Watchtower Study, Week of October 27-November 2, 2025, Convince Yourself That Jehovah Has Forgiven You, Underlined Answers.

Watchtower Study, October 27-November 2, 2025, Convince Yourself That Jehovah Has Forgiven You, Underlined Answers.

Yellow: Direct Response

Light Yellow: Additional Response

Celeste: Additional Points

“You forgave my error and my sins” (Ps. 32:5).

1, 2. What does Jehovah do when we repent, and how does that make us feel? (See also the picture.)

King David felt deeply guilty about past mistakes (Ps. 40:12; 51:3; overleaf). However, he repented wholeheartedly, and Jehovah forgave him. (2 Sam. 12:13). When David realized that God had forgiven him, he felt very happy and relieved. (Ps. 32:1).

2 We too can experience those same feelings of happiness and relief. We find comfort in knowing that Jehovah forgives us—even if we commit serious sins—as long as we truly repent, confess our sins, and do everything possible to avoid repeating them. (Prov. 28:13; Acts 26:20; 1 John 1:9). And it comforts us greatly to know that when He forgives us for a sin, He erases it completely and it is as if we had never committed it. (Ezek. 33:16).

ILLUSTRATION

King David sitting on a balcony, playing the harp and singing.

King David composed many psalms that speak of Jehovah's forgiveness. (See paragraphs 1 and 2.)

3, 4. How did Jennifer feel? What will we cover in this article?

3 However, we may sometimes find it hard to believe that Jehovah has forgiven us. Consider Jennifer's case. She had been raised in the truth, but during her adolescence she strayed and began to lead a double life. Years later, he returned to Jehovah and was eventually baptized. He recounts: “I lived a materialistic and immoral life. I also drank heavily and had a terrible temper. My mind knew that, since I had already asked for forgiveness and repented, Christ's sacrifice had cleansed me. But my heart wouldn't be convinced.”

4 Do you sometimes struggle with the conviction that Jehovah has forgiven you for past mistakes? Remember, Jehovah wants us to be as confident as David that he shows us mercy and forgiveness. In this article, we'll look at why it's so important to be convinced that Jehovah has forgiven us and what will help us achieve this.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO CONVINCE OURSELVES THAT JEHOVAH HAS FORGIVEN US?

5. What does Satan want us to believe? Give an example.

5 If we are convinced that Jehovah has forgiven us, we will not fall into one of Satan's traps. Let us remember that he will do anything to make us stop serving Jehovah. For example, one of the traps he uses is to try to make us believe that we have committed such a serious sin that Jehovah will never forgive us. Consider the man in Corinth who was guilty of sexual immorality and was subsequently removed from the congregation (1 Cor. 5:1, 5, 13). He later repented. But Satan wanted the brothers to refuse to forgive him and not allow him to return to the congregation. If that happened, Satan might convince the man that what he had done was unforgivable. He would then be so “overwhelmed by being overly sorrowful” that he would stop serving Jehovah. The Devil hasn't changed his intentions or his methods. The good news is that we're not unaware of his tactics. (2 Cor. 2:5-11).

6. What will help us free ourselves from the weight of guilt?

If we are convinced that Jehovah has forgiven us, we are freed from the burden of guilt. It's natural to feel bad when we sin (Ps. 51:17). And that's good, because then our conscience will motivate us to change and do what's right (2 Cor. 7:10, 11). However, if we feel excessively guilty even after repenting, we can become discouraged to the point of wanting to give up. Instead, when we are convinced that Jehovah has forgiven us, we can put the guilt behind us and turn the page. In this way, we will serve Jehovah as he intends: with a clear conscience and great joy. (Col. 1:10, 11; 2 Tim. 1:3) Let us now see what will help each of us convince our hearts that Jehovah has forgiven us.

WHAT CAN HELP YOU CONVINCE YOURSELF THAT JEHOVAH HAS FORGIVEN YOU?

7, 8. How was Jehovah described in Exodus 34:6, 7, and what assurance does that give us?

