# Bible verses about God's forgiveness, and how complete it is > Bible verses about forgiveness from God, from the World English Bible: his character, the cost of the cross, how fully he clears sin, and how to receive it. Canonical: https://lucernel.com/guides/bible-verses/forgiveness Last updated: 2026-10-07 Forgiveness is the plainest good news in the Bible, and the one people find hardest to believe about themselves. These passages from the World English Bible show who God is, what it cost, how far it goes, and what it asks of you. Read slowly, then pray the short prayer at the end. **Psalm 103:12 gives the best picture of how far forgiveness goes.** As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. East and west never meet, so there is no point on the map where the sin is waiting for you. It is a distance, not a pile. (Psalm 103:12) ## It starts with who God is Forgiveness is not something you wring out of a reluctant God. The psalmists say the opposite. You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all who call on you. If God kept a record of sins, the writer of Psalm 130 asks, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with him. That second psalm is honest about the reason. Forgiveness exists because no one could survive the record. It is not a reward for being nearly good enough. > For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you. > (Psalm 86:5) > If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, therefore you are feared. > (Psalm 130:3-4) ## What it cost, and what it cancels Isaiah, looking ahead, says he was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities, and that by his wounds we are healed. Forgiveness is free to you because someone else carried the price. Paul writes in Ephesians that in Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. In Colossians he uses a ledger picture: the handwriting of ordinances that stood against us has been wiped out, taken out of the way and nailed to the cross. The debt note is not on file anymore. > But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed. > (Isaiah 53:5) > In him we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, > (Ephesians 1:7-8) > You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us. He has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. > (Colossians 2:13-14) ## How thoroughly God clears sin In Psalm 103 the distance is the east and the west. In Isaiah 1 the picture is color. Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow. The invitation begins with come now, and let us reason together, so it is an invitation to talk, not a summons to be punished. In Isaiah 43 God says he blots out transgressions for his own sake and will not remember sins. Forgiveness is rooted in God's own character and promise, which is why it does not depend on how well your week went. > The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness. He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. > (Psalm 103:8-12) > Come now, and let’s reason together,” says the LORD: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. > (Isaiah 1:18) > I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins. > (Isaiah 43:25) - Pick the picture that helps most: distance, snow or a cancelled debt. - Say it back to God in your own words. ## What it asks of you Peter says in Acts 3: repent, and turn again, so that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Repentance is the door you walk through, and what is on the other side is refreshing, not a long sentence. Turning is not complicated. It means agreeing with God about what happened and going a different direction. It will take more than one try for some habits. Acts 3:19 does not set a condition of a perfect record from here on. > Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, > (Acts 3:19) ## A prayer to say with these verses God, you are good and ready to forgive. I come to you with what I have done. Take it away, as far as the east is from the west, and make me clean. Thank you for the cross and for the price you paid. Help me to turn and to believe that you mean what you say. Amen. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does God really forgive sexual sin? Yes. Psalm 51 was written by David after a grave sin of this kind, and the same book says God's forgiveness is as far as the east from the west (Psalm 103:12). First John 1:9 promises it to all who confess. ### What does it mean that God does not remember my sins? Isaiah 43:25 says he blots out transgressions and will not remember sins. It means he will not hold them against you, not that he lacks knowledge. ### How is forgiveness possible? Isaiah 53:5 and Ephesians 1:7 point to the cross: the price was carried by Christ, and Colossians 2:14 says the record against us was nailed there. ### What do I have to do to be forgiven? Acts 3:19 says to repent and turn again. Proverbs 28:13 and 1 John 1:9 add confessing. You do not have to pay anything yourself. ### Can I be forgiven again and again? Psalm 86:5 describes God as ready to forgive and abounding in loving kindness to all who call on him. Return each time. Do not use that as permission to coast, but do not let it keep you away. ## Sources (checked 2026-10-01) - [World English Bible (public domain), eBible.org](https://ebible.org/find/details.php?id=engwebp)