Matthew 6:9,12,14-15 says: [9] “This is how you should pray. “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. [12] And forgive us our sins, just as we also have forgiven those who sin against us. [14] Forgive other people when they sin against you. If you do, your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive the sins of other people, your Father will not forgive your sins.
The Christian life is a life of freedom in Christ – freedom that God purchased for us. Lived right it’s the greatest blessing one can ever get in life. But if we do not take heed of God’s word, that blessing can turn into a weight that we cannot carry causing untold grief, pain, sorrow and disease.
God doesn’t want us to live like that, NO!
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily sticks to us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1
Unforgiveness is one those unnecessary weights that believers should not carry around. So as a believer, heed the command of the Lord: FORGIVE. Forgiveness is not optional for the believer – it is a command.
The importance of forgiveness.
Forgiveness is one of the most important lessons you must learn as a Christian. You see, we are surrounded by people people everywhere – in our families, at church, at school, at work, in our neighbourhoods – everywhere. Sooner or later someone is going to say or do something that’s going to hurt me; whether intentional or by mistake.
If I don’t learn how to forgive it means I’m going to have a lifetime of hurt. And in the end I will not have any fruitful relationship with anyone in life. Forgiveness is key to building relationships. Without it marriages, friendships and relationships go sower and eventually break. So learn to forgive if those are things that are important to you.
Unforgiveness slows us down in our walk with God and can become overwhelming that we cannot make any progress in the Lord. It also happens to be one of the devil’s favorite weapons against believers because it’s so easy to get offended.
Unforgiveness is probably the greatest sin for any believer.
WHY?
1. It fights against what the Holy Spirit is working to produce in me. Unforgiveness steals a Christian’s joy and peace.
2. Unforgiveness gives birth to so many other sins: anger, strife, bitterness, slander, hatred, malice, murder, gossip, etc.
3. Because when we don’t forgive others, God also does not forgive our sins. That means from the moment i refuse to forgive others – all my sins from that point on are also not forgiven. If you do not forgive the sins of other people, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:15.
Forgiveness is not…
1. Forgiveness is not saying my hurts don’t matter.
Forgiving my offender doesn’t minimize the seriousness of the offense against me.
2. Forgiveness is choosing to be free.
When i forgive i become free. When i hold on to unforgiveness, i become a prisoner and get hurt over and over again by that one old hurt.
3. Forgiveness is not letting the offender “get away with it.”
If someone wrongs me, he/she is answerable to God, and God will deal with that person in the right way.
4. Forgiveness is not forgetting.
Only God has the capacity to forgive and forget and Jer. 31:34 tells us that His “forgetfulness” is a deliberate choice not to remember.
5. Forgiveness is not a weapon.
Forgiving someone doesn’t give me the right to manipulate them at a later date by dredging up reminders of their “forgiven” offense.
6. Forgiveness is not reconciliation.
I can forgive, but this does not mean continuing a relationship with the person. Eg someone who abused you. After forgiving i must put safeguards to protect myself from further hurt.
7. Forgiveness is not easy.
I can’t do this on my own and need the Holy Spirit to help me.