BIBLICAL FORGIVENESS

Matthew 18:21 " Then Peter came to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?"

Forgiveness is wittingly forgiving all debt and bringing the balance to zero. 

Satan finds faults in our hearts through unforgiveness. John 18:11 " Then said Jesus unto Peter, put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"

If you want to see God, you must learn to have a pure heart(forgiveness). If you really love yourself you must forgive. You must do away with bitterness as bitter roots always bring bitter fruits. Unforgiveness does not only leads to unanswered prayers but it affects our health. The sin of unforgiveness is a multiheaded sin that walks with slander and hatred. Ephesians 4:32 "And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

What forgiveness does not mean

1. Forgiveness does not make the other party right, it makes you free.

2. It does not make  you loose the right of protection.

3. It does not mean you have no basis to confront the other party but the attitude should not affect your forgiveness.

4. It doesn't mean there shouldn't be punishment even legally if need be.

5. It doesn't mean reconciliation.

6. It doesn't mean an immediate trust of the other party.

7. It doesn't mean to overlook certain behaviors.

How do you know you have forgiven someone? Your disposition and attitude when you see someone that offended you.

How to overcome unforgiveness?

1. You must ask Christ to express His forgiveness through you.

2. You must remember how much you have been forgiven.

3. You must remember God loves the offending party as much as He loves you.

4. You must make a commitment to pray for them.

5. Rebuke the devil and thank God for what He has done.

~Rabbi Jide Santana