The Chain-Breaking Power of Forgiveness

Before diving in, we’d love to invite you to walk through our five-day devotional, Astonishing Forgiveness. This devotional explores how God empowers us to forgive the impossible through the power of the gospel. You can start the journey here.

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If you have been following along in our Astonishing collection, we have been studying Acts 3-4. Today, we're going to focus on Acts 3:19:

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

When Jesus died on the cross as propitiation for our sins, our sins were not glossed over, but wiped out.

If we want to understand what astonishing forgiveness is, we must also look to Luke 23:24:

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Then, when we read about God's character in Psalm 103, we see that forgiveness is knitted into the very fabric of His being.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 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. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:8-14

Before we address forgiving others, we must first ask you this pivotal question:

1. Have you received forgiveness from God?

If we don't understand the forgiveness we have been given through Christ, how can we forgive others?

The enemy continuously brings up our past sins, yet God has already wiped them clean. Guilt does not honor God — Christ bore our guilt for us.

The purest/greatest demonstration of our comprehension of the riches of the gospel is our willingness to forgive.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

This is the fulcrum — it's not about what we do or don't want to do, but about what He has done for us.

Here are a few clarifying thoughts on forgiveness:

1. Forgiveness does not mean we sweep things under the rug.

God wants justice (especially for egregious, unlawful, or abusive matters).

You can forgive someone and want them to be held accountable.

2. Forgiveness transfers final and complete adjudication to God.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:17-21.

3. You don't get free when forgiveness is received. You get free when you offer it.

God is the forgiver (just and the justifier) because He extended forgiveness, not because everyone has received it.

When we don't forgive others, we carry this burden everywhere we go, like it follows behind us on a chain.

4. Forgiveness is a doorway for true intimacy with God in worship.

Matthew 5:23-24 says, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."