Embracing Forgiveness: The Heart of Our Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Forgiveness is the Foundation of Our Faith

Forgiveness is not just a virtue but the very ground on which our faith stands. Without forgiveness, relationships—whether marriages, families, friendships, or communities—cannot survive or thrive. We are all bound to hurt others and be hurt ourselves, and the ability to say “I am sorry” and “I forgive you” is essential for freedom and joy in life. When we lack forgiveness, bitterness and pain take root, but when we practice it, we open ourselves to healing and restoration. Let us remember that God’s grace always precedes us, inviting us to live as people marked by mercy and reconciliation. [10:33]

Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Reflection: Who is one person you need to say “I’m sorry” or “I forgive you” to this week, and what would it look like to take the first step toward reconciliation?

Day 2: Confession Brings Freedom and Joy

When we hold onto guilt and remain silent about our shortcomings, it drains us of life and peace. Yet, when we confess our sins honestly before God, we experience the relief and happiness that comes from being forgiven. Like the psalmist, we are invited to lay bare our hearts, trusting that God is faithful to forgive and restore us. Confession is not about excusing our actions but about seeking reconciliation and the restoration of right relationship with God, which brings true freedom and joy. [30:05]

Psalm 32:1-5 (ESV)
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Reflection: Is there a burden of guilt or regret you have been carrying in silence? What would it look like to bring it honestly before God in prayer today?

Day 3: Jesus Offers Grace, Not Condemnation

In the story of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus refuses to condemn her, even as others are eager to judge and punish. He exposes the hypocrisy of those who would cast stones and instead offers the woman forgiveness and a new beginning. The hardest words to believe may be “neither do I condemn you,” yet Jesus speaks them to us as well, inviting us to accept God’s acceptance and walk in freedom. His grace restores us, not just in private, but within the community, breaking the power of shame and opening a new future. [37:05]

John 8:3-11 (ESV)
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Reflection: Are there words of condemnation—either from others or from yourself—that you need to let go of in order to receive Jesus’ grace today?

Day 4: Forgiveness Is Possible Even in a Broken World

In a world marked by violence, injustice, and brokenness, forgiveness can seem impossible or even naïve. Yet, Jesus models a radical forgiveness, even from the cross, praying for those who harm him. The path to reconciliation is not simple, and sometimes it is wise to sit with the pain and complexity before rushing to resolution. Still, we are called to hope that forgiveness and restoration are possible, both individually and collectively, trusting that God’s grace can break through even the hardest situations. [42:40]

Luke 23:33-34 (ESV)
And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Reflection: Where do you see brokenness in the world or in your community that feels beyond forgiveness? How might you pray for God’s grace to enter those places today?

Day 5: Living as People Forgiven

To live as people forgiven is to be set free from shame and empowered to extend grace to others. This means releasing grudges, letting go of harsh words, and choosing compassion over judgment in our families, communities, and church. As we receive God’s mercy, we are called to bear witness to the one who makes all things new, building a community marked not by judgment but by love. By the Spirit’s help, we can become agents of reconciliation and hope in a hurting world. [58:05]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can extend grace or release a grudge in your family, workplace, or church this week?

Sermon Summary

Forgiveness stands at the very heart of our faith and our life together. It is the foundation upon which relationships—whether marriages, families, friendships, or communities—are built and sustained. Without forgiveness, bitterness and pain take root, and the possibility of true connection withers. We are all bound to hurt others and to be hurt ourselves; thus, the words “I am sorry” and “I forgive you” must become regular companions in our lives. Yet, before we can extend forgiveness to others or even ourselves, we must first encounter and accept the forgiveness that God offers us.

Sin, though a word heavy with baggage, simply names all that breaks our relationship with God and with one another. It ranges from personal failings and doubts about our worth to participation in unjust systems. At our core, we long to be at peace with God, to be restored to right relationship. The Psalms of confession, like Psalm 32, give voice to this longing: the relief and joy that come when we stop hiding, acknowledge our brokenness, and receive God’s pardon.

