The Importance of Forgiving Others

The Importance of Forgiving Others
Monday, June 28, 2021 by Dr. James W. Walraven

Categories: Contemporary issues / Encouraging words / Scripture discussion / Thought for Today

Yesterday I had the opportunity to preach on the importance of forgiving others. We looked at both the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9–15, and the parable of the unmerciful servant, Matthew 18:23–35. In both passages Jesus makes it clear that if we do not forgive the sins of others, God will not forgive our sins. In the parable, Jesus shows us the magnitude of our sin against God: the unmerciful servant owes the king roughly six billion dollars, while his fellow servant owes him about $8,000. When word gets back to the king of the first servant’s actions, the king turns him over to the torturers until the debt is paid (which the first servant cannot do). That verdict sounds a lot like being sentenced to eternal hell.

Read casually, it seems that these passages are teaching salvation by works, that our salvation depends on our actions of forgiving others. That is not the case. We are saved by Christ alone, through faith alone. As the Scriptures make clear elsewhere, we love because God first loved us, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. In essence our forgiving others is a response in gratitude to God for how much He has forgiven us. Given all the sins I’ve committed, that God has forgiven me, how can I not forgive others?

Our willingness, or unwillingness, to forgive others directly reflects our relationship with God. If one refuses to forgive others, as the unmerciful servant did, there is a distinct possibility that the person is not genuinely saved. That does not mean the process is easy. Forgiving others can be excruciating, given the severity of the sins committed against us, and the resulting damage done.

The encouragement is that God knows our frame, He knows our weaknesses and struggles. If you are finding it impossible to forgive someone for the wrongs they’ve done, confess that to God. Admit to God that you don’t have the strength to forgive that person—He knows it anyway. Ask God to help you to reach the point of being able to forgive. The process can take time, often quite a bit of time. That is also ok.

Forgiveness brings many positive results, release from bitterness, bondage to one’s past, restored relationships, among others. In our culture we’re seeing hatred and unforgiveness being played out on an ongoing basis. It just gets uglier by the day, doesn’t it? God gives us a way out, a way for healing, restoration, and hope. Let’s demonstrate to the world that Christians are different by forgiving others.

We like neat and tidy ready-made answers. The two passages are neither neat nor tidy. They point out serious consequences of withholding forgiveness. We need to let those passages speak to us—remember, all Scripture is God-breathed—and wrestle with the implications. The good news is that God is at work in us, seeking to make us more like Jesus Christ.

Share This Blog: