“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” Luke 17:3
November 17, 2022
Must I forgive others before God can forgive me? The answer is yes, I must (Matt. 6:14-15). The refusal to forgive others is a sin. This is a sign of ingratitude to God for His merciful forgiveness.
How can I forgive others, if they do not repent? According to Mark 11:25 , I must pray and unconditionally release to God the penalty of each offense of another person (believer or unbeliever) against him. I must release to God my supposed right to get even. We are to put ourselves in the position of being ready to forgive. Does forgiveness remove the consequences of sin? No. The judgment of God is removed. Thank God for that. However, King David sinned and repented, but his son died (2 Sam. 12:19).
What if I don’t feel like forgiving someone else? We are to obey God no matter how we feel. Receiving God’s forgiveness is not a matter of feeling. It is a matter of faith.
Is it necessary to forgive myself? No. Sins are against God, not oneself. This is a lamentable self-centered approach to forgiveness. Receive God’s promise of forgiveness by faith.
Have I experienced God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ? Is there someone in my past I refuse to believe that God can forgive?
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“Our forgiving of others will not procure forgiveness for ourselves; but our not forgiving others proves that we ourselves are not forgiven.” John Owen