The story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery reveals the radical nature of God’s forgiveness. Jesus refuses to condemn her, even as others are eager to cast stones. He exposes the hypocrisy of the crowd and offers the woman a new beginning, free from shame. Yet, accepting this forgiveness can be the hardest step—believing that God truly does not condemn us, that we are released from the weight of our past.

In a world marked by violence, division, and deep wounds—where reconciliation can feel impossible and trust is hard to rebuild—the call to forgiveness is both more urgent and more challenging. The events of our week, with their tragedies and anxieties, remind us how far we are from the peace God desires. Yet, even when answers are elusive and the path forward is unclear, we are invited to echo Jesus’ prayer from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” In the absence of easy solutions, we are called to sit with the pain, to resist the urge to retaliate, and to trust that God’s grace is already at work, making all things new.

Key Takeaways

1. Forgiveness is not optional for a life of faith; it is essential for every relationship we value. Without the ability to say “I am sorry” and “I forgive you,” our lives become weighed down by bitterness and brokenness. These words are not just for others, but for ourselves and our relationship with God, forming the bedrock of true freedom and joy. [10:33]
2. The journey toward forgiveness begins with God. Before we can hope to forgive others or ourselves, we must first acknowledge our own need for grace and accept the forgiveness God freely offers. This requires honest confession—not to excuse or minimize our failings, but to open ourselves to reconciliation and restoration. [30:05]
3. Jesus’ encounter with the woman caught in adultery reveals the depth of divine mercy. He refuses to condemn, even when others are eager to judge, and instead offers a path to new life. The hardest part may be accepting that we are truly forgiven, letting go of shame, and trusting in God’s acceptance of us. [37:05]
4. In times of collective pain and violence, forgiveness can feel distant or even impossible. The events that shake our communities expose both personal and systemic sin, and the path to reconciliation is neither quick nor simple. Yet, even in the absence of easy answers, we are called to hold onto hope and to resist the temptation to retaliate or give in to despair. [41:13]
5. The cross stands as the ultimate intervention in our cycles of hurt and retaliation. Jesus’ prayer—“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”—models a forgiveness that transcends understanding and invites us to do the same. In our own lives, we are called to echo this prayer, trusting that God’s grace is at work even when we cannot see the way forward. [42:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:39] - Opening Reflections on Forgiveness
[04:04] - Announcements and Community Life
[09:30] - Call to Worship and Centering
[10:33] - The Necessity of Forgiveness
[30:05] - Sin and the Longing for Reconciliation
[37:05] - Jesus and the Woman Caught in Adultery
[37:50] - The Challenge of Accepting Forgiveness
[38:53] - Wrestling with Forgiveness in a Violent World
[40:18] - The Complexity of Sin and Forgiveness
[41:13] - The Difficulty of Reconciliation
[42:06] - Sitting with the Pain and Questions
[42:40] - The Cross and the Prayer for Forgiveness
[43:28] - Offering and Prayers of the People
[56:08] - Community Celebrations and Concerns
[57:10] - Confession and Assurance
[59:03] - The Lord’s Prayer and Benediction
[62:46] - Closing and Sending Forth

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 32:1-5 (ESV) — > Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
> whose sin is covered.
> Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
> and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
> For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
> through my groaning all day long.
> For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
> my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
> I acknowledged my sin to you,
> and I did not cover my iniquity;
> I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
> and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

John 8:2-11 (ESV) – The Woman Caught in Adultery — > (Read aloud in your group or summarize: Jesus refuses to condemn the woman caught in adultery, saying, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” One by one, the accusers leave. Jesus tells her, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”)

Luke 23:34 (ESV) — > And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Observation Questions

In Psalm 32, what physical and emotional effects does the psalmist describe when he keeps silent about his sin? What changes when he confesses?
In the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8), how does Jesus respond to both the accusers and the woman? What stands out about his approach?
According to the sermon, what are the “six words” that are essential for relationships to survive and thrive? [10:33]
What does Jesus pray for from the cross, and why is this significant in the context of forgiveness? [42:40]

