The Different Aspects Of Forgiveness Are:

God's forgiveness, which is necessary for salvation and His favour toward you.

Your forgiveness of others. This is necessary for your own health. It will also release others to receive God's favour.

Self-forgiveness. This is necessary for your own health spiritually, mentally and physically.

To love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and your neighbour as yourself, means to experience forgiveness and to forgive others as well as yourself. (See the Lord's Prayer, in Matthew 6:12.)

What Scripture Says

“He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us”(Psalm 103:10-12).

“I, even I, am He that blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25).

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (l John 1:8,9).

“And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained'” (John 20:22,23).

The greatest joy ever known and the greatest love ever experienced is when a person is forgiven and cleansed of sin. The Bible says the angels rejoice when one sinner repents. "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents." (Luke 15:10)

"If your life has no joy in it, no victory in it, or no happiness in it, I know why," said a famous preacher of the past. "It is because you have not repented." Even if you are a Christian already, be open to the Holy Spirit when He reveals unconfessed and unforsaken sin. Take seriously your feelings of guilt.

A young soldier felt sullied after committing his first crimson sin. In despair, he cried, "How can I ever face my mother? I would give anything in the world to just feel clean again." You may have similar feelings of shame and remorse. Yet, God said through the prophet Isaiah that there is forgiveness in Jesus: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). Forgiveness is yours. Call on Him. Ask Him to forgive. Receive His forgiveness. It is yours when you repent.
 

Freedom In Forgiveness

Is there some reason why you do not feel free in your spirit? Could it be that you are harbouring unforgiveness toward someone whom you feel has wronged you? To harbour unforgiveness is to hate. And in His Word, God likens hate to the sin of murder.

No matter how you were wronged, all that holding a grudge will do for you is bring about emotional distress, anguish, hate, bitterness, physical illness and a general feeling of unhappiness resulting in spiritual bankruptcy. It is God's business to judge and to bring revenge. You need not labour under a burden that is not yours, nor a responsibility that belongs to God.

If you can get no relief from your burden of guilt, take a fearless and bold inventory of yourself. Do you need to forgive and ask God to forgive some person?

When forgiven, the other person is released from the bondage of the condemnation you have heaped on him or her (Acts 7:60). What you bind is bound. What you loose is loosed (John 20:22,23). When you let go of your bitterness and resentment, God will be free to work with the person toward whom you held these feelings. And you will know release and joy.

God wants you to be free. After you have forgiven, you will experience freedom. It is not worth your spiritual, emotional or physical health to bear the burden of unforgiveness. If possible, tell the person for whom you have carried a grudge that you forgive him or her. The Lord will also help you to forgive and love this person unconditionally.

Forgiveness Of Self

     After knowing God has forgiven you, and after forgiving others who have wronged you, there should be no barrier to hinder you from forgiving yourself. By faith, accept God's Word in Isaiah 43:18,19. Begin to minister honour and respect to God who is doing a new thing in you, by offering sacrifices of praise to Him (Hebrews 13:15).

     Satan will still try to accuse you, but you can resist him. Giving praise to God (exalting God) will cause Satan to flee from you. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. You are free (Romans 8:1,2).

     Pray that you will receive the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, meekness (gentleness, humility), patience and self-control (Galatians 5:22). Thank and praise God for delivering you from any oppressive spirit which would prevent you from receiving. Now thank God for His anointing upon you, and rejoice by praising Him for His great love and mercy to you and others.

This  information was kindly provided by:

The Crossroads Centre  1-866-273-4444
P.O. Box 5100
Burlington, Ontario   L7R 4M2.