Because of God, We have the Healing Gift of Forgiveness
by Gini Crawford, MSW
A Biblical study covering the various facets of forgiveness, such as God's ultimate forgiveness, the psychological foundations of forgiveness, and the healing power of relational forgiveness.
Introduction
I have felt God wanted me to write a Bible devotion on forgiveness for many years. I had jotted down many notes on forgiveness starting when I was getting my Masters, but I could never seem to find the time to organize them into some sort of devotion. Finally, I took the time and realized I had accumulated many pages of notes, so the devotion became a Bible study.
I revised it in 2025 for an outreach ministry and added a few more chapters.
Directions
Because of God, we have the Healing Gift of Forgiveness, is a Bible study with sixteen chapters. Each chapter teaches a practical aspect of forgiveness with commentary, questions, a section on life application, related Bible passages, and meaningful illustrations.
It is very important that you try to read all the Bible passages but especially the ones that you are asked to read in the life application section. It will allow you to grasp forgiveness from God's point of view.
There are questions throughout the study so you can easily apply the information as you read. The Life Application section gives you some written homework. If you can't answer a question, don't fret but do your best.
Start each chapter asking God to speak to you. I wrote a prayer for the end of each chapter related to the theme, if you want, use it for your prayer. I have found if you pray to God a lot, you forgive a lot.
Click here for a PDF version of Because of God, We have the Healing Gift of Forgiveness
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Forgiveness explained
Forgiveness Explained defines the Biblical meaning of forgiveness and how forgiving is misunderstood. It ends with how Jonah the prophet found it hard to forgive.
Chapter 2 - Why we need forgiveness
Why we need forgiveness explains we need forgiveness from God because of our sin. It defines sin and why we are all sinners. It talks about sin and forgiveness starting in the mind. God's holiness and our forgiveness is explained.
Chapter 3 - The greatest forgiveness - Jesus Christ
The greatest forgiveness - Jesus Christ describes Jesus our forgiver. It explains why we can't earn forgiveness. It ends with how to gain the greatest forgiveness of all, and how our sins are completely removed from us.
Chapter 4 - God's forgiveness is not a feeling, it's a fact
God's forgiveness is not a feeling, it's a fact explains our assured forgiveness in Jesus. It describes how feelings can be wrong, and how to reason using God's Word to know you are forgiven. It talks about how Christians should deal with sin in their lives. It looks at the definition of confession or agreeing with God about our sin, and how to apply it to our lives through King David's example.
Chapter 5 - God tells us to forgive
God tells us to forgive highlights that God's Word is our light to lead us the right way. God's Word tells us God wants us to forgive from verses in Matthew 6:9-15, in the context of The Lord's Prayer. It ends with a story in Matthew 18:21-35 that lays emphasis on forgiveness.
Chapter 6 - Anyone can let us down
Anyone can let us down talks about how everyone will let us down using King David and the Psalms. It describes daily hurts to traumatic offenses and the need to forgive. The two sides of forgiveness are explained. It ends with how it can seem God has let you down. It underlines our eternal blessings through God following His path with His Spirit.
Chapter 7 - Resentment and bitterness
Resentment and bitterness describes the meaning of resentment and bitterness, and how harmful they are in our lives. It ends with how to deal with anger in a godly manner.
Chapter 8 - Psychological distress and forgiveness
Psychological distress and forgiveness gives you some professional information on how our mind and feelings work when we are hit with everyday offenses and traumatic events. It talks about how forgiveness starts in the mind and how hard it is to get past our feelings from an offense. It ends with some Biblical basics on dealing with a hurtful situation.
Chapter 9 - Forgiveness in relationships
Forgiveness in relationships talks about our expectations in relationships and how counterproductive they can be. It gives some examples of how our relational misconceptions can be leading to unforgiveness. It ends with the peace we have in Jesus.
Chapter 10 - Forgiveness brings healing and health
Forgiveness brings healing and health describes how unforgiveness brings high stress, which affects our body in negative ways. It also talks about forgiveness bringing health and healing. It also reasons why not forgiving someone is ridiculous in the long term. It ends with my aunt, and her psychological problems and how unforgiveness added to her struggles.
Chapter 11 - Forgiveness displays love
Forgiveness displays love explains that love does not take into account a wrong suffered (from 1 Corinthians 13:5), which means to love right you need to forgive. It also discusses why keeping a record of wrongs is detrimental to us and practical ways to not keep an account of wrongs. It ends with God's two most important commandments and how they relate to forgiveness.
Chapter 12 - God works all for our good
God works all for our good uses the example of Joseph's trial filled life in Genesis to discuss how believing that God works all things for our good gives us strength to forgive anything.
Chapter 13 - Trusting God and forgiving go together
Trusting God and forgiving go together talks about why trusting God is important in all areas of our lives, how it helps us to forgive, and why at times, it is hard to trust God. It also discusses Jeremiah 29:11, God's plans for our life and forgiveness. It ends with the many blessings you receive when you trust God.
Chapter 14 - Forgiving is difficult
Forgiving is difficult explains how you can forgive the worst offense. It ends describing in detail God's boundaries in relationships.
Chapter 15 - Mercy chooses forgiveness
Mercy chooses forgiveness defines God's mercy towards us, how important mercy is and that we all need mercy. It explains Jesus merciful nature. It ends with the healing attitude of thankfulness.
Chapter 16 - Forgiveness leads to restoration
Forgiveness leads to restoration talks about forgiveness bringing restoration to our relationships. How and why we should apologize. It ends with the four basics of restoring a relationship.
Click here for a PDF version of Because of God, We have the Healing Gift of Forgiveness