The deed of forgiving an offender appears challenging. Yet, God demands that we should forgive. Although God forgave the sins of Adam and Eve, they bore the consequences of their deeds because yet not repentant, they continued shifting blame. God asked Adam in Genesis 3: 11-13, have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from? The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it…The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Refusal to change does not placate forgiveness but inflicts the consequences. God said in Numbers 14: 18, the Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished. Exodus 20: 6 says, yet he shows love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. True love for God shows repentance and obedience from the heart. Jesus amplified forgiveness throughout his ministry.
How easy is it to forgive?
It is easy and at the same time, difficult to forgive. These are based on two issues, our knowledge of the purpose of forgiving; and our knowledge of what scripture says about forgiving.
The purpose of forgiveness
God pave the way for forgiveness for many reasons among which we discuss the following:
It allows blessings into our lives
Psalms 32: 1 says, blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Whoever receives forgiveness from mankind of God is blessed. In like manner, those who forgive are also blessed for doing God’s will. Colossians 3: 13 says, bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
It refreshes and heals the soul
Jesus preceded his healing with forgiveness as some of our sicknesses result from unforgiven sin. Psalm 103: 3 says the Lord forgives all sins and heals all your diseases. Jesus said in Matthew 9: 5, which is easier: to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk? We receive blessings when we also forgive others. Jesus said in Matthew 5: 7-9, blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called children of God. Such blessings come from forgiving others.
It allows effective worship
Matthew 6: 15 says if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Failing to forgive is a sin which blocks effective prayer, hence Psalm 66: 18 says, if I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. God inhabits the prayer from a clean forgiving heart. When we forgive, we show God’s nature to the world. Psalm 103: 3 says the Lord forgives all our sins and heals all your diseases. Micah 7: 18 says, who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? We are created in God’s image.
It enables divine release
God released us from spiritual bondage through forgiveness even on the cross. Jesus said in John 20: 23, if you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. Paul wrote on the joy of release in 2Corinthians 2: 14, thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. He quoted scripture in Ephesians 4: 8, “When he (Jesus) ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people. Let us release our souls and that of others through forgiveness for Psalms 146: 7 says, the Lord sets prisoners free.
It shows love and compassion
Whoever has no compassion cannot forgive and his heart is wicked. His love for God is not genuine. Colossians 3: 13 says bear with each other and forgive one another if any has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. The standard of forgiveness is thus that which Christ Jesus showed in his ministry. Isaiah 53: 5 says, he (Jesus) was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Our souls will be healed by the forgiveness we show to others for our bruises and hurt.
Reflection
If we love Jesus, we will obey his commandment for he said in John 14: 15, “If you love me, keep my commands. We must forgive one another as Christ forgave us. To the forgiven and the forgiver, we must remember that there are consequences for sin and rebellion.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, give us a compassionate spirit for forgiveness. Give us obedient hearts to keep your commands. Give us humble hearts to learn from your meekness not counting the cost of forgiving one another of sins committed against us. Give us to face the cost and humiliation because of your love in our hearts. We pray in your Holy name, Amen!!
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