To receive God’s forgiveness we must repent of our sins and obediently believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, baptism is an initial evidence of obedient, saving faith. Repentance and faith are often linked as the necessary requirements for salvation. Jesus’ preaching is summed up as, “Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

To be forgiven by God means that your sins have been removed, and restoration has taken place. By God’s gracious gift of forgiveness through Christ, any wrong you have done is not held against you. God is eager to forgive and provides forgiveness to you through faith in Jesus Christ. It’s your choice to receive it.

God’s forgiveness is a product of His grace. He has been gracious to forgive us, and He expects us to pay it forward. When we truly grasp the sacrifice Jesus made, and the love God has to forgive us, our genuine faith is illustrated in the way we forgive ourselves and each other.

Repentance brings forgiveness and healing through the power of Jesus Christ. What is repentance? Repentance is much more than recognizing wrongdoings or saying we are sorry. It is a change of mind and heart that includes turning away from sin and turning to God for help and forgiveness. When we repent we experience lasting happiness.

Today or tomorrow the reality is this: God’s forgiveness liberates us for our future. It frees us from crippling shame. Forgiveness is full of future grace. When we live by faith in future grace, rooted in God’s forgiveness, we are freed from the lingering, paralyzing effects even of the shame we deserve to feel. That’s what forgiveness means.