3.2 Confession and Forgiveness                           

 

1. What does the Bible teach about forgiveness?
Numbers 5:6-7
6 Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty;
7 Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.

 

2. How futile is it to attempt to hide guilt or sin from God?
Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
Psalms 90:8 Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance.
Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

 

3. What promise is given to those who confess their 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.

 

4. What are the different consequences of covering and confessing sins?
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

 

5. How definite should we be in confessing our sins?
Leviticus 5:5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:

6. How fully did Israel once acknowledge its wrongdoing?
1 Samuel 12:19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.

 

7. What did David say God did when he confessed his sin?
Psalms 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

 

8. Upon what did he build his hope for forgiveness?
Psalms 51:1-2
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

 

9. What is God willing to do for those who ask for forgiveness?
Psalms 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.

 

10. What is the measure of the greatness of God's mercy?
Psalms 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.

 

11. How fully does the Lord pardon when one repents?
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

12. What reason is given for God's readiness to forgive sins?
Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy.
Psalms 78:38 But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned He His anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

 

13. Why does God manifest such mercy and longsuffering toward mankind?
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 

14. What prayer did Moses offer in behalf of Israel?
Numbers 14:19 Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy mercy, and as Thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.

 

15. What reply did the Lord immediately give?
Numbers 14:20 And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:

 

16. When the prodigal son in the parable repented and returned home, what did his father do?
Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

 
17. How did the father show his joy at his son's return?
Luke 15:22-24
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

 

18. What did Hezekiah say God had done with his sins?
Isaiah 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

 

19. How completely does God desire to remove our sin?
Micah 7:19 He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

 

20. How did the people respond to John's preaching?
Matthew 3:5-6
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

 
21. How did some of the believers in Ephesus demonstrate the sincerity of their confession?
Acts 19:18-19
18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

 

22. By whom is repentance and forgiveness granted?
Acts 5:30-31
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

 

23. What is the only unforgivable sin?
Matthew 12:31-32
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

 

24. On what basis has Christ taught us to ask for forgiveness?
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

 
25. What spirit should those cherish whom God has forgiven?
Matthew 6:14-15
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 

26. What exhortation is based on the fact that God has forgiven us?
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

 

27. What is the state of the person whose sins are forgiven?
Psalm 32:1-2
1 A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.