Before digging in too deep I want to present the conclusion up front. If you do not forgive others then you will not be forgiven by God. People try to dance around this following scripture to make it say something it does not but in very clear and simple language it is literally saying: “if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses” (Mark 11:26).
This leads to a question that even my children know the answer to. How many unforgiven souls are there in heaven? Put away your OSAS card right now because it holds no weight in light of scripture. I will provide many passages to show that this concept of forgiveness is exactly as it is stated in scripture and that is, if you do not forgive then you are not forgiven. You can do the search for yourself on the many other scriptures that show why unforgiven souls are not heaven. That is not the core focus of this writing so I will not dig down into that at this time.
I am seeing some egregious actions of unforgiveness happening pretty close to home where self-professing Christians are suing other Christians. What the issue is matters not in light of scripture as we are told to not bring each other to non-believers for judgment in any matters.
If we are truly reconciled to God (saved) then we would not be going after other believers with the intention to harm them in society’s courts. People claim they are seeking justice but trust me, when I read the court papers and the online statements by many who are leading or encouraging these attacks all I see is hatred and the desire for vengeance. Their desire is obviously to do evil to others based on what they perceived as evil having been done to themselves or others.
Remember, "See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men" (1 Thessalonians 5:15).
On top of that many self-professing Christians read into these non-biblical actions and take them as the guidelines to judge any previous work God had done through those being accused as being tainted. They judge the ministries left behind in the dust of hateful litigation and accusations as if these ministries were of the devil when in fact I know of two that are still in existence and are desperately hanging on, continuing the work that the Lord had started in them. They are truly seeking to do God's will through ministry despite what the world is doing unto them.
All of this is being done with a spirit of anti- reconciliation. But God has not given us a spirit such as that but one of reconciliation through forgiveness. God redeemed us through forgiveness and has extended r reconciliation to us through the suffering and death of His Son and then we turn around and refuse to likewise to each other.
Shame on all of us who do such things!
Here are just a few scriptures that speak to the importance of forgiveness and the attitude we ought to have towards reconciliation:
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:25-26
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Colossians 3:12-14
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:1-10
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 1 Corinthians 6:1-8
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Matthew 18:15-17
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Matthew 5:21-26
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy….Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:7 and 9
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