How Do I Get God’s Forgiveness?

List by Ami Hendrickson

Imagine knowing that all my sins have been forgiven. The slate of my life has been wiped clean. God has erased every failure and fall. The Bible promises that this is His fondest desire. Here’s how:

I must forgive others if I expect God to forgive me

Matthew 6:14-15

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Jesus will forgive every sin I confess

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Forgive first, then pray

Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.

God's forgiveness is an act of grace

Ephesians 1:7

In whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

Humility and repentance lead to forgiveness

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

When I repent of my sins, my baptism publicly symbolizes my forgiveness

Acts 2:36-38

“Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the emissaries, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”