Forgiving Others

Forgiveness

The blog today is based on a comment that was posted by someone “anonymous” on an old blog regarding relationships with your family. I’m certain that we all have made mistakes in raising our children. You see, I have made several mistakes when it comes to being a parent. The anonymous person casted stones at me for all the mistakes, I'm not certain who the anonymous person is but have a good idea. I want to thank this anonymous person for keeping me grounded on what God’s word says about forgiveness.

Peter once asked the Lord how many times he was required to forgive his brother who would sin against him. Then he supplied a possible answer to his own question. He said, "Up to seven times?"

From this the Lord gave a concise answer, then He elaborated in detail on the importance of forgiving those who sin against us. Dear reader, lay down your preconceived ideas regarding this subject and read on with an open heart and willingness to receive what the Bible plainly declares! Jesus' teaching on this particular subject, as in other areas, has been twisted and modified to appease people who have "itching ears" and sinful desires! Don't let yourself be deceived by anyone regarding the importance of forgiving others who sin against YOU.

Matthew 6:14-15 (New King James Version)

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:21-22 (New King James Version)

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Luke 17:3 (New King James Version)

3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

Mark 11:25 (New King James Version)

Forgiveness and Prayer

25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

Colossians 3:13 (New King James Version)

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Philippians 3:13-14 (New King James Version)

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (New King James Version)

18 “ Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.

Hebrews 10:30 (New King James Version)

30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.”

Matthew 5:10-12 (New King James Version)

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Remember, for you to be unforgiving towards another will not destroy the person who wronged you! Instead, IT WILL DESTROY YOU, THE PERSON WHO WON'T FORGIVE! This is why the devil frequently uses it against the offended party. Unforgiveness has to be one of the devil's most subtle and destructive satanic temptations, but few seemingly know the seriousness of it. To continue to walk with the Lord and have spiritual life, we must forgive others who sin against us. Forgiving others is as important as getting your own sins forgiven, for without the former, the latter won't occur, according to Jesus.