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The Bible’s answer. Forgiveness is the act of pardoning an offender. In the Bible, the Greek word translated “forgiveness” literally means “to let go,” as when a person does not demand payment for a debt. Jesus used this comparison when he taught his followers to pray: “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who ...
(Isa 55:7; Lu 15:11-32; Mt 18:23-35) Nevertheless, Jehovah’s forgiveness is not prompted by sentimentality, for he does not leave notorious acts unpunished. Joshua warned Israel that Jehovah would not forgive apostasy on their part. —Jos 24:19, 20; compare Isa 2:6-9. God has a required way for seeking and receiving his forgiveness.
The Bible’s Answer. Yes. The Bible can help us to deal wisely with feelings of guilt. (Psalm 32:1-5) If we have done something wrong but are truly sorry, God will forgive us and help us recover. (Psalm 86:5) The Bible shows that feelings of guilt can at times be beneficial—they can move us to correct a wrong course and to try harder to ...
Jesus asked him, as well as James and John, to keep on the watch while He prayed. Jesus was in emotional agony and in need of support, but Peter and the others fell asleep repeatedly. Jesus made this empathetic and forgiving observation: “The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak.”. — Mark 14:32-41.
Some religious leaders teach that one should grant forgiveness up to three times. So Peter may feel that he would be very generous if he forgave a brother “up to seven times.”. — Matthew 18:21. However, the idea of keeping such a record of wrongs is not in the spirit of Jesus’ teaching. So he corrects Peter: “I say to you, not up to ...
The Bible’s answer. The unforgivable sin refers to actions accompanied by an attitude that keeps a sinner from ever receiving God’s forgiveness. How could such a disposition develop? God forgives those who repent of their sins, follow his standards in their life, and exercise faith in Jesus Christ. (Acts 3: 19, 20) However, a person can ...
Joh 1:29; Eph 1:7; 1Jo 2:1, 2. Relevant Bible account (s): Heb 9:22-28 —The apostle Paul explains how Christ’s blood is the only provision for the forgiveness of sins. Re 7:9, 10, 14, 15 —The apostle John sees in vision “a great crowd” who have a clean standing before God because of Christ’s shed blood.
The Watchtower of September 15, 1994, says: “When you do forgive a sinner, this does not mean that you are condoning the sin. For the Christian, forgiveness means trustfully leaving the matter in Jehovah’s hands. He is the righteous Judge of all the universe, and he will carry out justice at the right time.”.
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS. In the Bible, adultery generally refers to voluntary sexual relations by a married person —either a man or a woman— with someone other than his or her mate. (Job 24:15; Proverbs 30:20) Adultery is a detestable thing in God’s eyes. In ancient Israel the penalty for it was death. (Leviticus 18:20, 22, 29) Jesus taught ...
Oct 1, 2015 · On the positive side, consider the benefits of forgiveness. When we freely forgive others, we preserve unity and peace, thereby safeguarding relationships. More important, we prove ourselves imitators of God, who freely forgives repentant sinners and who expects us to do the same. — Mark 11:25; Ephesians 4:32; 5:1. Should we forgive others ...
