Jesus said, "If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matt 6:14-15) Now that's a bit scary, isn't it? The forgiveness we receive from God is predicated on the forgiveness we give to others?
On the face of it, it looks ominous. No forgiveness given; no forgiveness received. It's not uniquely here, either. Jesus warns that calling Christ "Lord" doesn't ensure salvation (Matt 7:21-23). He warns that failure to pluck out your eye to prevent sin will result in hell (Matt 5:29). James says that you won't receive mercy from God if you don't show mercy to others (James 2:13). Yikes! Looks bad.
Of course, we know that's not quite right, right? We're saved by faith apart from works; it's not our works that get us forgiveness, secures us from hell, or applies God's mercy. So what's going on here?
If that certainty (saved by grace through faith apart from works) is accurate, something else is at work here. What could it be? You'll find the answer in Paul's "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Cor 5:17) It's found in John's "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God." (1 John 3:9) Those who are in Christ experience a radical change of nature which produces a changed life. A fruit of that change is to long to cease from sinning ("pluck out your eye"). Given the measure of forgiveness we are given, a fruit of that change is to love (Luke 7:47). The changed life produces forgiveness for others. Perfection in all these (and more) is achieved over time and, ultimately, not in this life, but it is certainly the direction that all who have been saved by Christ and are being conformed into His image (Rom 8:29) will take. thus, forgiving others is a sign of a changed heart and if we don't, we need to check that out.
I consider, then, in view of today's society where refusing to forgive is the rule, how different we ought to be. You can't make an off-hand remark or an observation about sin, for instance, without encountering the wrath of the public. For so many, "No justice, no peace" means essentially "You've got to die." In today's world, forgiveness is considered a weakness. So, how about you, Christian? Do you stand out as someone who forgives? Or are you, more in tune with today's standards, not so likely to forgive? If the latter, does that cause you concern about your eternal condition? Jesus thought it should.
2 comments:
there is really two parts to this; Forgiveness and Reconciliation. some may believe that they are the same thing. but actually; they are not.
forgiveness is something we do from the inside toward another. we release that person from any retaliation. and as a consequence we free ourselves from all bitterness in our hearts. when we forgive, we turn the problem over to God. then we are free.
Reconciliation: is dependent upon the actions of the other person.
we must have forgiveness, but we are not required to have Reconciliation. this is because Reconciliation requires the other person to act in a way that restores trust in the relationship. i forgive my brother for stealing from me, but i will not be reconciled, until demonstrates that he can be trusted. consider the woman who forgives a cheating husband. she brings him back over and over. not realizing that forgiveness is for her heart to be free of bitterness, but until he stops cheating, they will never be reconciled.
If we cannot be reconciled, then we separate.
Good thing it doesn't say, "God will be reconciled to you as you are reconciled to others."
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