Forgiveness is important to our health in every way you can imagine. Each of us wants forgiveness for the poor choices we make or the missteps that lead to relational difficulty. When it comes to forgiveness, God’s Word teaches us about two realities.
First, sin separates us from God so we need to be forgiven. Sin means to miss the mark. It’s to fall short of God’s expectations as we follow his Son, Jesus. We sin when we behave in ways that are opposite from how God has called us to live or when we choose not to do something that God expects of us. No matter how you slice it, sin leaves us in debt to a holy God.
But on the cross, Jesus says, “It is finished.” Jesus was telling creation that through his death, he created a way to have our debt paid in full. So through belief in Jesus, we have the ability to be forgiven of our wrong doing and thus be made right with God.
Forgiveness means to wipe the slate clean, to pardon, to cancel a debt. And Jesus offers that clean slate to anyone who will call upon him. Unfortunately, when we sin, we are saying that my kingdom is more important than the kingdom of Jesus. Jesus encourages us to let go of our kingdom and embrace the Kingdom of God.
But sin can also separate us from others so we need to forgive them. If we wish to have relational harmony with God, then we must forgive those who have offended or hurt us. Charles Spurgeon, a preacher in the mid-1800s says it like this, “Go to Calvary to learn how you may be forgiven and then linger there to learn how to forgive others.”
See, forgiving is the act of setting someone free. We all want to be forgiven for our poor choices but we become very particular when someone is wanting our forgiveness. We set up qualifiers: if they ask me or if they repent or as time passes or when they make good on the issue. As kingdom people, Jesus wants to clarify in Matthew 6:14-15 what is expected of us. He challenges us with his words, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
It’s a sobering warning…if we don’t forgive, God will not forgive us. Our ability to forgive those who hurt us is a witness to how much God’s love has penetrated us. If we can’t be forgivers, chances are, we haven’t encountered the love of Jesus in real and authentic ways.
Now, I know some of us have been hurt deeply. There is sin that has drastically changed your family or marred your own life. Maybe a drunk driver took away someone you deeply loved. It’s possible a trusted church leader took advantage of you at a young age. Maybe you grew up with parents who consistently said hurtful words to you or you continue to hear slurs about your ethnicity. These are examples of hurt that runs deep. But understand, forgiveness is a process…some things take longer than others to work through. So, as a kingdom person, would you be willing to start the process? Who will you set free today? Who will you release?
Here’s the shocking truth: when you forgive and set someone free, you end up freeing yourself as well. It’s in that moment you realize that you had the key to your prison the whole time. So I challenge you to consider that people in your life who have hurt you. Have you forgiven them? Is there someone you need to approach for reconciliation? As you work through the process of forgiveness, the Holy Spirit will give you the power and strength to release them and you from the prison of relational discord. Blessings on the journey.