“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
As a hospice chaplain, my husband, Philip, hears many heartbreaking, end-of-life confessions from individuals who are leaving this world in a matter of days, weeks, and months.
Often, they tell him about a deep sorrow, regret, or failure they have been carrying around in their hearts and minds for decades, sometimes from their youth, unable to receive the forgiveness they so desperately long for in their lives, or change what happened and make wrongs right.
Like the people he talks with, how many of us are carrying around the sorrow and grief of our sin, unable to let go of it, receive forgiveness, and move past it?
With God’s help, many of us are able to forgive others for their wrongs against us, drawing from the forgiveness God so freely offers to all. Yet, when it comes to receiving forgiveness for our own sin, it often seems harder to grasp.
Why does it seem far more difficult, even impossible for many, to receive forgiveness for our own failures?
Although people say, “Forgive yourself,” the truth is, that can’t ever happen because we don’t have the power to forgive our own sins. As long as we keep trying to find it deep within ourselves, we’ll not ever receive it because it’s not something we have been given the ability to do. We must look to Jesus and receive His forgiveness to receive forgiveness for ourselves.
While dying on the cross, “Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing'” (Luke 23:34).
Jesus offers us forgiveness that we aren’t able to give ourselves. Scripture doesn’t encourage us to forgive ourselves but rather points us to Jesus as the source of our forgiveness because we won’t ever be able to find it within ourselves.
After King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, he didn’t seek to forgive himself but turned to God for forgiveness: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2).
Attempting to forgive ourselves rather than receiving God’s forgiveness is to deny Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, believing the forgiveness we offer ourselves is greater than what He offers us. But Ephesians 1:7 explains that “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
This includes receiving the forgiveness we need for ourselves. No matter how broken, shameful, and regretful we may feel about past sins, Isaiah 1:18 explains, “'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.’”
Revelation 1:5 describes how Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the Dead, and the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth, loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood.
Once God forgives our sins, we don’t have to keep remembering and going over and over them again, because He doesn’t. We’re not asked to keep bringing them up and feeling guilty and remorseful over them. His forgiveness covers it once and for all and is more than enough to wipe our sins away forever.
In Hebrews 10:16-17 the Holy Spirit testifies concerning God’s view of past sins: ”'This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.’ Then he adds: ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.’”
God assures us in Psalm 103:11-12, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father,
Free us from the sorrow, grief, and regret of carrying around our past sins and failures. Help us to let it go and receive the forgiveness You so generously offer us through Jesus Christ.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Photo Credit: ©PetarPaunchev from Getty Images via Canva Pro
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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Originally published Monday, 22 July 2024.
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