The Power of Forgiveness
By George Stroh
October 25, 2022
"For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." (Matthew 6:14,15)
When our Lord spoke these words about forgiveness to His disciples, He was not giving them or us a prescription for how to earn God's forgiveness. The power to forgive others, like all good works, is a manifestation and descriptive of someone who has, by faith, already received God's forgiveness. Just like we can love others because He first loved us, we can forgive other's transgressions against us because, in His amazing grace and love, He forgave us; Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:7,8)
This self-sacrificing love and power to sincerely forgive others is only possible for born again Christians who have the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to love and forgive others. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Galatians 2:20)
Therefore, for us who are born again Christians, we have received both the command and the enablement to forgive those who transgress against us. It is not a question of whether or not they deserve our forgiveness. Do we deserve God's unfailing forgiveness? Nor does our forgiveness depend upon the severity of the transgression or the lack of sorrowfulness of the transgressor. If you are a Christian, you have the responsibility and the God given power to forgive others.
Maranatha!
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