Part of what makes God so complex is trying to grasp the idea of his forgiveness for us.  Why is it so easy for Him to forgive all our sins?  It is our own sinful nature that makes forgiveness so hard.  Once we can understand His love for us and how he can so easily forgive us, we can begin to understand how forgiveness should look in our marriage.  

Even as Stephen (Acts 7) was being stoned to death he understood God’s love for those stoning him and asked God to forgive them.  Without God’s love he would not have had this forgiveness or been able to truly ask for it.  By making the link between forgiveness and love we can better understand how to forgive and accept forgiveness from one another.

Scripture Passages

Ephesians 4:32  
Colossians 3:12-14

1. Based on these passages, what does a biblical picture of forgiveness look like?  How does Christ forgive us?  How are we to forgive each other?
2. Are we capable of forgiveness in the way that God forgave us?  Why or why not?
3. In Colossians 3:12-14, Paul tells us that love is our basic garment that we must always wear.  Before this though, he speaks of the importance of forgiveness.  How and why do love and forgiveness go hand in hand?

Personal Reflection

1. How can God’s forgiveness be related to the forgiveness that you give your spouse?
2. What do you need to change about your understanding of God’s forgiveness to help you forgive others in your life?
3. What struggles do you have in giving forgiveness to your spouse?  Why is it not always an easy thing to do?
4. Are there currently situations or issues that you need to ask forgiveness of your spouse for?
5. Which position is harder for you:  the one asking or the one giving forgiveness?  Why?