Good morning,
Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection are all rooted in one concept, forgiveness. We are sinners who owe a debt we cannot pay. Jesus, perfect, sinless, blameless, paid our sin debt with His blood on the cross.
This week we will look at that forgiveness.
What are we to do and why?
“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)
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32)
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” (Luke 6:36-37)
“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25-26)
Why? Because that is what the Lord Jesus does for us. Does it hurt when a brother or sister sins against us? Oh yes it does. But all we have to do is look into the mirror and see ourselves. Each day we rebel against God. It hurts God to see His children sin. He gave His own Son to die on the cross to pay our sin debt. When we ask for forgiveness, God forgives us. So why do we refuse to forgive others, no matter how egregious their sin?
If we want God’s forgiveness, we must be willing to forgive others.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
Leave a Reply