Dwight Fletcher | The Peter pattern of self-forgiveness

LAST WEEK, we discussed Judas Iscariot whose self-unforgiveness led to his decision to take his own life. Judas betrayed Jesus, and instead of letting go of his guilt and shame, he allowed the lies of the enemy to lead him down a path of ultimate destruction. Yet, he wasn’t the only disciple who betrayed Jesus. There was another disciple who had a challenge forgiving himself. His name was Peter.

The day before Jesus died, Peter promised to go to the very end with Him, even if it meant dying. Jesus told Peter that before the rooster crowed in the morning, he would deny knowing Him three times. Well, this greatly offended Peter. He passionately refused, saying that would never happen.

Of course, you know what came next. Luke 22:54-62 tells the account of Peter doing exactly as Jesus said. When he realised what he had done, he wept bitterly. He knew that he turned his back on the Son of God and immediately he felt regret, shame, and guilt. Peter’s future, his very destiny, was in doubt at that point. It wasn’t an issue of whether God would forgive Peter. Earlier in the conversation, Jesus had also prophesied that Peter would be restored of his coming sin (Luke 22:31-32). The real question is whether Peter would be able to forgive himself and move forward.

It’s the same with you. No matter what you’ve done, it’s not an issue of whether you can be forgiven by God. You will always be forgiven by God if you sincerely ask for it (1 John 1:9). The real issue is whether you will forgive yourself. What issue is keeping you trapped in your cycle of not forgiving yourself? God wants to set you free.

You may be a Christian or not, God still wants to set you free. There is a reason you’re reading this right now. Today is the day to finally take that step, and God gives us a pattern in Scripture of how to forgive ourselves.

STEP 1: FORGIVING SELF BEGINS WITH RECEIVING GOD’S FORGIVENESS

Our release from feelings of guilt, regret, shame, embarrassment, etc., will only occur when we come to God for forgiveness first. This is the most important step that you can take with your life, no matter what you’ve done. You see, not only does God’s forgiveness overcome the separation between you and God because of sin; not only does it ensure that you can spend eternity with God in Heaven, but it enables you to forgive yourself. I am speaking of more than just salvation, but a forgiveness that can silence the taunting in your life. Consider Peter again. This man really messed up. Before being able to forgive himself, he had to be able to receive forgiveness from God.

Jesus ensured Peter knew he was forgiven. In Mark 16, we read about Resurrection Morning. On the third day after Jesus had been buried, some of the women had gone to prepare Jesus’ body. When they got there, the grave was empty. There was an angel sitting there who said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter…” (Mark 16:6-7 NLT, emphasis mine).

The angel specifically told the women to tell Peter. Let Peter know that even though he messed up Jesus is alive, and he can be forgiven. It took Peter a while to forgive himself, but Jesus pursued him until he did. Jesus is pursuing you, as well. He wants you to know that your sins, the things that cause you guilt and shame, are forgiven on the cross. You don’t have to bear them anymore.

Receive His forgiveness today. Then join me next week as we discuss the next step in the Peter Pattern of Self-Forgiveness.