What Jesus did on the cross was big enough to forgive ANY sin, but there are three stipulations.
Number one: You must confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.
Number two: You must confess your sins through prayer, and ask God for forgiveness.
Number three: Forgive others.
Most Christians probably have the first two down pat. However, the third stipulation is rarely taught.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12 NIV
Notice it says, AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS…
Are you harboring unforgiveness in your heart?
If so, that displeases God, and makes it to where he won’t forgive YOU.
But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:15 NIV
I’m sorry, but it’s true. If you won’t forgive, you can’t be forgiven.
The words of Christ are irrefutable.
Terrible things happen, and I am not saying that we shouldn’t seek justice. When a crime is committed, the criminal must be tried and dealt with as the court deems fit. Even after a guilty verdict has been given, the victim still must forgive.
This is not for the criminal. It is for YOU!
Not only is forgiveness empowering, and better for your overall physical health, most importantly, it clears your pathway to God’s forgiveness.
This includes the act of forgiving YOURSELF.
If God’s standards are so high that he expects us to forgive people who have directly harmed us in order to receive forgiveness from Him, how do you suppose He feels about holding a grudge against someone who hasn’t directly hurt us?
Are you holding a grudge against someone just for a word they said that wasn’t even directed at you? Are you holding a grudge against a gender, or an entire race of people, or anyone for that matter, who has never actually hurt you?
Sexism, racism, hatred for an entire nation, or even something as insignificant as a sports team, can clog up your spiritual arteries with unforgiveness.
Are you harboring unforgiveness for someone, just because you were TOLD to?
If so, do you want to be held accountable for what your parents, or grandparents did?
Should we extend life sentences of criminals to their children?
See the point?
If you want people punished for crimes that happened well before they were even born, I advise you to seek God.
Ask him if that hate is what he wants in your heart…
Then, imagine if the tables were turned.
Do you see an injustice?
Do you see the opposite of forgiveness?
Whatever endorphin rush, or earthly reward you may get for spewing such unforgiving hatred, is not worth missing out of God’s forgiveness of your sins.
That’s putting your eternity at risk!
EVERYONE sins, if that weren’t so, then Jesus wouldn’t have had to die on the cross. There is no getting around it, we’re all imperfect.
We all need God’s forgiveness.
Often, almost always the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. Don’t let your soul fall into that trap.
Forgive, forgive YOURSELF!
Read this passage again, and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart, and help free you from the shackles of resentment.
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15
When we let go of bitterness and forgive, we make more room in our hearts for love.
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” James 1:22
And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. 1 Peter 1:17
Forgiveness is an action of the heart.
To forgive is a choice, one that God’s holiness requires.
So stop the misery in spirit, and seek God for his joy, and love, and mercy and forgiveness in your life, and then watch it bloom.
Kimberly Humphreys