We’ve heard of times God showed mercy, grace, and forgiveness in the Bible.
God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness are some of the most beautiful and powerful gifts He has to offer us. In the Bible, we are reminded time and time again of God’s love for us, even when we make mistakes. Here are five stories from the Bible that show us just how powerful God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness can be.
Whether you’re a believer or not, these stories are sure to inspire you and remind you that no matter what mistakes you make, God is always ready to forgive.
5 Times God showed mercy, grace, and forgiveness in the Bible
The Bible is full of inspiring stories of God showing mercy, grace, and forgiveness to people in need. From Abraham to David, God’s love and mercy has been a constant source of comfort and hope. Here are five times God showed mercy, grace, and forgiveness in the Bible.
David’s adultery
We all know David as “the man after the heart of God.” But despite the fact that God had chosen him to become king, this did not prevent him from committing adultery with Bathsheba, wife of the soldier Uriah whom he had killed (2 Samuel 11). David knew the laws of God, and the Bible tells us that what he did had displeased the Lord. However, David was forgiven but obviously had to suffer the consequences of his adultery.
“David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord! And Nathan said to David, The Lord forgives your sin; you shall not die. But, because you have caused the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme by doing this deed, the son who was born to you shall die. ” (2 Samuel 12:13)
The murder of Moses
Moses committed murder before God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This story is found in chapter 2 of Exodus. As an Egyptian beat up one of his Hebrew brothers, Moses decided to return the favor by killing him, hiding his corpse in the sand, and then escaping. But a few years later, it is this same Moses that God used to free his people!
Rahab’s prostitution
The story of Rahab is found in chapters 2 and 6 of the book of Joshua. Before attacking Jericho, the Israelites sent spies into the city, who were hidden with the prostitute Rahab. In return, the young woman asked that her family be spared during the invasion of the Israelites.
They will thus be saved from the massacre and join the people of Israel. According to Matthew’s genealogy, it is among the descendants of his family that we find David, and several generations later, Jesus. Isn’t it amazing to find a former prostitute in Christ’s family tree?
Paul’s persecutions
Before being called an apostle, Saul of Tarsus was one of the greatest persecutors of the Church. He went from house to house, dragging the early believers to prison and even witnessing their public execution. For example, he was present during the stoning of Stephen. It is for this reason that Paul calls himself “the first of sinners” in 1 Timothy 1:15. But despite his inglorious past, God used Paul to spread the gospel and make him one of the most iconic figures in Christianity.
The idolatry of Solomon
King David’s son was famous for his wisdom and riches. But he disobeyed God by allowing his 700 wives and 300 concubines to lead him to worship their idols and gods. At the end of his life, Solomon recognized that his life had been nothing but vanity and urged everyone to fear God and remember that one day we will all be held to account for the lives we have led.
The grace, kindness, and forgiveness of God are not excuses to sin all the way. God loves us, of course, he wants to transform us, of course. But we must also make the effort to come back to Him and walk in sanctification if we want Him to use us. God is not limited by our sins, as long as we repent with a sincere heart. So, if you have strayed from Him, it is not too late to ask Him for forgiveness.
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17 Scriptures that show the amazing power of forgiveness
A compiled collection of Bible verses about forgiveness, to show God’s awesome power and will to forgive.
Forgiveness is a very central part of the gospel and sometimes it is good to get a reminder of the truly amazing promises that God gives regarding this. Here is a small selection of verses about forgiveness, its conditions, and its power. When we look at these verses we can see clearly that as long as we repent and are faithful to forgive others then God will forgive us fully and absolutely and we can truly make a new beginning!
Psalm 103:10-12
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 130:3-4
If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.
Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Isaiah 43:25
I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
Micah 7:18-19
Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11:25
And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
Luke 6:37
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 7:47-48
Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.
Luke 24:46-47
It was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations.
Acts 3:19
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Ephesians 1:7-8
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence.
Colossians 1:13-14
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 2:1-2
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Conclusion
We’ve all heard the stories of how God is a vengeful, wrathful God who will smite you if you don’t obey His laws. But did you know that God is also a God of mercy, grace, and forgiveness? That’s right! God is actually quite the softy when it comes to dealing with people who have wronged Him. Here are five times God showed mercy, grace, and forgiveness in the Bible. So, next time someone tells you, God, is a wrathful God, you can tell them about these stories of mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