Interpretation Questions

Why might it be so difficult for people to confess their sins or admit when they are wrong, both to God and to others? How does Psalm 32 help us understand the importance of confession? [30:05]
The sermon suggests that the hardest part of forgiveness may be accepting that we are truly forgiven. Why do you think it is so hard for people to believe “neither do I condemn you”? [37:50]
In a world marked by violence and brokenness, what does it mean to “sit with the pain” and resist the urge to retaliate, as the sermon describes? [42:06]
How does Jesus’ refusal to condemn the woman challenge our own tendencies to judge or hold grudges? What does this reveal about the nature of God’s forgiveness? [37:05]

Application Questions

Think about a relationship in your life that has been strained or broken. What would it look like to say “I am sorry” or “I forgive you” in that situation? What holds you back from taking that step? [10:33]
The sermon says that before we can forgive others, we must first accept God’s forgiveness for ourselves. Is there an area of your life where you struggle to believe you are truly forgiven? How might you open yourself to God’s grace this week? [30:05]
When have you found it hardest to let go of shame or guilt, even after hearing words of forgiveness? What helps you move toward accepting God’s acceptance of you? [37:50]
In the face of news or events that make forgiveness seem impossible (like violence or injustice), how can you practice “sitting with the pain” rather than rushing to easy answers or retaliation? What might that look like in your daily life? [41:13]
Jesus’ prayer from the cross was “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Is there someone in your life or in the world whom you find it difficult to forgive? What would it mean to pray this prayer for them? [42:40]
The sermon mentions that forgiveness is not about excusing or minimizing wrongs, but about seeking reconciliation and restoration. How can you pursue reconciliation in a relationship where trust has been broken, even if it feels risky or vulnerable? [30:05]
What practical steps can you take this week to make forgiveness a regular part of your life—whether in your family, friendships, workplace, or community? [10:33]

Sermon Clips

forgiveness is essential to our lives without it no marriage can survive no family can stay together no society can be sustained it's a necessary part of lasting friendships and work relationships the reason lies in the inescapable truth of human nature we are bound to hurt other people and other people are bound to hurt us if we are to live successfully and if we are to have any measure of freedom and joy in this life then these six words must be a regular part of our vocabulary I am sorry I forgive you if we lack the ability to say I am sorry life will be immeasurably more difficult than it needs to be and if we can't bring ourselves to say I forgive you then our lives will have more bitterness and pain than they need to have [00:28:39]

over the last few months you have told me many stories about broken relationships in your lives and it's clearly not just within our congregation we see evidence of broken relationships all around us and within those relationships we often see the struggle to forgive and sometimes a lack of a desire to forgive or even an unwillingness to forgive I'm not even gonna try why would I even try and as relatable as that may be and as much as that might be one stop on our journey we can't follow Jesus and rest easy with that being our final destination he simply won't allow it [00:30:04]

but before we get to other people and let's admit other people and forgiveness is quite complicated and we'll talk more about it next week but before we get to other people our faith says that the starting place is with God we have to start with forgiveness in our relationship with God if we have any hope of finding forgiveness in our relationship with other people and with ourselves which means that we have to start by having a conversation about sin [00:30:58]

the word has a crazy amount of baggage because of all of the moralisms and guilt that has been attached to it over the centuries but at its core sin is the word the church uses for anything that breaks our relationship with God Jesus said that the heart of the gospel is to love God with all your heart soul mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself so using that as a definition of a whole reconciled relationship with God that means the things that break our relationship with God can range from everything from looking in the mirror and doubting our own purpose and worth to breaking one of the Ten Commandments murder adultery lying to participating in the oppressive systems of this world fast fashion structural racism [00:31:37]

a core tenant of our faith is that these things these sins cause a breach a break a gap in our relationship with God and as much as it's hard to feel really at peace Peace.when we're at odds with our mom the same is true in our faith at our core we want to be right with God we want to be at peace with our Creator [00:33:07]