7 Consider how Jehovah described himself. Consider, for example, what he said to Moses on Mount Sinai. (Read Exodus 34:6, 7.) Of all the things Jehovah could have said about himself, what did he focus on? He chose to present himself as “a merciful and compassionate God.” So, do you think he would refuse to forgive someone who loves him and has sincerely repented of a sin? Jehovah cannot possibly act in such a cold and cruel manner.

8 When Jehovah says he is merciful, we can fully believe him, for he always speaks the truth. (Ps. 31:5) So if you struggle to believe that Jehovah has forgiven you, why not consider this? If you are convinced that Jehovah is merciful and compassionate, and therefore forgives all who repent, you can be absolutely certain that he will also forgive you.

9. What does Psalm 32:5 teach us about Jehovah’s way of forgiving?

9 Consider what Jehovah teaches us in the Bible about his way of forgiving. For example, David said to Jehovah: “You forgave my error and my sins.” (Read Psalm 32:5.) The Hebrew expression translated “forgive” in this verse also means “to lift up” or “to carry.” So when Jehovah forgave David, it was as if he had lifted a heavy burden from his shoulders and carried it away. As a result, David felt greatly relieved and happy. (Ps. 32:2-4) If we truly repent, we can feel the same way he did. We no longer have to carry our sins, because they are no longer there; Jehovah has lifted them from our shoulders and taken them away.

10, 11. What does Psalm 86:5 teach us about Jehovah?

10 (Lee Salmo 86:5). David said that Jehovah is “willing to forgive.” According to a Bible reference work, this expression indicates that “forgiveness is part of God’s nature.” Why is He so kind to repentant sinners? The verse goes on to say, “Your faithful love for all who call upon You is immense.” As we saw in the previous article, Jehovah's loyal love for his servants is a deep and lasting attachment. And that love always motivates him to generously forgive those who repent. (Isa. 55:7) If you find it difficult to be convinced that Jehovah has forgiven you, it may help to reason like this: “I know that Jehovah is willing to forgive all who repent and ask him for mercy. So I can be sure that Jehovah has forgiven me.”

11 On the other hand, the Bible also teaches us that Jehovah knows how we are formed and understands that we are imperfect, and that comforts us greatly. (Ps. 139:1, 2) Let’s explore this point by examining another psalm of David, which will help convince us that Jehovah wants to forgive us.

REMEMBER ONLY WHAT JEHOVAH REMEMBERS

12, 13. According to Psalm 103:14, what does Jehovah remember and what does he feel compelled to do?

12 (Lee Salmo 103:14). David said that Jehovah “remembers that we are dust.” With those words, he gave one of the reasons why God is willing to forgive us if we repent: He always remembers that we are imperfect. Let's take a closer look at this verse.

13 David wrote that Jehovah “knows well how we are formed.” He formed Adam “from the dust of the ground,” and he knows what that implies: even perfect human beings have limitations and needs, such as breathing, eating, and sleeping. (Gen. 2:7) But since Adam and Eve sinned, the fact that “we are dust” implies something else: all of their descendants have inherited imperfection and the tendency to do bad things. Well, David not only said that Jehovah knows we are imperfect, but that he also “remembers” it. The Hebrew word translated “remembers” in Psalm 103:14 not only means that Jehovah has it in mind, but also that he is moved to do something good. So, simply put, that verse means that Jehovah understands that we will sometimes make mistakes, but if we repent, he will be moved to treat us with mercy and forgive us. (Ps. 78:38, 39)

14. (a) What does Psalm 103:12 teach us about Jehovah’s forgiveness? (b) How does David’s example show that Jehovah’s forgiveness is complete? (See the box “Jehovah Forgives and Forgets.”)

