The First Blessing Every Believer Must Know: Forgiveness by Grace
The very first blessing every believer must clearly understand is found in
Ephesians 1:7
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
Ephesians 2:8:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
The word saved here means being rescued from the judgment and penalty of sin. Our salvation did not come through our effort, goodness, or obedience—it came as a gift from God, expressed through the forgiveness of our sins. Without believing and embracing this truth, the Christian life cannot begin well. Sadly, many Christians live unaware of this foundational reality, even though it is one of the cornerstones of our faith.
Romans 8:1 declares:
“There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
This verse assures us that God no longer condemns or accuses us. In Christ, we are forgiven—fully and completely. This forgiveness is not only for our comfort but also becomes the basis for how we respond to others. We are forgiven so that we may forgive those who harm us. But let us be honest—forgiving others is not easy.
Under the old covenant, sin brought judgment and destruction because God is holy, righteous, and perfect. Sin cannot coexist with Him. Humanity, created in God’s image, fell into disobedience and could not escape judgment on its own. The Law was given, not to save humanity, but to reveal how sinful we truly are (Romans 3:20). Therefore, salvation had to come from God alone.
John 3:16–17 reveals God’s solution:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Here is a profound truth: even God’s forgiveness came at a great cost. At the appointed time (Galatians 4:4), Jesus Christ shed His blood, was crucified, and died. Forgiveness was not easy—even for God. It required sacrifice.
When Jesus said to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:5), the scribes questioned His authority. Jesus demonstrated that forgiving sins is something impossible for humans but possible for God alone. As the Son of Man, Jesus exercised divine authority.
Once, Jesus told His disciples:
“Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.” (Luke 17:4)
The apostles immediately responded, “Increase our faith!” They understood that forgiveness requires faith. Jesus then explained that even faith as small as a mustard seed is sufficient. This shows that forgiving others has never been easy—even for the apostles.
Forgiveness requires humility, faith, and the strength to release pain, bitterness, resentment, and the desire for revenge. Most people do not naturally possess this strength. Forgiving does not mean forgetting the offense, but it does mean choosing not to retaliate, not to hold bitterness, and not to live wounded. Bitterness can destroy a person and derail them from God’s purpose.
Our God is good. He not only forgives us, but He also empowers us to forgive others. He wants us to first recognize how much we ourselves have been forgiven (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32).
The parable of the unforgiving servant teaches us the contrast between how greatly we are forgiven and how little we are often asked to forgive. It also warns us of the consequences of refusing forgiveness. God calls us to acknowledge our sins and confess them before Him.
1 John 1:9 says:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Confession matters to God—both past and present sins. Furthermore, God intentionally gave us the Holy Spirit so that we may live out this forgiveness. After His resurrection, Jesus breathed on His disciples and said:
“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21)
Then He said:
“Receive the Holy Spirit… If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.” (John 20:22–23)
This makes it clear: the Holy Spirit is the power that enables us to forgive. That is why the new covenant places such strong emphasis on being filled with the Holy Spirit. Simply knowing that we are forgiven is not enough—we need the Spirit’s power to extend that forgiveness to others.
As we step into 2026, let us seek a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. He is our Counselor, Helper, Comforter, and the divine power that enables us to forgive—no matter how deep the wound.
Forgiveness is possible, not by human strength, but by the Spirit of God.
How to forgive others?
For this we have to refer to two important verses.
1 Peter 3:9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.
Luke 6:27-28 “…love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.”
Since we ourselves have been forgiven, we must be kind, tenderhearted, and humble enough to recognize that we were once the same—or that we may have unknowingly done similar things to others. With this understanding, we can choose to forgive. When we are alone, we can say—quietly or even aloud—“I forgive him (say the name if you know it) in Jesus’ name,” and continue to say it until we experience the peace of God within us. This should be done as soon as we feel hurt, cursed, hated, or insulted by others.
In both 1 Peter 3:9 and Luke 6:28, we find a common instruction: to bless those who curse, hurt, or insult us. Therefore, the next step in forgiving others is to bless them in Jesus’ name. 1 Peter 3:9 clearly says, “…pay them back with a blessing.” We can bless them in their health, finances, family, business, career, ministry, and every area of life. The same verse reminds us that blessing others—regardless of the situation—is our calling.
The third step is found in the second part of Luke 6:28, which says, “Pray for those who hurt you.” Forgiving someone in Jesus’ name and blessing them may still not be enough in some cases. We must continue to pray for them—both in our known language and in our unknown tongue—as long as necessary, even for many days.
All of this is possible only by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Let anyone who has ears hear what the Spirit is saying.”
Amen.