Have you ever been hurt so bad by someone or by a group of people that it stings to even think about it? When that person’s name is spoken or that group of people walk by does your heart beat fast and your blood begin to boil. Does the thought of forgiving others, who have wronged you, seem impossible?
God’s Word, the Bible, records Jesus’ words regarding forgiveness in Matthew chapter 18. Peter asks Jesus, how many times should I forgive…seven times? Jesus’ answer may be surprising to some. Jesus says to forgive seventy-seven times to teach us that we are to forgive without keeping a record.
Jesus follows His statement with a parable about a king who forgives the great debt of one of his servants. That servant who pleaded for mercy after being forgiven of his debt then goes out after one of his own servants. He chokes the man, and places him in jail for a very small debt owed to himself. The king finds out and is furious with the unforgiving servants lack of mercy and punishes him. Jesus then states that God punishes those who are not willing to forgive others.
“But….you have no idea what they did to me!” I don’t know what wrongs you have suffered or the scars you bear by the hands of others, but God does. Maybe it seems impossible to change your heart towards those who have hurt you deeply. I have been there. Until one truly understands what forgiveness is, and how we have been forgiven, it next to impossible to forgive others.
Do you realize that you need to be forgiven? As you think about who you have wronged, there is a great need for you to be forgiven. That is to be forgiven by God, the Creator of the universe who has given you life and allows you to take a deep breathe even now. You need forgiveness for sin against a Holy God. The Bible states “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 ESV). ”For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 ESV).
Our sin against God our Creator who is perfect in Holiness, Love and Justice is a great debt and deserves the penalty of eternal death. The great truth is that God offers complete forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus Christ who is God, never sinned and was able to make a way to save His people from their sins against Him. Jesus bled and died on a cross to not only forgive His people from their sin but to completely remove their sin. Three days later Jesus was raised from death to life to secure eternal salvation for all who have faith in Him.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (John 1:9 ESV). “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 ESV)
Once we understand how much we have been forgiven by God, our hearts are moved toward forgiving others. I pray that you are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, and grow in your understanding of the love of Christ and how much He has forgiven you.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Paul Taylor
Thank you for sharing this wonderful Truth. God bless.