Jesus commands us to forgive. However, sometimes we feel justified not to forgive for genuine reasons. In justifying our failure to forgive, we ask ourselves this question: does scripture say there must be no consequences for sin or hurt? We said in part one, that Adam and Eve suffered the consequences of their deeds because they were not repentant but rather shifted blame, first to God, then to themselves, then to the serpent. Adam’s response to God in Genesis 3: 11-13 was, “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.”
We reiterate that failure to forgive as God commands is a sin. A hurt against one must not defeat God’s command and his love in our hearts. 1Corinthians 8: 9 says, be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. Our deeds should not taint God’s name and glory. God’s anger abates when we repent, yet he continues to love us even as sinners though he hates sin. Romans 5: 8 says, but God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. What then does scripture say about the nature of forgiving sins?
Conditional answer to our prayers
Jesus made forgiveness a condition to receiving God’s attention and having positive answers to our prayers, hence it is one of God’s conditions for our qualifying for eternity. As part of the Lord’s prayer, Jesus said in Matthew 6: 12-15; Luke 11: 4, and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors… But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Jesus spoke of this as a conditional clause because that is the truth which we cannot change. In effect, we set our own standards by which we must be judged. Luke 6: 37 says, forgive, and you will be forgiven.
The number of times to forgive
Jesus was asked in Matthew 18: 21-22, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. To the extent that reckoning the number of sins of a person, it suggests that it is impossible to keep such a record of every person. Counting and waiting for a day to get revenge is not forgiveness. God said in Hebrews 8: 12, I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Jesus said in Luke 17: 3-4, “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent;’ you must forgive them.” Jesus says however be the nature of sin or hurt, we must forgive.
Forgiveness must be genuine
Jesus said in Matthew 18: 35, “This is how my heavenly father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Jesus judges from the heart for he knows every heart. 1Chroncles 28: 9 says, the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. Forgiveness must be absolute and not partial. Ephesians 4: 32 says, be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Jesus’ forgiveness is absolute hence in Matthew 27: 51; Mark 15: 38; Luke 23: 45, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Forgiveness must be costly or painful
Acts 8: 33 says, in his humiliation he (Jesus) was deprived of justice. Yet he ignored the extent of humiliation and forgave us. Speaking of Jesus, Hebrews 9: 22 says, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. He shed his blood to free us from eternal death and destruction. Jesus said in Matthew 26: 28, this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness for the sake of Christ Jesus is often costly and humiliating but we must not disappoint Jesus. Will we choose to obey God to glorify him, or disobey him to save our pride and humiliation.
Reflection
Jesus said in John 10: 27, my sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. If we are Jesus’ sheep, do we follow his instructions to forgive? If we disobey him, we cannot qualify as his sheep. John 1: 10 says, He (Jesus) was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. Yet, he loved the world and forgave us our sins against him. No matter how hurt we are, Jesus says forgive the offender. We must remember, there are consequences for sin and rebellion.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, give us the grace to forgive one another in humility knowing that you also forgave us while we were yet sinners. We pray in your Holy name, Amen!!
Send us your prayer request so we may join you in prayer
