As a Christian, we must serve God from our heart. It is easy to ramble on a bunch of words and we may be able to deceive some people. But we can never trick or deceive God. He knows our heart.
It is easy to say you are a Christian but are you really a Christian in your heart? It is easy to say you forgive but do you really forgive in your heart?
I heard a pastor make an excellent statement the other day. To truly forgive means you restore that person to where the reason for forgiveness never happened. In other words, to forgive must mean that you must treat that person as if the event of forgiveness never happened. Can you do that? Jesus did!!
When God forgives us He remembers our sins no more and he never uses that sin against us again. We must do the same. It is important to remember that when you ask for forgiveness than you should also put your past or sins behind you and never look back at them. Just as God forgives us, we must do the same.
Luke 9:62
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
II Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Hebrews 8:12
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Here are a few ways to tell if you are still holding unforgiveness toward someone.
- Can you honestly pray for that person with comfort and love?
- Can you say their name in prayer with comfort and love?
- Can you be around or socialize with that person and enjoy being with them?
- Can you hug them with love?
Why should we forgive?
Jesus tells us we must forgive to be forgiven. If you do not forgive others than God will not forgive you of your sins. Seriously, why should God forgive you if you refuse to forgive?
Matthew 6: 14-15
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11:25-26
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Luke 6:37
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
So what does it mean if you do not forgive others? Well, it is really simple. As Jesus told us above, if you do not forgive than God will not forgive you. If you are not forgiven by God than that means you are still living in sin. What happens if you are living in sin? You are heading for hell and will not see Heaven.
1 Corinthians 6: 9
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? …
I will also mention that if you have not forgiven and you are holding hate towards that person than you are also considered a murder according to Jesus and do I need to say what that means.
1 John 3:14-15
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
So it is important to truly forgive from your heart in order to go to Heaven.
If you have problems forgiving than ask God to help you forgive in prayer and be sincere about it. God will help you. Also, ask Him to show you any people you may not have forgiven that you forgot. We may still have unforgiveness toward someone from our past but not consciously aware of it. God will help you bring that to light. All you have to do is ask. There are numerous scriptures where He tells us to call upon Him for help. Ask and you shall receive.
After you pray, sit in silence and listen to him. He will talk to you. He will show you any hidden hatred or bitterness you may still have toward someone. It is important to not only talk to God but to listen to him.
