Do you think that it is important to forgive? Have you ever found it difficult to forgive someone? I have. Have you now forgiven that person? I have with God’s help. Why is that we find it difficult to forgive someone? Is there someone who has not forgiven you? I do not know. Why is it that God has chosen to forgive us? Let me tell you what God has told me about how forgiveness bring hope.
I have learned over many years of being a Christian that forgiveness of others is vital to my life. It is not only that I have been forgiven that is important, but it is also that I have forgiven others. Matthew 6:14-15 says, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (ESV) There seems to be a correlation between us forgiving and God forgiving us. We know that God’s forgiveness is not dependent upon our forgiving others because the rest of Scripture makes it clear that God’s forgiveness is by grace alone, in faith alone through Christ alone. It is not of our own doing. So, what then does it mean? To me it is telling me that because I am forgiven my forgiving others is a sign that I am forgiven.
This theme of forgiving others is throughout the Bible. To start with just a few verses earlier in the Lords pray Jesus say, “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 6:12 (ESV) some other versions use sins instead of debts. But to me the picture is clear. Luke 17:3-4 says, “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” (ESV) I have learned that I must forgive when I am asked for forgiveness. I believe that Ephesians 4:32 takes it past those who have asked to be forgiven to all those who have somehow wronged me. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (ESV)
Then there is the question about us seeking forgiveness from others. I know that I have sinned against others and have asked for forgiveness often, but sometimes I wonder if I have sinned against someone without knowing it. Maybe I have used a word they found offensive or unintentionally ignored them I wonder how do I know and what can I do. I ask this because Matthew 5:23-24 says “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (ESV) the answer seems to be clear in that I will not know unless the person tells me. But it is clear to me that I must seek forgiveness from everyone I know that I have somehow sinned against them.
It is clear to me that forgiveness is an essential part of my Christian walk. It is not only the forgiveness that I receive through Christ’s death and resurrection that gives me eternal life and total forgiveness, but it is also in my response to His forgiveness that I show others that gives me hope and assurance of my own forgiveness. I recently went to church at Life Baptist Church with my friends Linda and Dave when I was in Las Vegas and I was inspired to write this blog because of Pastor Andrew Reed’s message. It is a good message and very worthwhile. I suggest you take the few minutes to listen to it.
I pray that you forgive everyone who has wronged you even if they have never asked for forgiveness. I believe that is the pattern that God has shown us. After all, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8 (ESV) It is this forgiveness that brings me hope and it is in granting others forgiveness we know for certain that we too are forgiven. The knowledge of being forgiven brings me hope. Remember though that all sin is forgivable except the sin of unbelieve in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the cross satisfied the penalty for my sins and yours as well. It satisfied all my sins from the past, in the present, and in the future. My penalty and yours were satisfied on the cross by the death of Jesus, God’s greatest act of love and wrath, who became sin for me and you. It was also God’s greatest act of faithfulness because “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (ESV) Because wisdom shows us, we need to believe in Jesus. I hope that you join me in helping others to choose Jesus.
If you have not read my previous blogs, you can find them here. You can watch a book trailer about my book. You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here. eBook or Audiobook versions can be found at Westbow Press
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