When I Don’t Want to Forgive

No other love we can experience will ever compare to the love Christ Jesus offers. We may get glimpses of love shown by others, but it will never compare to what Jesus has to offer. His love is so pure, strong, measureless, fulfilling, and satisfying. He completely understands us. He has provided for us when we fail. He always longs for us to be in relationship with Him.

John 3:16 displays a simple yet profound layout of God’s love toward us. The world needed a Rescuer because God’s good creation was broken by sin when the first humans went their own way against God. When we were all hurtling toward death because of sin, God intervened. Because God loved the world He created, He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully human. Jesus willingly sacrificed His own life on the cross to forgive sin, and He rose from the dead—defeating all sin, death, and brokenness. Whoever believes in Christ Jesus will be saved and have eternal life—living with God forever. Believing in Jesus means putting our trust in the person of Jesus, with all that He has accomplished in His life, death, and resurrection.

Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we are forgiven and free. And we can be sure that nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love, no matter what sin we’ve committed. God’s grace is enough; Jesus took the penalty for all our past, present, and future sins on the cross. And when Jesus returns, He will resurrect us from the dead and renew His creation!

As believers in Jesus, we are forgiven, loved, and redeemed—and this truth affects the way we live. Jesus said in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.†Christians aren’t slaves to sin anymore (Romans 6:15-23). Because Jesus’ Holy Spirit is in us, He empowers us to follow Him, saying no to sin and instead living in God’s good ways as His love overflows from us. But no matter how many times we fail, Jesus’ forgiveness is always enough to guarantee our eternal future with Him. • Rebecca Miner

• The good news of Jesus is a wonderful mystery that God reveals to us through His Word. You can read more about the good news on our “Know Jesus” page.

• When we understand that we need the gospel, this naturally flows into a desire to share the good news with others! What opportunities might God be giving you to share the gospel?

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (CSB)

Read Verses:

Matthew 18:21-35