Survey of The Subject of Forgiveness in the Bible

• Why Forgiveness Is Necessary – Rom. 3:23.
• God’s Offer to Forgive Sinners – Col. 1:13,14.
• Accepting God’s Offer – Acts 2:38.
• Seeking Forgiveness After Baptism – 1 Jno. 1:9.
• Forgiving Ourselves – Rom. 8:1 & 1 Jno. 1:9-2:3.
• Forgiving Those Who Sin Against Us – Matt. 6:12, Col. 3:13.
• How Many Times – Luke 17:3,4.
• Do We Just Overlook The Sin – Luke 17:3,4. Eph. 4:15.
• Never Excuse Wrongdoing, Gal. 6:1 & Jno. 15:22
• Can We Forgive Someone On Behalf of God? NO, Isa. 43:25.
• This human-to-human forgiveness releases personal bitterness or a cancelled debt, though it does not replace or substitute for God’s ultimate spiritual forgiveness of sin.

Illustrations:

~ Doctor dies; family opens his accounting documents. The Dr. had written next to several outstanding accounts of poor patients – FORGIVEN. Family sued in court to get payment. Judge: “In this case, there is not a court in the land that can collect this money. The Dr. has plainly written, “FORGIVEN” on these accounts. His signature bears his authority. WHEN GOD SAYS IN HIS WORD, “FORGIVEN,” THE CASE IS CLOSED: Micah 7:18; Psalms 32:1,2; Rom. 4:7,8.

~ The Story of 800 Pacos. (Earnest Hemingway)

• The Estrangement: A father and his teenage son named Paco (a very common Spanish nickname for Francisco) have a falling-out, and Paco runs away to Madrid, Spain.
• The Advertisement: Desperate to find his son, the father places an ad in a local Madrid newspaper. It reads: “Dear Paco, meet me in front of the Madrid newspaper office (or Hotel Montana) tomorrow at noon. All is forgiven. I love you. Your father.”
• The Turnout: When the father arrives at noon the next day, he finds a massive crowd—roughly 800 young men named Paco—waiting. Each of them showed up hoping the message was meant for them, carrying a deep personal longing for reconciliation and their own father’s forgiveness.

Meaning

• Human Longing: people everywhere carry hidden guilt, brokenness, and a universal hunger to be unconditionally loved and forgiven.
• Spiritual Parallel: It is often compared to biblical themes, such as the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, representing God the Father waiting with open arms to pardon anyone who comes home.

Compiled by Warren E. Berkley