Forgiveness - Part One

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32


Is there anyone out there who hasn't struggled with extending forgiveness?  We all have been hurt by insults, anger, deception, rejection, and the list goes on. And just as we've all been offended, we've also offended others by our words and actions.  We're sinners, and that's the nature of the beast. Obviously, the inability to forgive destroys relationships, but it also destroys those who won't forgive through the development of bitterness, hatred, anger, and the pursuit of vengeance.  Forgiveness, on the other hand, frees a person to enjoy all relationships, because forgivers experience peace and love in their hearts.

John MacArthur recently did a two-part series on why forgiveness should be normal among Christians in the church and home.  In part one, he offered these biblical reasons why we are to forgive:

• Forgiveness is the most God-like act a Christian can do.  It is a verbally-declared promise that affirms there is no anger, bitterness, or retaliation being held. For reference:  Exodus 34, Psalm 32, Psalm 85, Isaiah 1:18, Isaiah 43:25, Luke 15, Matthew 5:44, Ephesians 4:32.
• It is not only murder which is forbidden by the sixth commandment.  In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus explains that whoever hates his brother is a murderer.  Unforgiveness is an attitude of hatred.  We are called to see the image of Christ in that person and release all feelings of ill will. 
• Whoever has offended you has offended God to a greater degree.  If God, who is more holy, forgives, you can forgive.  Are we are a higher court or more holy than God?  Any wrong ever done is primarily against God, and we should view sin that way, as David did in Psalm 51. The fact that the sin is against me is really incidental. 
• It is only reasonable that those who have been forgiven on a greater scale will forgive on a lesser scale.  In Matthew 18:21, Peter is trying to understand forgiveness.  Jesus tells him to forgive seventy times seven, meaning countless forgiveness.  Then Jesus tells the parable of the master and slaves, which serves as a model for what God has given us.  We deserve condemnation, but we receive total forgiveness.  How can we not forgive others?