The Transformative Power of Forgiveness in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Forgiveness as Modeled by Jesus on the Cross

True forgiveness is demonstrated by Jesus, who, even in the midst of unimaginable pain and injustice, prayed for those who crucified Him, showing us that forgiveness is not just a theory but a lived reality for every believer. This act was not born out of weakness but out of divine strength and love, setting the ultimate example for us to follow when we are wronged or hurt by others. Jesus’ prayer, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do,” reveals the heart of God and the supernatural power available to us through the Holy Spirit to forgive even our deepest offenders. [10:47]

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: Who is someone in your life who has wronged you deeply, and what would it look like for you to pray for them today as Jesus did for His enemies?

Day 2: Forgiveness Is Rooted in God’s Character

The ability to forgive others flows from understanding God’s own heart of mercy, as seen from the very beginning when He covered Adam and Eve’s shame and did not immediately destroy them for their disobedience, but instead made a way for restoration. God’s forgiveness is not a denial of justice, but a demonstration of His love and patience, offering us a new identity as His children and inviting us to reflect His character in our relationships. When we realize how God has forgiven us, even when we did not deserve it, we are empowered to extend that same forgiveness to others, bearing the family resemblance of our heavenly Father. [25:49]

Genesis 3:21 (ESV)
And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced God’s mercy when you deserved judgment, and how can you let that shape your attitude toward those who have hurt you?

Day 3: Forgiveness Is a Mark of New Life in Christ

Forgiveness is not natural to our fallen nature; it is a supernatural work that comes from being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, enabling us to love and forgive even those who persecute us. Jesus taught that loving our enemies and praying for those who hurt us is a defining mark of His followers, and He empowers us to do what we could never do in our own strength. This new way of living is evidence that we have truly received God’s forgiveness and are walking in the power of His Spirit, not just following religious rules. [26:52]

Matthew 5:44 (ESV)
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Reflection: Is there someone you consider an “enemy” or someone who has persecuted you? How might you take a step today to pray for them and ask God to give you His love for them?

Day 4: Forgiveness Is an Act of Faith and Trust in God

Choosing to forgive is ultimately an act of faith, entrusting the burden of justice and vengeance to God and believing that He is wise, good, and powerful enough to handle what we cannot. Holding on to unforgiveness only poisons our own soul and distances us from God, but releasing it is a declaration that we trust God’s character and His ability to bring about true justice and healing in His time. Forgiveness is not excusing the wrong, but surrendering our right to retaliate and allowing God to work in us and in the situation. [40:19]

Romans 12:19 (ESV)
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Reflection: What is one specific hurt or injustice you need to release to God today, trusting Him to handle it rather than carrying the weight yourself?

Day 5: Forgiveness Must Be Practiced Within the Body of Christ

Forgiveness is not only for our enemies but is essential within the church, where believers from different backgrounds and personalities are called to bear with one another and forgive as Christ has forgiven us. The unity and love of the church depend on our willingness to let go of grievances, show humility, and extend grace, even when it is difficult or when we have been hurt by those closest to us. Practicing forgiveness in the family of God is a powerful testimony to the world and a reflection of the forgiveness we have received in Christ. [54:42]

Colossians 3:13 (ESV)
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.

Reflection: Is there a brother or sister in Christ you need to forgive or seek forgiveness from? What step can you take today to pursue reconciliation and unity in the body of Christ?

Sermon Summary

In these recent days, we have witnessed a remarkable move of God, as seen in the outpouring of testimonies following Charlie’s memorial service. The impact of one life, lived for Christ, has stirred hearts across the world—drawing atheists, prodigals, and the broken back to the feet of Jesus. The comments and stories shared are only a glimpse of the deeper work God is doing, reminding us that our lives can be a catalyst for others to seek Christ, even in our absence.

At the heart of this movement is the radical, supernatural power of forgiveness. We looked to the cross, where Jesus, in his greatest agony, prayed for his enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” This is not a natural response; it is the very character of God, imparted to us by the Holy Spirit. Forgiveness is not just a virtue to admire, but a calling to embody. It is the mark of true Christian transformation—a new creation, not merely a reformed lifestyle.

Forgiveness is not excusing evil or erasing consequences. Rather, it is a release of the debt of vengeance, a refusal to let bitterness poison our souls. It is an act of faith, trusting that God is wise and just enough to handle the wrongs done to us. When we forgive, we echo the heart of Christ, who interceded for those who crucified him, fulfilling prophecy and opening the way for our own forgiveness.

This kind of forgiveness is impossible in our own strength. It is only possible when we have been born again, filled with the Holy Spirit, and have drunk deeply from the well of God’s mercy. If we struggle to forgive, it is a call to examine whether we have truly received God’s forgiveness ourselves. The challenge is not just to receive forgiveness, but to become a conduit of it—drawing from the well God has filled in us, and pouring it out on those who have wronged us.

