Unforgiveness will take us to places we don’t want to go. It will also cause us to do things we would never imagine we would do. Our only safe way to live a life of faith when someone wrongs us is to forgive them, even when forgiveness is the last thing we want to do. Over time, choosing to forgive others will begin to soften our hearts and produce a body of evidence that will reveal the supernatural power of forgiveness.
Since Jesus brought His forgiveness into our world, it should be our primary concern. Some continue to hold onto unforgiveness and they will never see their Kingdom potential fully revealed. They will continue to live in a spiritual prison.
There are some things we need to understand about forgiveness and its implications.
Forgiveness is the nature of God’s Kingdom: “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). We are called to follow Jesus’ example and forgive what people have labeled as unforgivable. Jesus has offered forgiveness to all and so should we. We never have to worry about a payback. Those who sinned against us will suffer the consequences of their actions. Our job is to forgive.
Forgiveness allows God to forgive us: “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15). We should read this verse without a lot of qualifications. If we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven.
Forgiveness is granted without measure: “Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times? No, not seven times Jesus replied, but seventy times seven!” (Matthew 18: 21-22). At some point in our restoration process, we may want to end our offers of forgiveness, even trying to explain it way. Our offer of forgiveness is without measure. We are to continue to forgive people until they are willing to yield to the love of God expressed in our continued willingness to forgive them.
Forgiving others aligns us with the heart and mission of Jesus Christ. Without offering forgiveness to our offenders, we will remain ignorant of the implications of our unforgiveness. It will cause us to miss out on the deeper works of the Spirit. We will remain imprisoned in an unforgiving heart not able to see the hope and restoration that forgiveness brings. That freedom comes if we are willing to forgive those who have offended us and trust God to do something thought impossible when our ego and pride blinded us from seeing a new way forward.
Is it possible that in John 20. Jesus gave “Forgiveness” as the First “Key of the Kingdom”?