Repentance and Forgiveness

Biblical repentance is a change of mind and heart about sin. It’s a change of mind about who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for you, and it leads to a turning away from sin. Is repentance work? Does repentance save you? No, but you can’t place your faith in Christ for salvation without first having a change of mind. We must be extremely careful that we never understand repentance as a work. We are saved by faith in Christ alone, apart from our works. It is God who grants us repentance. You can’t come to the Lord unless He brings you to Himself. Repentance is the result of true salvation in Christ. True faith will make you new. God commands all men to repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Forgiveness is not something that you say with your mouth. It is something that you do with your heart. Many people say they forgive, but they never truly forgive. They harbor a hidden bitterness in their heart. Imagine if God never truly forgave us. Where would we be? Hell where we belong. The only reason that we are able to forgive others is because God forgave us first. Forgiveness comes from God and when we forgive others that is an earthly reflection of God and His love being poured out on the cross of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is why we forgive. Jesus is why we don’t want to hold on to grudges. He is worthy of it all. The price that was paid for you is too great. God sent His Son Christ Jesus for us to believe in Him and we receive salvation. John 3:16