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When We Fail to Forgive ...

Writer: Dwight SchettlerDwight Schettler
4 hours ago2 min read

How can I forgive as the Lord forgives me?

Conflict Resolution vs Reconciliation - Lesson 5, Forgive as God Forgave You, Question 7, p. 73


When we fail to forgive others as God has forgiven us, it reveals several critical aspects of our spiritual and moral condition.


Firstly, it demonstrates a lack of understanding and appreciation of the magnitude of God’s forgiveness towards us. In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus presents the parable of the unforgiving servant, which emphasizes the importance of forgiving others. Peter asks Jesus, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus responds, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times." (Matthew 18:21-22). The parable that follows illustrates the vast debt forgiven by the king, and the servant's failure to extend the same grace to his fellow servant. This parable teaches that our unwillingness to forgive reveals our ingratitude for the forgiveness we have received from God.


Secondly, failing to forgive others hinders our spiritual growth. 2 Peter 1:9 states, "For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.". Forgiveness is one of the qualities that reflect the transformative power of God's grace in our lives. When we hold onto grudges, we are spiritually blind to the cleansing and renewal that God has bestowed upon us. It indicates a stagnation in our spiritual journey, preventing us from growing in Christ-like character.


Moreover, our refusal to forgive contradicts the virtues that should characterize a believer’s life. Colossians 3:12-13 urges, "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 highlights forgiveness as a fundamental virtue that must accompany the other qualities of a Christian life. By failing to forgive, we are neglecting these virtues and failing to embody the love and grace that define our relationship with God.


The failure to forgive others as God has forgiven us not only demonstrates ingratitude and spiritual blindness but also a failure to live out the virtues that God calls us to embody. Forgiveness is integral to our faith, and extending it to others is a testament to our understanding and acceptance of God's boundless grace granted to me and others.


 

This blog series is adapted from Conflict Resolution vs Reconciliation. You can experience this teaching in several ways:

 
 
 

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