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  • Jehovah’s Forgiveness—What It Means for You
  • The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom (Study)—2025
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The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom (Study)—2025
w25 February pp. 8-13

STUDY ARTICLE 7

SONG 15 Praise Jehovah’s Firstborn!

Jehovah’s Forgiveness​—What It Means for You

“With you there is true forgiveness.”​—PS. 130:4.

FOCUS

By examining some vivid word pictures found in the Bible, we will increase our appreciation for the true forgiveness Jehovah grants us as individuals.

 1. Why is the forgiveness humans extend often complicated?

“I FORGIVE YOU.” How refreshing those words can be, especially if you know that you said or did something that hurt someone! But what does the phrase “I forgive you” really mean? Is the person you hurt saying that your friendship has been fully restored? Or does he simply mean that he does not want to talk about the issue anymore? The forgiveness humans extend can be complicated.

 2. How has Jehovah’s forgiveness been described in the Scriptures? (See also footnote.)

2 The way Jehovah forgives us imperfect humans is very different from the way we forgive one another. The forgiveness Jehovah extends is unique. The psalmist said of Jehovah: “With you there is true forgiveness, so that you may be held in awe.”a (Ps. 130:4) Yes, Jehovah’s forgiveness is “true forgiveness.” He sets the ultimate standard of what forgiveness really means. In some cases, Bible writers used a Hebrew word for forgiveness that is never used to describe human forgiveness.

 3. How is Jehovah’s forgiveness different from ours? (Isaiah 55:6, 7)

3 When Jehovah forgives someone, that person’s sin is wiped out. The damaged relationship is entirely restored. Jehovah’s forgiveness is amazingly complete and generous.​—Read Isaiah 55:6, 7.

 4. How does Jehovah help us to understand the true meaning of forgiveness?

4 If Jehovah’s forgiveness differs from ours, how can we as imperfect humans possibly understand its true meaning? Jehovah helps us by using vivid word pictures to describe his forgiveness. In this article, we will examine some of them. They will show us how Jehovah removes sin and, at the same time, restores the relationship that has been damaged by sin. As we review these illustrations, we will deepen our appreciation for our tender Father, who expresses his forgiveness in so many ways.

JEHOVAH REMOVES SIN

 5. What happens when Jehovah pardons our sins?

5 In the Bible, sins are often likened to heavy burdens. King David described his own sins this way: “My errors loom over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too much for me to bear.” (Ps. 38:4) But Jehovah pardons the sins of repentant wrongdoers. (Ps. 25:18; 32:5) The Hebrew expression translated “pardon” basically means to “lift up” or “carry.” We might think of Jehovah as a strong man who figuratively lifts the burden of sin off our shoulders and carries it away.

A hand lifting a large heavy sack off a brother’s shoulders.

“Pardoned” (Ps. 32:5)


 6. How far off does Jehovah carry our sins?

6 Another word picture shows just how far away Jehovah carries our sins. Psalm 103:12 tells us: “As far off as the sunrise is from the sunset, so far off from us he has put our transgressions.” East is the farthest point from west. The two points never meet. In other words, Jehovah takes our sins as far away from us as we can imagine. What a reassuring way to describe his forgiveness!

A sunset.

“As far off as the sunrise is from the sunset” (Ps. 103:12)


 7. How does the Bible describe what Jehovah does with our sins? (Micah 7:18, 19)

7 Even though Jehovah figuratively takes our sins far away from us, does he keep holding on to them? No. King Hezekiah wrote of Jehovah: “You have thrown all my sins behind your back.” Or as the footnote puts it, “you have removed all my sins from your sight.” (Isa. 38:9, 17; ftn.) This word picture shows that Jehovah takes the sins of repentant ones and throws them out of view. This statement could also be rendered: “You have made [my sins] as if they had not happened.” The Bible further emphasizes this point in another word picture, recorded at Micah 7:18, 19. (Read.) There Jehovah is spoken of as throwing our sins into the depths of the sea. In ancient times, it would have been impossible for someone to retrieve an object that had been hurled into the depths of the sea.

Collage: 1. A large heavy sack is thrown behind Jehovah’s heavenly throne. 2. A large heavy sack sinks to the bottom of the sea.

“You have thrown all my sins behind your back” (Isa. 38:17)

“You will throw all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Mic. 7:19)


 8. What have we learned so far?

8 By means of these word pictures, we have learned that when Jehovah forgives us, he relieves us of the burden of our sins. Truly, as David said, “happy are those whose lawless deeds have been pardoned and whose sins have been covered; happy is the man whose sin Jehovah will by no means take into account.” (Rom. 4:7, 8) That is true forgiveness!

