Two wrongs don’t make a right. Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. How long would you keep malice with your fellow brother? How long would you continue to remain intolerant? The Bible says; “… and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…” {Matthew 6:12} which implies that forgiveness of our sins by God is connected to our forgiveness of sins committed against us. All Christians should take cognizance of the parable alighted in {Matthew 18:21-35} about a man whose debt was cancelled by his creditor (the king) because he begged for mercy. This particular man later met his fellow servant who owed him a meager amount, he demanded payment from the servant and ad the servant projected into when he could not pay. Well, you should know the aftermaths of this cruel act of that man. If you were in the king’s shoe, you would have done the same as the king later did to the ungrateful man. This is exactly how the heavenly father will treat everyone unless we forgive our brother from our heart. Every day we sin and transgress against God “if we say that we have no sinew deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” {1 John 8} but our heavenly father forgives us always and does not mark sins else no one could stand {Psalm 130:3}. Some heresies were taken into account that; ‘when you forgive, it gives the faulty party to ridicule and brings you down’. Actually, forgiveness makes the faulty party to revere thee, because forgiveness abides with the LORD, that’s why we feared Him {Psalm 130:4}. So Christians are meant to forgive liberally and let peace reign among all brethren as this is how we can please God and see Him {Hebrew 12:14}
An intentional decision 必利勁 to let go of resentment and anger is what we generally referred to as forgiveness. Literally, forgiveness means “to let go”. It simply and essentially connotes the act of pardoning an offender. Forgiveness is time consuming which requires so much patience and determination. You need to be tolerable and have a gentle foster sense of accommodation and filtering. Every believer has to be kind and tenderhearted to forgive one another just as Christ forgives in every moment {Ephesians 4:32}. Holding grudges will make a heart to sore and dissent others which ill later lead to idolizing another god in your heart. Forgiveness will lead you to have healthier relationships, improve your mental health, lowers your anxiety, stress and hostility. When you love God, you will enable the spirit of forgiveness to reign in your life to allow you to overcome your own sins, flaws, and weaknesses and be able to ignore those of others {Colossians 3:13}. You don’t have right to judge anyone as a believer {Luke 6:37} but in love we wisely correct those who wrong us {2 Timothy 2:23-26}. It is not possible to have an answered prayer when you hold grudge against anyone {Mark 4:25} because the LORD only listens to the pure in heart {Psalm 24:4}
No one is righteous before God, our righteousness is like a filthy rag before God {Isaiah 64:6} and no matter the gravity of our sins, we must confess them all to our faithful God and He will forgive us {1 John 1:9}
Above all, we must not return back to the sins we have confessed {John 15:14; John 8:7; Hebrew 10:26}
Reference Scriptures
Matthew 18:21-35 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Psalms 130:4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
-Minister Seyi Ayinla