Hamilton says what we're asking for when we ask for forgiveness from God isn't really that different than what we're asking for when we ask for forgiveness from our moms or a co -worker or anyone we may have hurt or harmed we're not asking for the other person to excuse what we've done or pretend that it was okay or that it didn't hurt them no we're looking for them to pardon us we're looking for reconciliation for the restoration of our relationship we're asking for them to release the right to retaliate to hold a grudge to keep bringing the situation back up we're asking for them to break down that wall that separates us so that we can be in right relationship again [00:34:26]

but before we can ask that from someone else and before we can offer that to someone else we have to know that we've already received it from God and that's the power of what Jesus does in that interaction in his interaction with the adulterous woman and all of those religious men who want to kill her who want to make an example of her imagine her terror at being singled out and then dragged in front of that crowd who Jesus was teaching in the temple imagine her shame and then imagine the corporate rage and self -righteousness that was fomenting among the group that dragged her in front of the crowd [00:35:14]

Jesus says if we're gonna start throwing stones at anyone who has offended God sinned against God missed the mark well then let's let him without sin cast the first stone anyone who has never given a reason to have a stone thrown at him you go first and in the light of that you youtruth, the valve opens and their self -righteousness starts to deflate.And one by one, they slip away until it's just Jesus and the woman.And he says, where did they all go?Did none of them condemn you? No one, sir.Well, then neither do I condemn you.Go and sin no more. [00:36:20]

while I imagine the once self -righteous crowd sheepishly letting go of the stones in their hands, as they slink away with their tail between their legs, I wonder how the woman walked away.Did she walk away relieved and grateful, or was she still afraid of the crowd? Was she worried that shame would be stickier than Jesus's forgiveness?Was she unable to believe it, that someone would stand up for her, would point out the other's hypocrisy, would forgive her, would restore her to the community?Could she hardly believe that it was all too good to be true? [00:37:23]

Paul Tillich said that the bottom line of faith is accepting God's acceptance of you, but sometimes that's the hardest thing to do.Sometimes the hardest words to believe in Scripture are, neither do I condemn you. know you're forgiven. You're forgiven. Go in peace. [00:38:10]

If we could go back to the roots of what led to 9 -11 and to the Evergreen shooting and to the violence that took Charlie Kirk's life. If we could go back to those rotten roots of all of them.I imagine they would show no evidence of the humility implicit in a life and faith grounded in the giving and receiving of forgiveness.A life built on the foundation of their, but for the grace of God, go I. [00:39:50]

The events of this week make it so easy to see sin, both in individual acts and also in its structural complexity.And I don't know about you. Thank you.it's a lot harder to know what forgiveness looks like in a week like this.Even if we can agree that none of us are in a position to cast the first stone, words like reconciliation and restoration and right relationship seem pretty far -fetched right now. [00:40:27]

Child psychologists will tell you the importance of allowing children to calm down after a fight before you bring them together and try to mediate a resolution.And with our collective amygdalas on fire and with seemingly few people trying to cool the heat, a rush towards resolution seems not only unwise but maybe even harmful.Plus, how do you forgive those that you don't trust not to hurt you again?It's so hard to see a path towards reconciliation and forgiveness right now. [00:40:59]

But I'm also not willing to give up the hope that that path still exists for our society, for our culture.I'm not willing to give up that that path is still available to us.I don't want to oversimplify things. As they say, if the solution seems simple then you don't understand the problem.And I think there's value in sitting with the problem and the question and the anger and the grief. [00:41:44]

I appreciated how one pastor put it online.I'm going old -school Jesus on this one.The cross is the intervention we need for the madness we find ourselves in right now.Jesus didn't preach an eye for an eye.He wouldn't let his disciples use the sword during his innocent arrest.Instead, he prayed from the cross in the hardest moment of his life. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.And so in the absence of answers, I echo that prayer.God, forgive us, for we know not what we do. [00:42:14]

By your spirit, help us to live as people forgiven. By your spirit, help us to live as people forgiven.to release one another from shame, to extend grace in our families and communities, to be a church marked not by judgment but by love.May our lives bear witness to the one who makes all things new. [00:58:03]

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