BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF THE FORGIVENESS OF GOD

Have you ever received forgiveness without deserving it? You do or say something that hurts a loved one and you know that you have crossed the line, that you do not deserve forgiveness. But oh, what a great joy! The other person decides to forgive you.

The Bible tells us about this type of forgiveness. It is the forgiveness that God gives us, one that we do not deserve and that many times we do not understand.

In the Bible there are examples of people who made great mistakes, but God forgave them. Here we see three men that God used in a very special way even when, at a certain moment, they failed and acted incorrectly.

Three people forgiven by God:

David

David was the second king of Israel. God chose him from a young age for that position. He was the youngest of 8 brothers, his father's name was Jesse. As a child he was a shepherd and also enjoyed music, played the harp and composed. He wrote many of the Psalms we have in the Bible.

In the books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles we find many accounts of David's life. One of the best known is in 1 Samuel 17 and tells of his victory over Goliath, a giant of the Philistine army. There David showed great courage and confidence in the protection of God. His fame began to grow and this fed the envy in the heart of King Saul who began to persecute him. That is why David had to flee and spent time in exile.

After Saul's death, David returned, was crowned king of Judah, and then king of Israel. His fame and boldness grew over time thanks to the triumphs over many armies. One of his most important achievements was to return the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. As a result he received great promises from God.

However, in 2 Samuel 11 and 12 we read about a dark episode in David's life. During the siege of the city of Rabá , David committed adultery with Bathsheba , wife of Uriah, one of the military. He indirectly sent to kill Uriah to marry Bathsheba . As a consequence of this whole plot, God sent Nathan the prophet to reveal to David the consequences of his actions. We read that the baby fruit of that relationship died. Huge problems and struggles were also unleashed between David and his other children.

All this situation displeased God. It seems that David's repentance came when the prophet Nathan went to speak with him, David reflected and realized his sin, which had failed God. Psalm 51 expresses the pain he felt. David begins the psalm asking for compassion from God and then asks him to intervene in his life.

David acknowledges that his bad actions affected his relationship with others and with God. I needed the restoration that comes with God's forgiveness and we know he received it. God never rejects the heart that humbles itself and recognizes its mistakes. In the same Psalm 51, in verse 7, David writes: "You, O God, do not despise the broken and repentant heart."

God's forgiveness arrived. In Acts 13 we read that Paul was talking with the leaders of the synagogue in Pisidia and among his words of encouragement to them there is a mention to David:

After dismissing Saul, he made David king, of whom he gave this testimony: “I have found in David, son of Jesse, a man according to my heart; He will do everything I want. ”

(Acts 13:22)

A man according to the heart of God! This is what achieves God's forgiveness. It brings us closer to him and drives us to be transformed to become everything he wants us to be.

Learn how to receive God's forgiveness.

Pablo

Saul was born in Tarsus within a family faithful to the Jewish religion. As a young man he learned the trade of making stores. He grew up within the rigor of the Pharisees and became a defender of his beliefs. His great zeal led him to persecute Christians, he considered them a sect that threatened everything he had believed. Saul was present during the stoning of Stephen, considered the first Christian martyr. From that moment his desire to end those who believed in Jesus grew even more.

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all but the apostles dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Pious men buried Esteban and grieved for him. Saul, on the other hand, wreaked havoc on the church: entering from house to house, he dragged men and women and put them in jail.

(Acts 8: 1-3)

In spite of all this God had his eyes on Saul. He saw great potential in him and decided to reveal himself to him. Where others saw a hard heart, full of hatred and eager to end Christians, God saw a heart thirsty for him and purpose, an opportunity to transform a life giving it new meaning.

Saul asked the high priest for permission to go and persecute Christians in Damascus. The permit was granted and the journey began. But God had a special plan.

On the trip it happened that, as he approached Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

" Who are you, Lord?" -I ask.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," the voice replied. Get up and enter the city, there you will be told what you have to do.

The men traveling with Saul were stunned, because they heard the voice, but saw no one. Saul rose from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see, so they took him by the hand and led him to Damascus.

(Acts 9: 3-8)

Saul's life was not the same after his encounter with God. As a persecutor he became a faithful follower of Jesus. That same zeal he had before to persecute Christians used him to talk about God, about Jesus' sacrifice, and about the change he had experienced. Many Christians had trouble accepting him as part of the church, they suspected him. But Saul (now Paul) continued faithful by serving God and helping to expand the message of salvation.

Paul became a great missionary and church planter. The Bible talks about his three missionary trips, his visits to the churches, and also tells us about his sufferings. In the midst of illnesses and persecutions Paul remained faithful to him who had forgiven his mistakes and had given him the opportunity to amend the damage he had done.

In the New Testament there are 13 epistles of his authorship. In them we see reflected the great work he did carrying the message of salvation through Jesus.

Pedro

Pedro belonged to a family of fishermen from the city of Bethsaida and was married. The first encounter he and his brother had with Jesus was special as it gave them a new purpose.

From that moment Peter became one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He was rather coarse and impulsive temperament, characteristics that are reflected in several biblical passages. His impulsiveness led him to speak or act before thinking what it looks like, for example, in Matthew 14: 25-31. He was with the other disciples in a boat when Jesus approached them walking on water. Peter said, "Lord, if it's you, send me to go to you on the water. "Come," said Jesus. Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water in the direction of Jesus ».

Peter was part of the intimate circle of Jesus, the apostles who shared special moments with the Master. He became a kind of spokesperson for the twelve, sometimes declaring great truths.

When he arrived in the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples: Who do people say is the Son of man?

They replied: Some say that it is John the Baptist, others that Elijah, and others that Jeremiah or one of the prophets.

"And who do you say it is me?"

"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," said Simon Peter.

(Matthew 16: 13-16)

During the last dinner we see a very special scene. The disciples begin to argue about which of them would be the most important. Jesus tells them that in his kingdom the most important is the one who serves. He encourages them to follow his example of service, and goes on to speak directly to Pedro.

Simon, Simon, see that Satan has asked to shake you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, so that your faith does not fail. And you, when you have turned to me, strengthen your brothers ».

"Sir," said Peter, "I am willing to go with you both to jail and to death."

"Pedro, I tell you that today, before the rooster crows, three times you will deny that you know me."

(Luke 22: 31-34)

Jesus knew that Peter would deny him and prayed for him, for strength for his faith. Jesus declares that Peter would recover from that great error and that he would become an example for the other disciples of Jesus. So it was!

When Jesus was arrested and taken to the high priest's house, Peter denied three times that he knew him, as Jesus had said. Realizing what he had done, Peter felt a bitter pain in his heart. He had failed the Master! But after the resurrection of Jesus, in John 21: 15-19, we read one of the most beautiful stories of forgiveness and restitution. Jesus asks Peter three times "do you love me?" And every time Peter answers "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you" Jesus gives him a charge: feed my lambs; take care of my sheep; Feed my sheep.

We know that Peter was one of the leaders of the first Christians. In the book of Acts we read how God used him to heal and of his power-filled preaching. The church grew thanks to its faithfulness, its perseverance in carrying the message of salvation.

This is God. Full of love and forgiveness. He is always waiting, longing for us to approach with humility, to give him a chance. He not only forgives us, he also gives us a new purpose. Do not delay in accepting his love and forgiveness.