15 Powerful Bible Verses on Forgiveness and True Healing
Forgiveness is a touchy subject. Forgiveness often feels like “letting someone off the hook,” allowing them to escape a horrible situation (which they created) with no consequences. But that’s not Biblical forgiveness. Biblical forgiveness involves recognizing the damage, turning from hurtful actions (repentance), and making wrongs right (restitution).
Forgiveness is not passivity, dear one, it is power. -Beth Moore.
How in the world can we forgive what we can’t forget? True forgiveness that brings real healing flows from understanding and accepting God’s forgiveness of every major or minor thing you’ve ever done wrong.
God forgives you when you wake up in a mood, snapping at everyone you love. God even forgives sins of inaction, when you let some evil go by unchallenged or refuse to help someone in need. He forgives murderers, adulterers, rapists—even contract killers
In fact, a man who did all those things (King David) said this:
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin…Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” -Psalm 51:1-2; 10-12
Once we understand with our minds and hearts how fully and freely God forgives us we can begin to extend that same forgiveness to ourselves and those who have hurt us.
10 Bible Verses About God’s Forgiveness
God’s forgiveness is his incredible free gift to us! Because we have all sinned we need God’s forgiveness to enter into a relationship with a perfect and just God. God’s desire is to quickly and completely forgive us each time we ask.
1. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. -Psalm 32:5
In this Psalm David highlights the blessings of forgiveness after his sin with Bathsheba. He encourages us to confess and reveal sin and allow God to forgive our guilt.
2. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. -Psalm 103:11-12
3. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. -Psalm 130:3-4
God isn’t keeping a big book of our screw-ups. His forgiveness frees us to serve Him and revere Him.
4. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. -1 John 1:5
God is never in need of forgiveness–He is light itself, completely pure and without even a hint of sin.
5. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” -I John 1:9
This is the bedrock verse on forgiveness and is worth memorizing if you struggle with accepting God’s forgiveness. Jesus has done it! Your forgiveness rests on God’s faithfulness, not yours!
There is no work for you to do besides simply acknowledging your sin and turning from it.
6. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. -Colossians 2:13-14
Jesus did the legal legwork to free us forever from the weight of what we deserved for our sins.
RELATED: 10 SCRIPTURES ABOUT FORGIVING OTHERS
7. Then he {God} says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. -Hebrews 10:17-18
God isn’t ruminating on your past! He has purposefully chosen not to hold what you’ve done against you.
8. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. -Ephesians 1:7
God’s grace grants us forgiveness for every time we fall short of God’s standards.
9. God exalted Him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. -Acts 5:31
The whole reason Jesus came to earth was to bring people close to God again by making a way for them to turn away from their sins and experience forgiveness.
10. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. -2 Peter 3:9
God’s forgiveness is closely intertwined with His patience. He isn’t in a rush to judge; His heart is for every person to repent and be forgiven.
5 Bible Verses About Forgiving Yourself
I’d challenge you not to get hung up on “forgiving yourself,” but instead to accept and believe God’s gift of forgiveness in your life. The enemy loves to attack us with our past—telling us we’re unforgivable, useless, and unlovable.
Choose instead to focus on the things God says about you and the new life you have in Christ. You are beloved, chosen, fully forgiven and commissioned to do good things God planned for you long ago.
“Forgiveness means giving up hope for a different past. It means knowing that the past is over, the dust has settled and the destruction left in its wake can never be reconstructed to resemble what it was. It’s accepting that there’s no magic solution to the damage that’s been caused. It’s the realization that as unfair as the hurricane was, you still have to live in its city of ruins. And no amount of anger is going to reconstruct that city. You have to do it yourself.”
-Heidi Priebe, This Is Me Letting You Go
1. Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.” -John 8:10-11
Don’t condemn yourself for things Jesus has set you free from.
2. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. -Isaiah 43:19
God is focused on the new things He is doing in your life! Turn your eyes there too.
3. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. -Ephesians 2:8-10
God has saved you and lavished His grace on you. It’s not about what you’ve done in your past–God has a future of good planned for you from long ago.
4. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. -Psalm 32:5
If you have asked God for forgiveness of sins, then He has forgiven you. Release your guilty feelings–your guilt is gone because of what Jesus did on the cross.
5. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding. -Ephesians 1:7-8
God’s rich grace and forgiveness is lavished on you!
RELATED: 12 BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. God’s Word shows us that forgiveness isn’t pretending nothing happened—it’s letting God heal the hurt, clear the record, and make something new. When you receive His complete, no-strings-attached forgiveness, you’re free to stop carrying guilt, stop replaying old wounds, and start living with an open heart.
Whether you’re learning to forgive yourself, someone who hurt you, or both, remember: you’re not doing this alone. The same God who wipes your slate clean gives you the strength to extend that same grace to others. And in that grace, real healing begins.
Take a few minutes today to pray through these verses, ask God to show you where you’re holding on to hurt, and let Him start the healing work in your heart.
Father, I’m struggling to forgive, to feel forgiveness. Help me to fully understand your love and forgiveness. Give me such a vivid picture of your lavish grace for me. Free me from the guilt and shame that keeps me stuck, circling the same old hurts and wounds. I surrender the justice of my life to you. Help me forgive—myself and others—and find real healing. Amen.
Forgiveness Resources for Believers
Forgiveness is not an easy subject so I would also recommend these resources as well as seek professional mental health counseling for long-term forgiveness struggles.
- It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way
- Forgiving What You Can’t Forget
- The Gift of Forgiveness
- Philemon + Forgiveness
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