FORGIVENESS

Text: Matt 18:21-35,  Luke 23:21-34,  Acts 7:59-60

Forgiveness is a conscious and deliberate decision to let go feelings of resentment or vengeance towards a person or a group who has wronged, harmed or offended you. It is an act of mercy or compassion extended to someone who wronged you. It is to let go an offence, acquit the offender and set him or her free without pressing any claims. It is to pardon.

"Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note, torn into pieces and burnt up, so that it can never be shown against any offender or anyone."

One of God's attributes is forgiveness. His nature is to forgive, and to forgive is divine. But one of the most difficult things for man to do is forgiveness. The scripture admonishes you to forgive. If you are of the Father and a believer you have to follow suit, that is, forgive as the Lord forgives.

 

The Bible says in Matt 6:12,14 and 15, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your father forgive your trespasses." Brethren, for you to be forgiven by God, you have to forgive others no matter the magnitude of the offence and no matter how it hurts. If you fear God, it will not be difficult for you to forgive (Ps 130:4).

 

The Scripture says fear God and obey His commands. Therefore, apart from being a condition for you to receive forgiveness, it is also a command. When you forgive someone that hurts you, you are helping yourself more than the other person, because forgiveness keeps your heart free from burden. The Bible says in Matt 5:44 - 45, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." In essence, there should not be any malice towards them in spite of their hurting you.  Verse 45 says "that you may be sons of your father in heaven". Your enemies and those persecuting you will  definitely be hurting you but the scripture says you should pray for them. That is, you have to forget, forgive, love and also pray for them. Praying for those who hurt you is vital to successfully forgiving them. Ps 86:5 says, "You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you." God does not repay you according to your iniquities. So you must find a place in your heart to forgive. Have a large heart.

In Matt 18:21-22, our Lord Jesus Christ gave us an example on how to forgive others when Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but up to seventy times seven." It means you must always forgive whenever your brethren sinned against you. You should not deny him or her of forgiveness. In verses 23-25,  Jesus explained in parable what is likely to befall someone who refused to forgive with the unmerciful and wicked servant who owed a king ten thousand talents and the king forgave him, but he refused to forgive someone who owed him one hundred denarii which is so little. When the king heard, he withdrew the pardon extended to him and he was jailed. And Jesus said, "This is how my Heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." The  psalmist says in Ps 103:3, "Praise The Lord O my soul who forgives all your sins." God forgives all your sins, and not some or part of it. You have to forgive too and with all your heart. Verse 9 says, "He will not always accuse nor will He harbour his anger forever." Ephesians 4:31-32 says, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you." Remember that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and He is constantly advocating your case with our Father,  therefore you must forgive.

In John 8:1-11, Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery. She was to be stoned to death by the law of the land,Moses Law, but she received pardon from Jesus. She got life instead of death. In Luke 23:34, the thief on the right hand of Jesus on the cross got pardon when he pleaded with Jesus-  he made it to heaven with Him. Also, when Jesus was crucified He said, "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." Despite the torture, mockery, hardship, beating and falsehood against Him, He  still asked his Father to forgive his accusers. Can any offence be greater than this? - Yet Jesus pleaded for them for forgiveness.

In Acts 7:59-60, Stephen asked God to forgive his accusers; "while they were stoning him, Stephen prayed," Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit. Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord do not hold this sin against them." Brethren, if  Stephen at that point could ask God not to hold it against them, then nothing should be too hurtful or too painful as not to forgive. Jesus and Stephen's emotions could have run wild when they were been tortured as to curse those people but instead they pleaded with God, our Father, to forgive them. You should never allow your emotions to run wild.  The Scripture says in Luke 6:27-28, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Verse 31 says, "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

Verse 37 says, "Forgive, and you will be forgiven." So if you want to be forgiven, you just must forgive others. Jesus reassures you in Mark 3:28 -29, "I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven."

In Gen 45:1-15,  the scripture explains what Joseph suffered in the hand of his brothers. But despite the plot against Joseph by his brothers, he had a large heart, showed them love, took care of them and reassured them of his forgiveness. Also in Gen 33:1-10, despite the importance of his birth-right and blessings which Jacob cunningly took from his elder brother Esau, he still forgave him. If Joseph, Esau and Stephen who are flesh like you could forgive you should be able to forgive as well.

 

Brethren, nothing is too much to be forgiven. You can go through the process of forgiveness by:
(1) Asking for it.
(2) You can approach the offender in case he or she does not know he has offended you.
(3) You can receive forgiveness through repentance

Remember that the scripture says in Mark 11:25, "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.". Avoid whatever will stand in your way or hinder your prayers.

Benefits of Forgiveness:

You shall be forgiven. Luke 6:37,  Mark 11:25
It enables you to pray the more.  Ephesians 4: 26-27
It gives you Spiritual freedom. Matt 6:14.
It makes you to be at peace with all men. Romans 12:18
It keeps your heart free from burden.
It repairs a damaged relationship, sustains it and also heals wounds

Prayer
Father in heaven, thank you for your word concerning forgiveness. To err is human, and I realize that if I forgive and also repent, you will forgive me all. Father, grant me the grace to be able to forgive those that offend or hurt me and those that accuse me unjustly. And also grant me the grace to be able to pray for them and be at peace with them. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.