1. In what way has God dealt with sinners?

"Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear Him; for He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust." Psalm 103:13, 14.

2. What is God ready to do for all who call upon Him?

"For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon You." Psalm 86:5.

3. When Abraham asked God to spare Sodom if He should find ten righteous persons therein, what did the Lord say? Genesis 18:32.

4. What prayer did Moses offer on behalf of Israel? Numbers 14:19.

5. What reply did the Lord immediately make? Numbers 14:20.

6. When David confessed his great sin to God, what was done in answer to that prayer?

"I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and You forgave the iniquity of my sin." Psalm 32:5.

7. Does the Lord always forgive sins when they are properly confessed to Him?

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9.

8. How full is the Lord's forgiveness?

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Isaiah 55:7.

9. In what special manner has God shown His willingness to forgive the sinner?

"But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.

10. What does this wonderful manifestation on the part of God, grant to us?

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:32.

11. Why has such a provision been made?

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." II Peter 3:9.

12. When the prodigal son in the parable, repented and turned toward home, what did his father do? Luke 15:20. Upon the son's asking to be made only a hired servant what order was issued on behalf of the penitent one? Luke 15:22-24. Is God as willing to do for His children as earthly parents are for theirs? Luke 11:13.

13. How many receive forgiveness from God?

"Every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened." Matthew 7:8.

14. Does the Lord forget the cries of those who call upon Him?

"Can a woman forget her sucking child? . . . yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget you." Isaiah 49:15.

15. What attitude should accompany prayer?

Jesus said, "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25.

16. Will God pardon the unforgiving?

"But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." Mark 11:26.

17. How shall we ask for pardon?

Jesus said, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Matthew 6:12.

18. How many times should we forgive?

"Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus said unto him, "I say not unto you, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."" Matthew 18:21, 22.

19. In what parable are we taught forgiveness? Matthew 18:23-31.

20. In dealing with the erring, what feelings should move us to action?

"Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?" Matthew 18:33.

21. In forgiving, should we be satisfied with mere formalities?

"So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." Matthew 18:35.

22. How should we bestow mercy?

"Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12:8.

23. What should we do when a great sin is confessed?

"So that contrariwise you ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with much sorrow." II Corinthians 2:7. The forgiving spirit manifested by Joseph, who "kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them" (Genesis 45:15), notwithstanding the great wrong they had done him, furnishes an example worthy of imitation by all Christians.

24. In restoring the erring, what grace should we exemplify?

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness." Galatians 6:1.

25. In forgiving, whose example do we follow?

"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you." Colossians 3:13.

26. Did God anciently forbid grudging?

"You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:18.

27. What does the New Testament say?

"Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest you be condemned: behold, the Judge stands before the door." James 5:9.

28. Does one forgive who holds a grudge?

Some, when pretending to forgive, say: "I can forgive, but I cannot forget." Such "hold a grudge."

29. What duty, recognized in the Lord's prayer, is the only one to which the Master adds a comment?

"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:12, 14, 15.

3. (Genesis 18:32 KJV) "And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake."

4. Numbers 14:19-20 (NIV) "In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now."

5. Numbers 14:20 "The LORD replied, "I have forgiven them, as you asked."

12. (Luke 15:20-24 NKJV) "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. {21} "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' {22} "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. {23} 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; {24} 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.

(Luke 11:13 NKJV) "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

19. (Matthew 18:23-31 NKJV) "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. {24} "And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. {25} "But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. {26} "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' {27} "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. {28} "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' {29} "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' {30} "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. {31} "So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.