Songs about Forgiveness

Songs About Forgiveness: Top 10

Sometimes it takes a song to make us really listen to the message. If you consult a dictionary you might find the following definition for forgiveness:

for·give  (fr-gv, fôr-)

v. for·gave (-gv), for·giv·en (-gvn), for·giv·ing, for·gives

v.tr.

1. To excuse for a fault or an offense; pardon.
2. To renounce anger or resentment against.
3. To absolve from payment of (a debt, for example). ^[1]

Songs about forgiveness are a great way to reflect upon the grace and mercy that our Heavenly Father offers to the whole world. We are all guilty of sin (Rom 3:23), but because God loves us so much, He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus to pay our sin debt (Rom 6:23). This message of forgiveness is so encouraging and these top 10 songs about forgiveness remind me of that fact. I have posted a video to each one of these on my YouTube channel: Songs About Forgiveness.

EAST TO WEST (CASTING CROWNS)

Casting Crowns is made up of a group of Youth Pastors. Their message is generally to the church at large; encouraging us to do what the Lord has called us to do. In this song “East to West” we are reminded how large the forgiveness of God is. It reminds me of the Bible verse “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalms 103:12). Take a look at the lyrics below.

Lyrics:

Here I am, Lord, and I’m drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don’t want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight
I know You’ve cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before You now as though I’ve never sinned
But today I feel like I’m just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
’cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
’cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I’m in
Today I feel like I’m just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

I know You’ve washed me white, turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night
I can’t live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals
I’m not holding on to You, but You’re holding on to me
You’re holding on to me

Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west
I don’t have to see the man I’ve been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
’cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
One scarred hand to the other
From one scarred hand to the other

EVERYTHING GLORIOUS (DAVID CROWDER BAND)

At first glance you might not think a title like “Everything Glorious” is a song about forgiveness, but think on it a bit. When we are sinners saved by grace, what other word can you use but “Glorious”! I love the lyrics to this song, take a look below and don’t for get to visit my YouTube channel to listen to it too.

Lyrics:

The day is brighter here with You
The night is lighter than it’s hue
Would lead me to believe
Which leads me to believe

(chorus)
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
What does that make me?

My eyes are small but they have seen
The beauty of enormous things
Which leads me to believe
There’s light enough to see that

(chorus)
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours

From glory to glory
You are glorious You are glorious
From glory to glory
You are glorious. You are glorious
Which leads me to believe
Why I can believe that

You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours

From glory to glory From glory to glory
You are glorious. You are glorious.
You are glorious. You are glorious.

You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours

FORGIVEN & LOVED (JIMMY NEEDHAM)

This is a great song with a style as only Jimmy can do it. Here are the lyrics:

Lyrics:

Tell me I’m forgiven and loved
‘Cause I hear it from the street corner priests
On how God is love and how man can be clean
But my joy has been on holiday
And my peace has almost passed away
Tell me I’m forgiven and free

CHORUS
O I tried and tried to rectify my hopeless situation
But I bought the lie I still have work to do
Now I’m working nine to five like I can earn my own salvation
But there is no condemnation in You

O whisper to me now that it’s for real
‘Cause in the silence of these walls righteousness lost its appeal
Dirty deeds have done me in
O but that can’t stop the faithful friend
Giving mercy once again as You heal
Here it is I’m feeling it

(Chorus)

O He died, He died to rectify my hopeless situation
And His blood commands my guilt to leave
Now on Calvary I stand
Empty pockets, open hands
O there is no condemnation for me

(Chorus)

Child, you’re forgiven and loved
Child, you’re forgiven and loved
Child, you’re forgiven
And child, you are loved
Child, you’re forgiven and loved

GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SINS (JULIA H. JOHNSON & DANIEL B. TOWNER)

Romans 5:20 says:  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.  Because of that abounding grace we can be forgiven. This favored hymn about that grace is one that has been sung in churches since the early 1900’s. I love the chorus the most:

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD (ROBERT LOWRY)

What can take away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh, precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow. No other font I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus!

These lyrics are as relevant today as they were in 1876 when Mr. Lowry wrote them. He based the song on the Scripture in Hebrews 9:22

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

This is a great hymn of faith that I think can be found in every church hymnal on the planet.

PLEASE FORGIVE ME (GERALD CRABB)

This is a lovely song about forgiveness. Written by Gerald Crabb, my YouTube channel includes a video of his son, Jason Crabb singing it. Take at the look at these inspiring lyrics:

Lyrics:

My sleep is gone, my heart is full of sorrow
I cant believe how much I’ve let you down
I dread the pain that waits for me tomorrow
when the sun reveals my broken dreams scattered on the ground

chorus:
Please forgive me
I need your grace to make it through
all I have is you, I’m at your mercy
Lord, I’ll serve you
until my dying day
help others find the way
at your mercy, please forgive me

I cant believe the God of earth and glory
would take the time to care for one like me
but I read in the Bible that old story
how He plead for my forgiveness while He was dying on a tree

repeat chorus 2x

TAKE YOU BACK (JEREMY CAMP)

Jeremy Camp sings these words to remind us that even though we fall, God will always take us back into His fellowship. A Bible verse that comes into my mind when I hear this song is John 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” God is our loving Father and we can never be unadopted out of His family once we accept the gift of grace. Look at some of the lyrics to Jeremy’s song:

Sample Lyrics:

I’ll take you back always
And even when your fight is over now
Even when your fight is over now
I’ll take you back always
And even when the pain is coming through
Even when the pain is coming through
I’ll take you back

THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD (LEWIS E. JONES)

A favorite hymn of faith talks about the powerful blood of Jesus. I think of Colossians 1:12-14 “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” when I hear this one. Here are the lyrics:

Lyrics:

Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

Refrain:
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder-working pow’r
In the precious blood of the Lamb.

Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide;
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow;
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood.

WONDERFUL GRACE OF JESUS (HALDOR LILLENAS)

Another favorite hymn sung in most churches, this one has great parts to it. Hearing ir sung acapella with all the parts is a rare treat. Listen to the Cathedrals do it below, I get chills every time I hear them sing it: