Sunday, I spoke about how hard it is sometimes for us to forgive others. We understand the principle of forgiveness, but putting it into practice as we are commanded is sometimes difficult and seemingly impossible. Our greatest example of forgiveness is God and the forgiveness that He has made available to all who seek it.

Most do not take much pleasure in thinking of God as being a God of judgment and wrath. But, we need to keep in mind the reason for His exhibiting those very characteristics is because sin, unrighteousness, unfaithfulness, wickedness, and evil, all are contrary to God’s nature and self-destructive to those who practice such. God is always and completely righteous, and He created us in His own image. He holds us accountable for living up to that image as best we can. While God condemns sin and warns us to abstain from it (1 Thess. 5:22), He is also a merciful God and is eager to forgive when we repent and seek His forgiveness.

God not only has the ability and willingness to forgive, but He also wants to forgive. Forgiveness must be preceded by repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). Repentance is not just being sorry (2 Cor. 7:9). Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change in behavior. It is a turn-around in practice that includes a turning away from sin.

When Jesus forgave the woman taken in adultery, He told her to “sin no more” (Jn. 8:11); that’s repentance. Jesus taught His disciples to forgive a brother who might sin against them, even if he should sin against them on a repeated basis and in the same day. The condition for the forgiveness, however, was that the brother was to repent (Lk. 17:3-4). Repentance is required in the process of conversion (Acts 3:19), before being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).