How can I forgive as the Lord forgives me?
Conflict Resolution vs Reconciliation - Lesson 5, Forgive as God Forgave You, Question 3 & 4, p. 72
In the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray what is now known as the Lord's Prayer. This model prayer includes a petition for forgiveness: "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matthew 6:12). Following this prayer, Jesus provides a crucial warning in Matthew 6:14-15: "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses".
This warning emphasizes the inseparable link between receiving and extending forgiveness. Jesus underscores that forgiveness is not merely an isolated act but an ongoing attitude reflective of the believer's relationship with God. The essence of this warning is rooted in the transformative power of God's forgiveness. As recipients of divine grace, we are called to mirror that grace to others.
Unforgiveness is a barrier that not only hinders our fellowship with others but also impedes our communion with God. Jesus' warning makes it clear that harboring unforgiveness is incompatible with a heart that has truly experienced God's mercy. It challenges us to examine our hearts and to live out the forgiveness we have received.
What did Jesus mean? Does our heavenly Father only forgive us if and when we forgive those who have sinned against us? Jesus' statement emphasizes the importance of a forgiving spirit within the believer's life. It is not that God's forgiveness is conditional upon our actions, but rather, our ability to forgive others is a reflection of our understanding and acceptance of God's grace. When we truly grasp the depth of God's forgiveness towards us, it transforms our hearts and compels us to extend that same forgiveness to others. In essence, a heart that is unwilling to forgive indicates a disconnect from the transforming power of God's grace in our own lives.
The Apostle Paul echoes this call to forgiveness in Colossians 3:12-13, offering a gospel promise that reinforces Jesus' teaching: "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive".
This passage from Colossians reminds us that our ability to forgive flows from our identity as God's chosen people, deeply loved and forgiven by Him. It is both a command and a promise, assuring us that the same grace that saved us empowers us to forgive others. In living out this forgiveness, we reflect the heart of the gospel and the transformative love of Christ.
This blog series is adapted from Conflict Resolution vs Reconciliation. You can experience this teaching in several ways:
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