Before You ForgiveSample

Peter wasn't the only disciple who betrayed Jesus; Judas did, too. Yet their stories are very different.

At the moment of Jesus's greatest injustice, Peter hangs out in the glow of the fires and denies knowing Jesus three times. He later receives forgiveness for that betrayal during a lakeside chat with Jesus.

Judas sells Jesus out for a small amount of money. Afterward, he feels so overwhelmed with guilt and shame that instead of seeking Jesus out and asking for forgiveness, he dies by suicide.

I've wondered if Jesus would have forgiven Judas if he had asked for it before he died.

I think the answer is yes. This question is not about suicide. It is about the grace of God. Forgiveness is not about the magnitude of sin. It is about the grace of God merited because of Christ's death on the cross.

I believe Jesus longed to forgive Judas, but Judas didn't give Him the chance to because he couldn't forgive himself.

Some of us could have a lakeside experience with Jesus as Peter did. But that conversation will never come if we keep beating ourselves up over something.

The third step in this plan is learning to forgive yourself. Are you harder on yourself than Jesus is? Are you beating yourself up for things that Jesus has already forgiven? When we refuse to forgive ourselves, we're essentially saying that we know better than Jesus about whether we deserve forgiveness. I don't know about you, but I know nothing better than Jesus!

If you struggle with forgiving yourself, I want you to remember two truths.

First, failure is an event, not a person. Second, when followers of Jesus feel shame, that feeling is coming from Satan, not God. Shame is incompatible with the grace of God. If you are under the forgiveness and grace of Jesus, you are no longer under condemnation. When you feel a sense of conviction ("I did something wrong"), that feeling should wake you up. However, shame ("I am something wrong") repeatedly beats you up.

1 John 1:9 states that God is faithful in forgiving us when we confess our sins.

Romans 8:1 clearly announces that Jesus has set us free from condemnation, and Galatians 5:1 states that Christ paid a great price to do so.

If you hear the voice of condemnation and you've experienced Jesus' grace and forgiveness, that is not the voice of Jesus. If you've never experienced Jesus' love and grace, then Jesus is trying to use that sense of shame to help you realize your need for a savior.

Our ability to give forgiveness is directly related to the forgiveness we've received. I encourage you to open your hands, close your eyes, and repeat these words. "Jesus - like Peter, I have betrayed You. I've failed You. But, like Peter, I believe You have forgiven me. Today, I confess my sin and receive Your forgiveness. Thank You for paying for my sins on the cross. I trust in what You did for me. Help my view of myself come into alignment with Scripture. Thank You for loving me and being patient with me."

Thank you for completing this plan. If you need more help with forgiveness, click here. I want to offer complimentary access to my resource, The 11 Biggest Lies You've Been Told About Forgiveness and The Truth That Sets You Free.