Hard Thoughts About Forgiveness

What is your understanding of forgiveness?

If we are followers of God then we must forgive those around us. We shouldn't feel obligated to do this. We should want to honor and glorify God by forgiving others. Jesus says "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." (Matthew 6:14-15, NASB). This is a heavy set of verses. Where does this fit in with "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:10, NIV). Isn't that all we have to do to be forgiven of our sins and saved? Yes! If we do this, then our lives will be utterly changed. We will want to do everything we can to glorify God, including forgiving others. If someone is unwilling to forgive someone else for a wrong that has been committed, then have they really believed with their heart and confessed with their mouth? It is not my place to judge, my conclusion would be no because of what Scripture tells me.

Another thing that is important is that forgiveness isn't a one time thing. This is expressed in a question Peter had and the answer Jesus gave. "Then Peter came and said to Him, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'" (Matthew 18: 21-22, NASB). By this, Jesus means, never stop forgiving your brother, no matter how severe the case. It is not our place to judge whether he is sincere or not. That is between him and God. God just tells us to forgive. We can learn from the past so that we can avoid that person sinning against us in the same way, but if he does it again we are called to forgive him. Jesus forgave the people who killed him as they were in the process of killing him. I think we can forgive the petty things that happen to us.