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We
Must Forgive As Jesus Did... and Often
There are not many subjects made plainer in the Scriptures than that of
our forgiveness of our brethren.
“To what extent must I forgive?” the question is asked;
“Even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Colossians 3:13).
Christ is so forgiving that He forgave His enemies, even dying for them
(Romans 5:8). In fact, He said concerning those who crucified Him,
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” There
is nothing a brother could do against me that could be worse than what I
have done in sinning against God. And if Jesus could forgive me, I must
forgive others.
“How often must I forgive my brother?” Jesus Himself gave the
answer to that question when He told Peter, “Up to seventy times seven”
(Matthew 18:22). He even said that “if he sins against you seven times
in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’
you shall forgive Him.” The true forgiver will not keep a ledger of past
wrongs suffered, but will be inclined to forgive even the repeated
offender (1 Corinthians 13:5).
“What will happen if I do not forgive?” Jesus lets us know
that our refusal to forgive betrays how ungrateful we are for His
forgiving us. And we have the Lord’s assurance: “So My heavenly Father
also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his
brother his trespasses” (Matthew 18:21-35).
--Mike Noble
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