1So he got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town. 2 Just then, some men brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”
Matthew 9:1-2 (CSB)
6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—then he told the paralytic, “Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.” 7 So he got up and went home. 8 When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and gave glory to God, who had given such authority to men.
Matthew 9:6-8 (CSB)
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Matthew 6:12 (CSB)
HOW DOES GOD FORGIVE?
1. God’s forgiveness is immediate.
2 Just then some men brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”
Matthew 9:2 (CSB)
6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—then he told the paralytic, “Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.” 7 So he got up and went home.
Matthew 9:6-7 (CSB)
7 Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive.
Isaiah 55:7 (CSB)
2. God’s forgiveness wipes the slate entirely clean.
13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. 14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 2:13-14 (CSB)
34 No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.
Jeremiah 31:34 (CSB)
3. God’s forgiveness is again and again.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (CSB)
25 Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.
Hebrews 7:25 (CSB)
4. God’s forgiveness is given generously.
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:23-24 (CSB
8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB)