Forgiveness: Are You Sure?

“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:15

That verse should be an eye-opener to an individual who claims to “forgive” but will hold a grudge.

Have you ever heard someone say “I forgave him, but I’ll never forget?” I have, many times.

What they are saying is that they still have “unforgiveness” in their heart. That individual is still holding a grudge (unforgiveness). If the person claims to be a believer (follower of Christ), they are not telling the whole truth.

The Bible says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Cor 13:5). A ‘reprobate’ in simple terms, is a counterfeit, or a fake. As in a counterfeit coin. So I ask you this, “are you sure you are a true follower of Christ?”

Unforgiveness is a sin, and God will not allow “sin” into Heaven.

When Peter asked the Lord Jesus “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” (Matt 18:21). Jesus replied and said, “I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matt 18:22). Do you get the idea?

My friend, if you have unforgiveness in your heart, take it to Jesus.

The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). The Bible also says, “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old” (Isaiah 43:18).

After being beat more than any man, and being lied about and publicly persecuted, Jesus said from the cross, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34a).

If Jesus has forgiven us, then why can’t you forgive others?

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” (Isaiah 55:6).