Question 1

What does the Bible say about forgiveness?

Accepted Answer

The Bible presents forgiveness as both a gift from God (1 John 1:9, Psalm 103:12) and a command from God (Ephesians 4:32, Matthew 6:14). God's forgiveness through Christ is complete and permanent, and believers are called to extend that same quality of forgiveness to others.

Question 2

How many times does the Bible say to forgive someone?

Accepted Answer

When Peter asked if forgiving seven times was enough, Jesus answered "seventy times seven" (Matthew 18:22). This is not a literal 490 times but a way of saying that Christian forgiveness should be unlimited, it should not be counted or have a cap.

Question 3

Does forgiveness mean forgetting?

Accepted Answer

God promises to "remember our sins no more" (Hebrews 8:12), but for humans, forgiveness and forgetting are different things. Forgiveness is a decision of the will to release the debt of an offense; forgetting may or may not follow. The Bible calls us to choose forgiveness and to not repeatedly bring up the offense (Proverbs 17:9).

Question 4

What if I cannot forgive someone who hurt me deeply?

Accepted Answer

The Bible acknowledges that forgiveness is hard and commands it anyway (Colossians 3:13), grounding it in Christ's example. Many find it helpful to start by praying for willingness to forgive, to release the person to God's judgment rather than holding a personal debt, and to understand that forgiveness is primarily for the forgiver's freedom. It can be a process rather than a single moment.

Question 5

What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation?

Accepted Answer

Forgiveness is unilateral, you can forgive someone whether or not they repent or even acknowledge the wrong. Reconciliation is bilateral, it requires both parties and involves rebuilding the relationship. The Bible commands us to forgive all people (Ephesians 4:32) but conditions reconciliation on repentance in some passages (Luke 17:3).

Forgiveness — Page 6