Tonight, the invitation is to lay down every grudge, every offense, every wound at the feet of Jesus. To trust him with our pain, and to let the supernatural power of forgiveness flow through us, bringing healing, freedom, and revival—not just to ourselves, but to a watching world.

Key Takeaways

1. Forgiveness Is the Mark of New Birth, Not Just Good Behavior True forgiveness is not a product of human willpower or moral effort. It is the evidence of being born again, of having received a new heart and a new spirit from God. If forgiveness feels impossible, it may be a sign that we need to encounter Christ afresh and receive his transforming power. [44:38]
2. Forgiveness Is an Act of Faith in God’s Justice and Wisdom To forgive is to relinquish our right to vengeance and trust that God is both able and willing to deal with every wrong. It is a declaration that God is big enough to handle what we cannot, and that his justice is more perfect than ours. This act of faith frees us from the burden of bitterness and allows God’s peace to rule in our hearts. [40:19]
3. The Depth of Our Forgiveness Flows from the Depth of God’s Mercy to Us When we struggle to forgive, we must remember how much we have been forgiven. Every sin, every failure, every act of rebellion—God has shown us mercy again and again. Drawing from this well of grace, we find the strength to extend forgiveness to others, even when it is costly and painful. [37:14]
4. Forgiveness Does Not Remove Consequences, but It Releases Us from Bitterness Personal forgiveness is distinct from legal or societal consequences. We are not called to erase justice, but to release the poison of resentment from our own souls. Holding onto unforgiveness only harms us, while releasing it brings supernatural freedom and healing. [38:55]
5. Forgiveness Is the Light That Draws the World to Christ The world is watching how believers respond to pain and injustice. When we forgive as Christ forgave, it is so foreign and supernatural that it provokes curiosity and longing in those who witness it. Our willingness to forgive becomes a living testimony of the gospel’s power to transform hearts and reconcile enemies.

** [34:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:57] - The Impact of Charlie’s Memorial
[01:55] - Testimonies of Changed Lives
[05:50] - Erica Kirk’s Forgiveness on Display
[09:40] - The Depth of Christ’s Forgiveness
[10:47] - Jesus’ Prayer on the Cross
[14:37] - Praying in Pain and Injustice
[19:11] - The Call to Forgive Like Christ
[22:23] - God’s Forgiveness from the Beginning
[25:49] - The Father’s Heart Toward His Children
[26:52] - The Supernatural Power of the Holy Spirit
[29:30] - The Link Between Forgiving and Being Forgiven
[32:13] - The Depth of Sin and the Need for Forgiveness
[34:11] - Forgiveness as a Witness to the World
[37:14] - Personal Forgiveness vs. Consequences
[39:46] - The Challenge to Forgive What’s Been Lost
[40:19] - Forgiveness as Faith
[43:37] - The Need for New Birth
[45:47] - Responding to God’s Call
[47:53] - Releasing Unforgiveness at the Altar
[50:44] - Prayer for Forgiveness and Release
[53:50] - Forgiveness in the Body of Christ
[55:48] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

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.

Matthew 5:44 (ESV) — > But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Colossians 3:12-13 (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.

Observation Questions

In Luke 23:34, what does Jesus pray for while he is being crucified, and who is he praying for?
According to the sermon, what made Erica Kirk’s act of forgiveness at the memorial service so powerful and unusual? [[09:40]]
In Colossians 3:13, what reason does Paul give for why we should forgive one another?
What does Jesus command us to do in Matthew 5:44, and how is this different from a natural human response?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says forgiveness is not just a good habit, but a sign of being “born again” and having a new heart. Why is true forgiveness described as supernatural rather than natural? [[44:38]]
How does the act of forgiving others demonstrate faith in God’s justice and wisdom, according to the sermon? [[40:19]]
The pastor mentioned that holding onto unforgiveness is like “taking a poison pill and hoping the other person dies.” What does this mean about the effects of bitterness on our own lives? [[38:55]]
Why does the sermon say that the world is drawn to Christ when they see Christians forgive in radical ways? [[34:11]]

Application Questions

Think about a time when you were deeply hurt or wronged. What was your first reaction—was it more like the natural response of revenge, or did you try to forgive? What would it look like to respond like Jesus did on the cross? [[10:47]]
The sermon challenges us to “lay down every grudge, every offense, every wound at the feet of Jesus.” Is there a specific grudge or wound you are still holding onto? What is stopping you from releasing it to God tonight? [[47:53]]
The pastor said, “If forgiveness feels impossible, it may be a sign that we need to encounter Christ afresh and receive his transforming power.” Have you ever struggled to forgive someone? What steps could you take to seek God’s help in this area? [[44:38]]
When you think about how much God has forgiven you, does it make it easier or harder to forgive others? Why? How can you remind yourself of God’s mercy when you are tempted to hold onto bitterness? [[37:14]]
The sermon points out that forgiveness does not erase consequences, but it does release us from bitterness. How can you practice personal forgiveness even if justice still needs to be served? [[38:55]]
The world is watching how Christians respond to pain and injustice. Is there someone in your life who is watching how you handle a difficult situation? How could your response be a testimony to them? [[34:11]]
The pastor led the church in a prayer to “drop the bucket down into that well of deep forgiveness.” What is one practical way you can “draw from the well” of God’s forgiveness this week and extend it to someone who has hurt you? [[50:44]]

Sermon Clips

True revival is marked by repentance, not just bigger church services, not just bigger worship sets, but repentance lives changed. People serving the Lord with all their hearts and their minds, loving God with all that they have.

There are spiritual things happening all around us. Whether we know it or not, whether we can receive it or not, that is still a question that needs to be answered tonight. [00:00:31]

Be the kind of person that when you die people want to live for Jesus, people want to open their Bible, people want to start praying for the first time. [00:05:27]

What Jesus demonstrated for us and what he sows into every one of his followers is the possibility and the expectation that we are called to be people of forgiveness. [00:19:12]

True forgiveness, the ability to forgive the evildoer and the enemy, is born out of the nature and the character of God. How does someone forgive their enemy like we saw on the screen here? How does that happen? Because people like Erica Kirk are not operating in their own strength. Because she has been born again, she has received a new spirit, a new life, a new standard, a new way of thinking. [00:20:52]

When you have children you get a college level education about God. You begin to understand things that you never understood before about the heart of God and all of a sudden you have these little creatures in your house... but because they're yours and because they bear your name and your image, you know, you love them. And no matter what they do, you're always going to love them. Isn't that incredible? And this is the relationship that the Father has with his creation. [00:25:19]

When our nature calls for revenge and hatred and retaliation, Jesus prayed for forgiveness. This is what he taught in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, 44, when he says, I say to you, love your enemies. Love them. Bless those who curse you. Do good to those that hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. [00:26:25]

If you don't have the Holy Spirit in you, you can't even get down the freeway without using four-letter words. You know what I'm saying? Like, it doesn't happen in our flesh. But if we are filled with a Holy Spirit, what kind of spirit? The Holy Spirit makes you holy, makes you like him. I'm not saying it's easy. I'm not saying it's natural. No, it is supernatural. [00:26:52]

If that kind of forgiveness is not in you it just means that you are still operating under the old rules, under the natural way, the carnal way, and everybody understands that and we would have compassion for that but it's not Christian. [00:28:57]

There is a direct correlation, there is a connection between your willingness to forgive and God's willingness to forgive you. If God forgave you the way you forgive others, would you be forgiven? [00:30:37]

If you ever have a hard time forgiving somebody, here's what you need to do: you need to think about how many times you have violated God's will, you need to think about how many times you knew to do right and then you didn't do it, and God still had patience on you and he still didn't strike you with a lightning bolt and he still didn't turn you inside out and he still gives you so many blessings. [00:36:37]

Bitterness and unforgiveness is like taking a poison pill and hoping that the other person dies. Because the longer you hold on to it, the more it's going to eat away at your soul. [00:38:15]

What forgiveness is, is saying, Lord, I cannot carry this burden of vengeance. I can't do it. But I believe that you can. I believe that you are big enough, that in your way and in your time and in your ability, you're smarter than I am, you're more holy than I am, and you are able to do what I cannot do. So, Lord, I am leaving this in your capable hands. Forgiveness is faith. I'm trusting you, Lord. [00:40:50]

The longer you hold on to unforgiveness, the more damage it will do to your soul and the further away from God you'll become. Because that's not what God does. God does not hold on to bitterness. Did you know that? He's not like that. [00:41:57]

The only way to have the power of forgiveness in your life is if you become a new creation in Christ. I cannot inherit this to you. I cannot teach a class to show you how to be more forgiving. No, this is something we inherit from the Father by his Spirit. [00:44:54]

God allows offense and pain and persecution in your life. This is the way that God shines his light into the darkness. But so many times, if we call ourselves believers, we don't take it right many times. [00:47:37]

There needs to be a release. You saw it on the screen tonight. She struggled, she struggled, she struggled, and she let the words out of her mouth, I forgive him. And in that moment, there was a release, a supernatural release of supernatural power. In her own life, a blessing of the Holy Spirit fell upon her and the entire audience. [00:48:46]

Sometimes the hardest forgiveness that we have to give is not for the stranger, but for the person in the mirror. There's some people here, you're carrying a burden because you look in the mirror and you see somebody you hate. You see somebody, you see only failures. Isn't it funny how we look at ourselves one way and the way that God sees us is very, very different. He sees somebody that he's working on. He's changing, he's transforming. He's got a future and a hope, but many times we think of ourselves and we only see the evil that we've done. [00:49:40]

The reason why a bunch of crazy people can come together under the banner of Jesus Christ, from different backgrounds, different personalities, some people like sandpaper, like me, you know. Some people can be difficult. We can all be difficult. And the reason why we can come together and love on one another and be a family and be a body of Christ, the only way that happens is if we are practicing forgiveness. [00:54:24]

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