little, loves little.
Luke 23:34 When Jesus was nailed to the cross, He was suffering the most horrible, painful death ever devised by sinful man. We cannot even fathom his suffering, but He prayed for the Jewish leaders, Roman politicians and soldiers and the bystanders, asking God to forgive them. This was the ultimate forgiveness.
Luke 23:39-43 Two criminals were hanging on either side of Jesus when He was crucified. One was scoffing at Jesus but the other one rebuked the criminal. He turned to Jesus for forgiveness, and Christ accepted him. It is never too late to turn to God.
Application:
There are times when it is very difficult for us humans to forgive someone that has hurt us. We so often hear the phrase “Forgive and forget” which is easier said than done. We need to remember because Jesus died for our sins on the Cross when we repent and confess our sins, we are forgiven. We so easily ask God to forgive us our sins, and yet it is difficult for us to forgive others that have wronged us.
In Matthew 6:14 Jesus teaches v14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. v15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Ephesians 4:32 can also be a definition of forgiveness, but it should also be applied in our daily life. When you harbour any bitterness, rage or anger against someone it is very difficult to be kind and compassionate but at those times we need to remember: “Because of Jesus we are forgiven.”
Then there are times when we feel that we cannot come to God, because our sins overwhelm us, especially if there has been “backsliding” or we stumble and know that we have consciously sinned. Here we can apply our definition of forgiveness: 1 John 1:9
One thing we need to realize is that Satan will plant seeds of doubt in our minds that we are not forgiven. He also constantly “reminds” us of our past sins. We have this promise from Psalm 103:11-12 God’s love for us is so great that He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.
Finally, let us never forget that we have been saved by grace through faith! We cannot save ourselves – it is a gift from God.
Conclusion:
Psalm 32:1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. V2 Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 32:1-11 – A prayer of knowing forgiveness brings true joy.
To receive forgiveness we need to first repent and then confess our sins. As we see in our definition of forgiveness God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins. When there is true repentance and honest confession we can say with David v11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
(All Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise stipulated)
Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts: