I can never forgive him!
Really?
Do you know who you are? Do you know what has been done to you?
Some preachers and motivational speakers might tell you that you need to forgive so that you can be free from the prison you’ve put yourself in. They’re not wrong.
Some will preach and teach that God will not forgive you if you don’t forgive others. They have a good reason for saying so. After all, Jesus said so to the Jews under the law of Moses (Mark 11:26 & Matthew 6:12).
But wait a minute please. Are you a Jew or a Christian? Are you under the law of Moses or are you under grace? Are you an old creation or a new creation?
Maybe that’s why you’ve been finding it so difficult to forgive despite knowing what Jesus said. You’ve only heard what Jesus said to the Jews; to old creation men under the old covenant. I think it’s high time you listened to what Jesus is saying to YOU today, you the new creation in the new covenant.
Of course, after Jesus rose from the dead, there’s no record that He ever spoke directly to us (the new creation) about forgiveness; but from then till now, just as He prophesied before His crucifixion, the Holy Spirit has been conveying the words of Jesus to members of His body. Some of those words are written in the epistles (Romans to Jude).
So what is Jesus saying to you today? Why should you forgive?
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7)
In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:14)
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses (Colossians 2:13)
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32)
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye (Colossians 3:13)
The emphasis of Jesus to the new creation man is not “forgive, SO THAT you can be forgiven”.
The emphasis of Jesus to the new creation man is “forgive, BECAUSE you have been forgiven”.
It cannot be both, they are like “word & opposite”. It is either forgiving others comes first or receiving God’s forgiveness comes first.
The Jews had not received forgiveness, for the blood of Jesus had not yet been shed to procure it (Matthew 26:28). They needed to forgive others to qualify for God’s forgiveness by forgiving others. Is it sounding more familiar now? Works of the law? “Do this so you can have that”?
We were the most unqualified for God’s forgiveness; but, in Christ, He went ahead and forgave us all the same! All we had to do was receive Jesus’ free gift and…..BOOM!!! We were redeemed, forgiven, recreated & sanctified! Having received forgiveness, now we can give it. Glory to God!
It gets even better.
What does it take to forgive? Love. Do you have love? You’ve got LOADS of it! Where?
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Romans 5:5)
You have love. You have it in your spirit, your heart. You have the ability to love. You have the ability to forgive.
You have received forgiveness, now you can give forgiveness. You are instructed, commanded to forgive, because you have been enabled to forgive.
You have received love, now you can give love. You are instructed, commanded to love, because you have been enabled to love.
For the sake of emphasis and clarity; Jesus is saying to you today that the reason you are to forgive is two-fold:
You have been forgiven
You have been given the ability to forgive.
What’s your excuse?
Say: Father, I have received Your love & forgiveness, now I give it to (others) in Jesus’ name.
If there is someone you have hitherto found it hard to forgive or decided never to forgive; repent. Amen?
Put his/her name in the bracket and make that confession.
And if the devil ever tries to bring wrong thoughts of bitterness & unforgiveness back to you, declare that you have forgiven that person and that is that about that. Shut him up with the Word!
If it seems like it’s your feelings, align them by speaking the Word!
The Word works!
Light dawns!
Glory to God forevermore!
