Page Suggestions: Bible Facts
What does the BIBLE say about Forgiveness
Five Points to Remember About Forgiveness
(1) Recognize that forgiveness is an act of your will… not your emotions. If you wait until you feel like forgiving, you will live with bitterness in your heart-and that bitterness will destroy you.
(2) Recognize that forgiveness heals you! Forgiveness is not necessarily for the person who hurt you-it sets you free. You’re not submitting to their brutality, condoning their injustice toward you, or whitewashing the words or deeds of your offender. You are forgiving to bring cleansing to you! Forgive your enemies; it’s the only way to liberate your mind and emotions from the toxic poison of that painful memory.
(3) Recognize that forgiveness is your immediate priority! Jesus said,
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be recognized to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23-24 (NKJV)
(verse 23) Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
(verse 24) Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.Matthew 5 (KJV) verses 23-24
Forgiveness must take place NOW! Jesus essentially said,
"Stop praying! Forgive the one who has hurt you, and then return to the place of prayer! All the other good things you do in the name of the Lord are worthless until you decide to deal with your own unforgiveness."
(4) Forgive totally! In Matthew 18:21Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?Matthew 18 verse 21, the apostle Peter asked Jesus the poignant question,
"Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
Jewish teaching at the time said that if you forgive an offender one time, then you were a good man. If you forgive the same person twice, then you were a holy man. And if you forgive that individual three times, then you were God-like! No doubt, when Peter asked, "Shall I forgive him up to seven times?" he was fully expecting Christ to praise him for his magnanimous gesture and personal holiness. But Jesus shocked Peter by saying,
I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Matthew 18:22 (NKJV)Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.Matthew 18 (KJV) verse 22
That’s 490 times! The message is: Forgive until it becomes a habit. Quit counting offences! If someone sins against you or offends you in some way, forgive them… and keep o n forgiving them. You don’t have to be a doormat, but you do have to forgive totally, completely, and continually. Forgiveness saves the expense of anger and the high cost of hatred, which waste your physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual energy!
(5) Recognize that forgiveness is not optional! Forgiveness is not something you can do if and when you are "good and ready." God makes it very clear that if you choose not to forgive others, He cannot forgive you. Jesus said,
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV)(verse 14) For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
(verse 15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.Matthew 6 (KJV) verses 14-15
The message is clear! Change your course or perish! Your choice determines your future. If you will not forgive someone else, God will not forgive you. If you stubbornly refuse to forgive others, your soul will be lost for all eternity. He who will not forgive others, burns the bridge over which he must pass to get into the gates of heaven.
We have no time to harbor grudges, bitterness, or resentments from the past. We must forgive from the heart and forgive completely. Forgive now! Forgive totally! Forgive and be free!