Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Matthew 18:21 (NIV)
One of the things we learn after salvation is how to relate with other people whether they are believers or not. In our relationship with others, we must demonstrate the love of God. We must love people as Christ loved us. In loving people, we must forgive them of any offense against us. Jesus bore our sin on himself and paid the full penalty of our sins so we could be declared eternally forgiven. We no longer have any debt of sin to pay. Jesus purchased our forgiveness with his blood without a single plea from us. Now that God has demonstrated unconditional forgiveness to us, how are we to relate with our fellow-men when they offend us? Colossians 2:13, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses”. We are to extend this same unconditional forgiveness to others in love.
We must choose to forgive those who offend us even without an apology from them. From our opening text, Peter thought forgiveness should have a limit, a limit of forgiving a brother seven continuous times. The answer from Jesus indicates that our forgiveness must be countless, there should not come a time where you refuse forgiveness to somebody. There are many wrong things we do but God does not hold it against us. Under the law of Moses, men get punished for the wrong things they did. However, when Christ came, he revealed the character of our Father as one who does not wait for you to forgive others before he forgives you. The Psalmist said in Psalms 130:3-4, “If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared”. There is forgiveness with God all the time. He is faithful and just to forgive sins.
The motivation to forgive others is because we have also been forgiven by Christ not because the person has apologized. When we understand how God has forgiven us in Christ, we shall be willing to forgive others. You have the ability to forgive. Forgive that brother or sister from your heart. It is true that what he or she did to you was very painful. It is true that your image is bruised by that false allegation. It is true that he denied you when you needed his help. It is true you were disappointed. You have the power and opportunity to retaliate but remember how you have been forgiven in Christ and forgive him or her. We have the responsibility to demonstrate the love of God we have received to others. Anytime we refuse to forgive others, we are falsely telling ourselves that we have not been forgiven by God. As the Father has forgiven us, we must also forgive others.
CONFESSION: As a child of God, I forgive without conditions just as my heavenly Father does.
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