Forgiveness Bible Study

Christian Forgiveness


Christianity Oasis Ministry has provided this Christian Forgiveness Bible study focusing on the many Biblical Forgiveness Bible quotes. We will look into that and all aspects of the Christian Walk. This Christian Forgiveness study reveals Truth bringing forth understanding and genuine peace.

Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Christian Walk Bible program. This is our thought provoking, interesting and intriguing Christian Forgiveness Bible study trek for truth seeking the Truth from the various Biblical Forgiveness Bible quotes and determining exactly how Christian forgiveness Bible verses facts affect Christians today. The absolutely awe inspiring and hope creating message found within this Forgiveness Bible study sharing many excellent Christian forgiveness tips will truly enLIGHTen your Christian path.


Christian Forgiveness Bible Study

Biblical Forgiveness Bible Quotes

Forgiving and Being Forgiven Journey
How to be Forgiven Quest

Forgiveness is something Christians require and need to give back. This Christian Forgiveness has different meanings for different people and sometimes different meanings for the same people, depending on what or who is it is that is being "forgiven" ... As though there are different levels of forgiveness that only apply to who we deem worthy or unworthy of this Forgiveness. But the question is ... What would Jesus consider forgiveness as being? While you let that question simmer in your mind and heart, let's look at what He said about it.

We will be looking at Matthew, Chapter 18.

Just before Jesus spoke on the topic of forgiveness, He made a few other statements leading up to His shared Words on forgiveness. Let's see what Jesus said:

Matthew 18:1-14

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Christian Forgiveness Bible study danger ... Jesus is warning those that would harm the Christians that became as a child. He goes further to speak of the lost children of God and how we are to seek the lost as to bring them back to the Lord. As we proceed, we must remember that Jesus made it clear ...

"It is not the will of your Father which is in Heaven, that one of these little ones should perish."

Keeping this Truth in mind and heart, let us see what Jesus says next ...

Matthew 18:15-18

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.

So, Jesus is saying that if your brother (fellow man) has wronged you go try and work it out between you and that person only. But, if they still don't want to make peace, tell the church (Fellow Christians) and if this person still refuses, we are to think of that person as a heathen and a publican.

Christian Forgiveness Bible study shares these Biblical Forgiveness Bible quotes to remind you that this choice should not be made lightly.

Here are two other verses where Jesus expressed this ...

Matthew 16:19

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

John 20:23

Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

So many are quick to use this Christian Forgiveness Bible quotes scripture in order to condemn a fellow Christian thinking they need only get a few friends to agree with them and they can condemn another. But is that truly what Jesus is saying? I mean ... Did Jesus not just get through warning us of mistreating fellow Christians? Let's look closer at what Jesus said shall we?

Matthew 18:15

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: [make peace], if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Jesus said that if we make peace with our fellow man that we have gained our brother. In the book of James we get a clear picture of what happens when you gain your brother.

James 5:19-20

19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the Truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Wow ... What a Son-derful reward that you receive when you find a way to bring peace to a matter by means of forgiveness! So it is obvious thus far in our Christian Forgiveness Bible study that we are to try diligently to get the one who has wronged us to see the Lord's Truth as to be set free. But, if the person refuses to hear you, this is what Jesus says to do:

Matthew 18:19-20

19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

This concept of having two or more witnesses needed to condemn someone, comes from the law that was given in the Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 19:15

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

It is obvious that the intent of this act is to get the person to see the error of their ways as to be forgiven which will save the soul. This whole Biblical Forgiveness Bible quotes topic brought up a question in Peter's mind ...

Matthew 18:21-22

21 Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

This is an obvious statement by Jesus that we are not to seek ways to condemn another but rather to seek ways to restore peace between us all. Christian Forgiveness Bible quotes trivia ... Lemme ask you something ... In 99.9% of every problem between two people what do both parties want? The answer is ... An apology. If the apology is given, in most cases it is then suddenly easy to forgive the other.

I cannot even fathom how many friendships have been dissolved cuz one or the other held such pride that they could not say these two simple words ... I'm sorry. If they would have, Grace would have been bestowed and the friendship would have been stronger. Have you ever pondered on that and how that Grace may work with the Forgiveness that God has granted us?

I wanna share a quick Christian Forgiveness Bible study story ...

There was once a young child who lived in a culture where people could easily become a slave when they grew up and as many had before ... This child too became enslaved. The slave driver was very cruel and there was no peace in this slave's life. The slave driver constantly hounded the slave. The slave was used and abused for many years.

After some time, this lifestyle began to wear on the slave and the slave's health began to affect the slave's productivity. The owner, seeing this slave was no longer of any value, decided to sell the slave at an auction. When the slave stepped onto the platform to be sold, there was only silence as it was obvious to all that this slave was of no value. Then a voice sounded out from the crowd and offered a substantial amount for this slave. Obviously nobody was going to bid any higher so the slave became the property of the stranger in the crowd.

The slave was brought in chains to the stranger and the slave with their weakened, battered body lifted their eyes to meet their new owner. As they looked into the strangers eyes they felt the chains fall off of their swollen wrists. They looked down to see that their new owner had removed the chains and the new owner said ... GO, you are free. The slave thinking this a trick, just stood there. The new owner repeated his words and explained that the slave was free and could do whatever he wanted to do and began to walk away.

The slave pondered on what had just happened and began to follow the man that had freed him and when the man noticed that he was being followed, he stopped and asked the newly freed soul why they were following him. The renewed soul said ... I CHOOSE to serve YOU.

In like manner many of us have become slave to sin in our past and after being slave to sin for so very long, our soul became torn and tattered and we were unable to perform anything worthy. The Lord saw within us a valuable asset to His cause and bought us with a price ... his blood. he now allows us to choose what we will do and it is his grace that touches our heart and has us choose to follow and serve Him.

Forgiveness is a powerful thing!

Am I Forgiven Bible Verses on Being Forgiven and How to Be Forgiven Today

Let's do a little digging and find out what Forgiveness is? Remember when I said earlier that the meaning of forgiveness differs from person to person and circumstance to circumstance? Well, the reason we seem to have given the act of forgiveness different levels, is so that we can say we've forgiven, without really forgiving as we know in our heart we are to do. We feel like as long as we've achieved or performed any given level of forgiveness, we can take credit for the total act of this very important virtue.

Let us take a look at the different levels of Christian Forgiveness that humans have chosen to divide the holy act of Christian forgiveness up into. You can decide for yourself, which level(s) you've chosen to grant to the people in your life. Some of these may sound the same to you, but many people don't like to admit to something (even to themselves) unless every word in the description are the very words they would use. These aren't in any order of importance.

Forgiveness Levels

  1. You forgive outwardly for others to believe that you have, but inside you just can't seem to forgive. You want to but you feel that you cannot so you just carry on with it in your mind and heart.
  2. You claim to forgive, but your relationship has never been quite the same with the person ... and never will be. You tolerate the offender as much and as you can bear to, because Jesus said to forgive. Sometimes you rarely speak, if ever again, and the relationship virtually ends after the so-called forgiveness.
  3. You say that you forgive the offense, but you ridicule, deride, mock, taunt or challenge the offender at every turn, sometimes in anger and other times in humor.
  4. You cease to feel resentment against an offender, but you really don't trust them anymore. You can forgive but you can't forget. You store a record of the offense in the back of your mind just in case you need to bring it up at a later date for any reason.
  5. As long as you're in a good mood, your Christian forgiveness abounds, but wake up on the wrong side of the bed, and anyone who has ever sinned against you is a scoundrel until your mood changes.
  6. You pick and choose who you do and do not forgive. Some people are just not worthy and others are easily forgiven despite that which they did.
  7. You pardon someone totally and unconditionally. You continue to love the person who sinned against you, just as you did before the offense. It's as though it never even happened. Recollections of the offense are not used for any reason. You don't forget that you're a sinner yourself and mercy and Grace are the greatest gift that God has given you through Jesus Christ.

Maybe the level of Christian forgiveness that you use isn't included here. If it's not, go ahead and add it (or them) in, because there are bound to be millions of conditions and levels that fall in between these categories, or have additional little addenda. It's okay, we're all guilty of it at some point in our lives.

Now, let's take a Christian Forgiveness Bible study field trip and look at the word forgive. The prefix for means before and the word give, in this case, means commit. So, perhaps to forgive ... To really forgive is to think of things as they were before the offense was committed. You may say, That's a tough thing to do, until you think about it this way: Have you ever done anything that you wish you had never done? Is there something that if you could, you would totally erase it from your life, that it would be forgotten totally from anyone's memory who knows about it? It won't happen unless you forgive others the same way.

Jesus said:

Matthew 7:2

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Now that you turn things around, and your own forgiveness of others is involved, you can relate better to the phrase "forgive and forget" ... To sum up this whole definition business, it would be fair to say that to forgive is to forget.

Here is a little Biblical Forgiveness Bible quotes tidbit of Truth ... It's hard on both the offender and the victim of a sin, when forgiveness is not granted. For the offender, they feel untrusted and ashamed. It can weaken a person's soul to live with knowing that they're not forgiven for something that they're so sorry for. It's as if there's an invisible net around them that they can't escape. To repent for something we've done, and not to be forgiven, is an experience that God didn't want us to bear, and that's the whole reason why we have the New Testament, and why Jesus died for us. It's a shame that we've defiled this beautiful gift of Grace by putting it into levels. Forgive others the way you want to be forgiven by God for things that you've done.

Another Christian Forgiveness Bible study trivia question ... What about if you're the victim of a sin? Let's say someone has committed a sin against you and you don't forgive them. How can being unforgiving ... Hurt you? It's in your subconscious mind if you haven't completely forgiven someone for something. Your mind knows what level you've assigned to each act of forgiveness you've granted. You don't think about it all the time, but the knowledge of it is there. This can cause bitterness in your spirit that can affect other parts of your life. Your faith will feel like it's tainted with guilt. That's because you're being measured by God with the same forgiveness scale that you're using. Your lack of trust in your offender can cause you to be untrusting of others as well. If your offender is a loved one, you can become blameful of them for unrelated things that happen in your life.

Here is a Christian Forgiveness Bible study quote to ponder upon ...

"Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies."
~Margaret Stunt~

Now, obviously this does not mean that you must trust ALL of those who have hurt you, in particular when terrible crimes were committed and allow what occurred to happen again ... God forbid. It means that you should not let the lack of trust in them, establish a habit within you and have you walk in fear, unable to trust anyone else.

In a perfect world, when we forgive someone, it would really truly be as if the offense never happened. We would be able to Love, communicate, befriend, trust, and continue in our relationships with one another as if the offense was erased from time. My friend, that is the description of how it is in Heaven and this earth is not a perfect world. Where we fear continued abuse from an offender, we must forgive the best way we know how. If you are facing circumstances that require Christian forgiveness that risks your physical or psychological safety, prayer is essential. Ask Jesus how to completely forgive and release someone from offenses where communication seems impossible afterward.

The Christian Forgiveness Bible study point is ... Being unforgiving can cause a chain of circumstances that prevent you from being fruitful for God. Until you completely release your offender from his sin, you'll remain in the same net that you've put him in.

We've done a pretty thorough job of putting Christian forgiveness into levels, now let's look at the levels that we've put sin into. What about people? Do you find it easier to forgive a loved one than an acquaintance or a stranger for the same offense? Are there sins that we simply find unforgivable and others that we have no problem whatsoever forgetting? To that, I have to ask you, are there some sins that you've committed that you think God should hold you accountable for, or do you want Him to forgive all of your sins?

Jesus addressed this very thing.

Mark 11:25-26

25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Another Biblical Forgiveness Bible quotes warning ... Did you catch that? If you have anything against any. Forgive all or you won't be forgiven. Sorry, there are no levels for all. All means all. It doesn't limit the number(s) or the intensity of the sin(s), or even how long ago they happened, it's infinite.

Our report card on our forgiveness performance will be administered to us on judgment day and we'll be remembered in God's eyes exactly the way we remembered (or forgave) others.

Let's pick up where we left off in our Christian Forgiveness Bible study with Jesus sharing with us about true forgiveness ...

Matthew 18:23-35

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. [A talent is an ancient coin of a certain weight.]
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. [The king actually set the servant free and wiped out the debt.]
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: [That's about one millionth of the debt that the king forgave him for.] and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Okay, back to the beginning of our Christian Forgiveness Bible study ... Remember the question we began with? What would Jesus consider forgiveness? My friend, the answer is this: He's gonna use the definition that you choose . . . On you! With that in mind, you may want to consider how generous you are with the gift of forgiveness that you grant to others ... And to yourself!