JEHOVAH WIPES OUT SIN

 9. What word pictures does Jehovah use to explain the extent of his forgiveness?

9 Jehovah uses other word pictures to help us appreciate how by means of the ransom sacrifice, he wipes out the sins of repentant ones. Figuratively, Jehovah is spoken of as washing and rinsing away these sins. This results in purifying the sinner. (Ps. 51:7; Isa. 4:4; Jer. 33:8) Jehovah himself describes the results of this process: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be made as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson cloth, they will become like wool.” (Isa. 1:18) It is extremely difficult to remove scarlet or crimson stains from a cloth. Yet, by means of this word picture, Jehovah assures us that our sins can be washed clean so thoroughly that they are no longer visible.

A sister wearing a white shirt with a large scarlet-colored stain on it. Later, the sister is wearing the same shirt without any trace of the stain.

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be made as white as snow” (Isa. 1:18)


10. What other word picture does Jehovah use to illustrate the magnitude of his forgiveness?

10 As mentioned in the preceding article, sins are also likened to “debts.” (Matt. 6:12; Luke 11:4) So every time we sin against Jehovah, it is as if we are going further and further into debt. We owe him a huge amount! But when Jehovah forgives us, it is as if he cancels the debt that would otherwise be charged against our account. He does not demand repayment of sins that have been forgiven. What a refreshing illustration to describe the relief we feel when Jehovah forgives us!

Hands tearing a piece of paper as a brother expresses himself.

“Forgive us our debts” (Matt. 6:12)


11. What does it mean when the Bible says that our sins are “blotted out”? (Acts 3:19)

11 Jehovah does not simply cancel our debts, or sins; he blots them out. (Read Acts 3:19.) When a debt is canceled, we might imagine a large X being drawn across the account. However, the numbers beneath that X may still be legible. But to blot something out is different. To understand this word picture, we need to remember that in ancient times the ink used was a mixture that included carbon, gum, and water. A person could take a wet sponge and wipe the writing away. So when a debt was “blotted out,” it vanished completely. Traces of what was written before were not visible to the naked eye. The record became nonexistent. How it warms our heart to know that Jehovah not only cancels our sins but also blots them out completely!​—Ps. 51:9.

A hand using a sponge to blot out writing from a piece of paper.

“So as to get your sins blotted out” (Acts 3:19)


12. What does the word picture involving a thick cloud mean for us?

12 Jehovah uses a similar word picture to describe how he blots out sins. He declares: “I will blot out your transgressions as with a cloud and your sins as with a thick cloud.” (Isa. 44:22) When Jehovah forgives, it is as if he were using a thick cloud to hide our transgressions so that they disappear from sight altogether.

Thick clouds.

“I will blot out your transgressions as with a cloud” (Isa. 44:22)


13. When Jehovah forgives our sins, how do we feel?

13 What does this mean for us? When Jehovah forgives our sins, we should not feel that we will bear the stain of such sins for the rest of our life. By means of the blood of Jesus Christ, our debts are completely canceled. Even the record of those debts is no longer discernible. This is what the true forgiveness that comes from Jehovah means for us when we repent of our sins.

JEHOVAH RESTORES A GOOD RELATIONSHIP

A sister meditating peacefully outdoors.

The forgiveness that our heavenly Father extends allows us to have a good relationship with him (See paragraph 14)


14. Why can we trust Jehovah’s forgiveness? (See also pictures.)

14 The true forgiveness that comes from Jehovah allows us to have a good relationship with him. It helps us to avoid being overcome by feelings of guilt. We do not need to be afraid that Jehovah is secretly harboring resentment and is looking for a way to punish us. There is no threat of that happening. Why can we trust Jehovah when he says that he forgives us? The prophet Jeremiah quotes Jehovah as saying: “I will forgive their error, and I will no longer remember their sin.” (Jer. 31:34) When referring to these words, the apostle Paul used a similar expression, saying: “I will no longer call their sins to mind.” (Heb. 8:12) But what does that really mean?

A brother looking up to heaven.

“I will no longer remember their sin” (Jer. 31:34)


15. In what sense does Jehovah no longer remember our sins?

15 In the Bible, the expression “remember” does not always refer to someone recalling something or thinking about it. Rather, it can involve someone taking action. The criminal hanging on the stake next to Jesus requested: “Jesus, remember me when you get into your Kingdom.” (Luke 23:42, 43) He was not simply asking Jesus to think about him at that time. Jesus’ response indicated that he would take action to resurrect this criminal. So, then, when Jehovah says that he no longer remembers our sins, he means that he will not take action against us. He will not punish us sometime in the future for sins that he has forgiven.

16. How does the Bible describe the freedom that comes from true forgiveness?

16 The Bible uses another word picture to help us understand the freedom that comes from true forgiveness. Because of our sinful nature and inclination, we are likened to “slaves of sin.” But thanks to Jehovah’s forgiveness, we are like slaves who have been “set free from sin.” (Rom. 6:17, 18; Rev. 1:5) Yes, Jehovah’s forgiveness gives us the exhilarating feeling of being set free from slavery.

Hands breaking free from handcuffs.

“You were set free from sin” (Rom. 6:18)


17. How does forgiveness result in healing? (Isaiah 53:5)

17 Read Isaiah 53:5. The final word picture we will discuss likens us to people who have a deadly disease. Because of the ransom sacrifice that Jehovah provided through his Son, we are figuratively spoken of as being healed. (1 Pet. 2:24) The ransom makes possible the full repair of our relationship with Jehovah, which has been damaged by spiritual sickness. Just as a person who has been healed of a serious illness feels intense joy, we too rejoice when we are healed spiritually and regain Jehovah’s favor as a result of his forgiveness.

Collage: Jesus’ sacrifice repairing our relationship with Jehovah. 1. Jesus on a torture stake. 2. A brother at peace prays in a park.

“Because of his wounds we were healed” (Isa. 53:5)


WHAT JEHOVAH’S FORGIVENESS MEANS FOR US

18. What have we learned by examining the various word pictures found in the Bible regarding Jehovah’s forgiveness? (See also the box “How Jehovah Forgives Us.”)

18 What have we learned by examining the word pictures found in the Bible regarding Jehovah’s forgiveness? When he forgives, he does so completely and permanently. This allows us to have a good relationship with our heavenly Father. At the same time, we remember that true forgiveness is a gift. It comes from Jehovah’s love and undeserved kindness, which he expresses to sinful mankind. It is not a right that humans can demand.​—Rom. 3:24.

Images of the word pictures shown earlier in the article. Collage: He removes sin. 1. “Pardoned”: A hand lifts a large heavy sack off a brother’s shoulders. 2. “As far off as the sunrise is from the sunset”: A sunset. 3. “You have thrown all my sins behind your back”: A large heavy sack is thrown behind Jehovah’s heavenly throne. 4. “You will throw all their sins into the depths of the sea”: A large heavy sack sinks to the bottom of the sea. Collage: He wipes out sin. 1. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be made as white as snow”: A sister wears a white shirt with a large scarlet-colored stain on it. Later, the sister is wearing the same shirt without any trace of the stain. 2. “Forgive us our debts”: Hands tear a piece of paper as a brother expresses himself. 3. “So as to get your sins blotted out”: A hand uses a sponge to blot out writing from a piece of paper. 4. “I will blot out your transgressions as with a cloud”: Thick clouds. Collage: He restores a good relationship. 1. “I will no longer remember their sin”: A brother looks up to heaven. 2. “You were set free from sin”: Hands break free from handcuffs. 3. “Because of his wounds we were healed”: Jesus on a torture stake. In a separate image, a brother at peace prays in a park.

19. (a) For what should we be grateful? (Romans 4:8) (b) What will we discuss in the next article?

19 Read Romans 4:8. How grateful each one of us should be that Jehovah is the God of “true forgiveness”! (Ps. 130:4) However, our being forgiven is dependent on something important. Jesus explained: “If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt. 6:14, 15) Obviously, then, it is vital for us to imitate Jehovah’s forgiveness. But how can we do that? Our next article will show us what this involves.

HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?

  • How does the Bible describe the way Jehovah removes our sins?

  • How do we know that Jehovah wipes out our sins?

  • What does Jehovah’s true forgiveness mean for you?

SONG 46 We Thank You, Jehovah

a The original Hebrew text uses the expression “the forgiveness,” which implies that this is the only true forgiveness, despite there being other forms of forgiveness. Many translations of the Bible miss this important distinction, but the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures does not, making it unique in its rendering of Psalm 130:4.

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