Where in the Bible does it talk about forgiveness?  Jennifer


Jennifer:  I have written an article on forgiveness on this site that you can read for more on my views of forgiveness, but here are a list of some of the scriptures. 

Forgiving Our Enemies

  • We are to love our enemy and do good to them. (Luke 6:35, 37; Prov. 25:21-22; Ex. 23:4,5) 
  • We are not to rejoice in their downfall. (Prov. 24:27) 
  • We are to bless them. (Rom. 12:14-21) 
  •  We are not to seek revenge. 
    • We are to leave vengeance to God. (Roman 12:14-21; I Peter 3:9) 
    • There are consequences to pay for wrong doing. (Prov. 22:8) 
  • Go the extra mile. (Mt 5:7, 39-41, 43-46) 
  • We are to forgive our debtors as Christ forgave us. (Mt. 6:12-15) 
 (We must take note how Christ forgave us.) 



Forgiving Our Brothers & Sisters in Christ
 

  •  We are to forgive our brother. 
    • Whatever grievances we have against one another. (Col. 3:13) 
    • When we pray, if we have ought against someone, we are to forgive. (Mark 11:25) 
    • We are to forgive as God for Christ’s sake forgave us. (Eph. 4:32) 
    • If we don’t forgive, Christ won’t forgive us. (Mt. 6:12, 14, 15) 
    • Forgiveness is an act of obedience, not necessarily feeling. 
  •  Forgiveness and Accountabiliy 
    • There are certain steps outlined in scripture to be followed when one is wronged by another believer. 
    • If our brother sins against us, we are told to rebuke (confront) him.  “If your brother sins against you, rebuke him...” (Luke 17:3) 
    • Also, Matthew 18:25 says, “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you...” 
    • If he repents, we are to forgive him.  “...If he repents, forgive him.  If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, I repent, forgive him.”  (Luke 17:3-4 & Mt. 18:15) 
    • If he will not hear you, then you are to take one or two others along for witnesses. (Mt. 18:16) 
    • If he will not listen to them, it is to be brought before the church. (Mt. 18:17; I Co. 6:4-8) 
    • If he refuses to listen even to the church, he is to be treated as a pagan or a tax collector.  (Mt.18:17) 
    • Forgiveness and unforgiveness is binding.  If we forgive they are forgiven, if we don’t forgive a person, they won’t be forgiven. (John 20:23)  (I don’t understand this totally.) annie