Yes, that's right, the Forgiveness Bible quotes say that you must forgive yourself too. Let's say you are a merciful person to everyone that you know, but you're very hard on yourself and you have things pent up inside that you just can't seem to let go of. Things that you've even forgiven others for, you find hard to forgive yourself for. It's a tough one, I know.

As Christians, we know and understand that God forgives us, and we don't (usually) have a problem forgiving others. But, ourselves ... We just can't seem to get the hang of it, now can we? I have another question to ask you. Does God still forgive us if we don't forgive ourselves?

Remember what Jesus said?

Mark 11:25-26

25 And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any: so your Father in Heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if you don't forgive, neither will your Father in Heaven forgive you.

Forgiveness Bible quotes make it clear ... Forgive All means ALL, remember. You count too. Are you not His child? Not only do we have to concern ourselves with not being forgiven if we fail to forgive but also becoming victim to a trap of Satan.

This Truth is shared by Paul ...

2 Corinthians 2:10-11

10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

I have another Christian Forgiveness Bible study Truth to share with you. Way down deep inside of us, there's a twisted misconception that if we hold on to feelings of guilt, it somehow justifies us in God's eyes. This is the total opposite of what your Father wants for you. He didn't sacrifice His precious Son so that we would harbor feelings of guilt. He did it so we would be completely free of that.

Guilt is a bad seed. As long as it's buried down deep, it WILL grow. Unattended, it will become a big problem in your garden, because it will bloom and go to seed, and soon you'll have a whole bunch of little problems that grow into big problems and it just keeps getting worse and worse. Once God forgives you, He doesn't remember it. You are cleansed of it. Pure as a little baby. And that's how your Father sees you.

Look at this Christian forgiveness from God's point of view. Let's say you're a loving parent, whose child has done something wrong. You may chasten the child, or some other circumstances may arise that bring him to repentance. Your precious child comes to you to confess, and asks forgiveness.

Then you forgive him lovingly, and all is well. Later on, you're walking past the closed door of your child's room and you hear your little one crying and rapping his head on the wall, because he feels badly for what he's done. How does that make you feel? Maybe it makes you feel like he doubts your forgiveness.

Now, knowing that you are God's child, how can you serve the Lord effectively and efficiently, as long as you carry guilt inside of you?

Here is the Christian Forgiveness Bible study summary ... As adult Christians, we understand that God forgives us, so the bad feelings of guilt that we store up inside are in Truth, self pity. You're wasting your time feeling guilty. You're wasting precious time that you could be using toward God's plans for your life. Lose the guilt, and get on with the God business. Put on your garden gloves, get a good hold on that weed, and eliminate it from your life once and forever.

Biblical Forgiveness Bible quotes have shown us that Forgiveness is the removal of sin. Once it's removed, it's gone. God did the job. You don't have to go and clean up after Him. Think of what an insult that must be.

Let go and let God!

Here is a very important Christian Forgiveness Bible study reminder ... It's never too late to forgive. There may be something that happened years ago, maybe even in your childhood that you haven't completely forgiven someone for. You can change that. You can free yourself and other people to be more fruitful for God if you do. If someone hasn't forgiven you for something, perhaps you'd like to ask them to forgive you. You're not only seeking for peace for your own soul, but you're also giving them a chance to escape that invisible net that they've unknowingly put themselves in as well.

Now let's type about that question that has been simmering in the mind and heart pf many. What does Jesus deem as true Forgiveness?

The answer was given upon the Cross ... Grace!

Remember the Christian Forgiveness story of the slave and how it applies to our Christian walk? Grace and forgiveness do not need to be deserved. we can offer it to any person at any time for any crime that we choose to.

Here is an interesting Biblical forgiveness concept ... What if that is the whole test to see if we will choose to grant the same Grace and Love that we received from our loving Father, to His children. We are truly forgiven if we ask for forgiveness and choose to forgive all others unconditionally. Not a bad deal.

As Christians, God's Grace and the Holy Spirit are the most precious gifts that we have received from our loving and precious Heavenly Father.

The Christian Forgiveness Bible study delving into the many Biblical Forgiveness Bible quotes bottom line is this ... We need to learn how to extend our own mercy and Grace to others whether we believe that they deserve it or not. Every day is a new beginning, every moment, a fresh start. Clean your slate and give others a chance to clean theirs too. You must choose to forgive others, to be forgiven. That is how to be forgiven.

Love and forgive all!