14 What else does Psalm 103 teach us about Jehovah’s way of forgiveness? (Read Psalm 103:12.) David said that when Jehovah forgives us, he puts our sins far away from us, “as far as the east is from the west.” In a sense, it could be said that east and west are infinitely far from each other. What do we learn from this? A biblical scholar explains: “If sin is carried so far, we can be sure that every trace of it, even its memory, will have disappeared.” (David's Treasure, by Charles Spurgeon, volume 2, translated by Samuel Vila). Sometimes something as small as a smell is enough to trigger a memory. But when Jehovah forgives us for a sin, there is not even the slightest trace, not even a faint smell, that can bring it back to his memory and hold it against us. (Ezek. 18:21, 22; Neh. 3:19)

15. What can we do if we still feel guilty about past sins?

15 If you still feel guilty about past sins, meditating on Psalm 103 will help convince you that God has forgiven you. Ask yourself: “If Jehovah remembers that I am imperfect and is willing to forgive me because I am repentant, shouldn’t I remember it too? On the other hand, if Jehovah chooses to forget my past sins and never holds them against me, shouldn't I forget them too? He doesn't dwell on the sins he has forgiven you, so why should you? (Ps. 130:3). Once you convince yourself that Jehovah has forgiven you, you too will be able to forgive yourself and turn the page.

16. Why is it so dangerous to obsess over past mistakes? (See also the image.)

16 Remember that constantly dwelling on past mistakes is like driving a car while constantly checking the rearview mirror. It's good to check it from time to time to see if there's any danger behind you so you can avoid it. But if you want to drive safely, you must keep your eyes on what's ahead. Similarly, it's good to occasionally reflect on the mistakes you've made so you can learn from them and strive not to repeat them. But if you dwell on them, you'll feel so guilty that you can't give Jehovah your best. So keep your eyes fixed on what is in front of you: the path that leads to the new world, where the bad things of the past “will not be remembered.” (Is. 65:17; Prov. 4:25).

ILLUSTRATION

A man driving along a winding road looks in his rearview mirror.

Just as a driver should focus more on what's ahead than on the rearview mirror, we should focus more on future blessings than on past mistakes. (See paragraph 16.)

KEEP CONVINCING YOUR HEART

17. Why do we need to keep convincing our hearts that Jehovah loves us and forgives us?

17 We all need to keep convincing our hearts that Jehovah loves us and is always ready to forgive us. (1 John 3:19, footnote) Why? Because Satan will continue trying to convince us that God doesn't love us and will never forgive us. His goal is to stop us from serving Jehovah. In fact, since he knows his time is short, he will try harder each time. (Rev. 12:12) Let's not give him the slightest chance!

18. What can you do to convince yourself that Jehovah loves you and has forgiven you?

18 In the previous article, we looked at what can help you convince yourself that Jehovah loves you. In this one, we've seen what you can do to convince your heart that Jehovah has forgiven you. Meditate on how Jehovah describes himself and what the Bible teaches about his way of forgiving. Don't forget that he always remembers your imperfection and treats you with mercy. And remember that God forgives completely. If you do all this, you'll be able to say with the same confidence as David: "Thank you, Jehovah, for forgiving 'my error and my sins'!" (Ps. 32:5).

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

Why is it so important to convince ourselves that Jehovah has forgiven us?

It's so important because if we are convinced that Jehovah has forgiven us, we won't fall into one of Satan's traps, which is to make us believe that we have committed such a serious sin that Jehovah will never forgive us. Furthermore, if we are convinced that Jehovah has forgiven us, we will be freed from the burden of guilt.

What can help you convince yourself that Jehovah has forgiven you?

It will help me to meditate on how Jehovah described himself. He chose to present himself as “a merciful and compassionate God.” I will also meditate on what Jehovah teaches us in the Bible about his way of forgiveness.

The Hebrew expression translated "forgive" also means "to lift" or "to carry." So when Jehovah forgives us, it's as if he lifts a heavy burden from our shoulders and carries it away. As a result, we feel greatly relieved and happy.

On the other hand, the Bible also teaches us that Jehovah knows how we are made and understands that we are imperfect, and that comforts us greatly.

Why do we need to keep convincing our hearts that Jehovah forgives us?

Because Satan will continue to try to convince us that God doesn't love us and will never forgive us. His goal is to stop us from serving Jehovah. Let us not forget that He always remembers that we are imperfect, treats us with mercy, and forgives us completely.