Forgive one another

Posted on Sept. 25, 2024, 10:06 a.m. by Rev. Shobayo Kayode The Gospel Study Centre

Forgiveness is pardoning an offender. It is the act of intentional decision to let go of bitterness and anger against other person or persons that offended someone. A readiness to forgive personal injury. Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Lord’s model prayer says, “And forgive our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matt.6:12) God set a perfect example of forgiveness to mankind through the death of His only begotten Son on the cross as sacrifice. The blood of His son cleanse mankind of his sin to receive forgiveness. The scripture says, “Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” (Col.3:13) Forgiving one another is vital components of our Christian lives. It helps to build and maintain right relationship with God which produces within us, the qualities of character that build and sustain all other relationships. It therefore means, it is an obligation to forgive one another. The word of God says, “even as Christ forgave you, so you also MUST do”. Apostle Paul while teaching about forgiveness says, “Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Cor.2:10-11) He was pointing to the fact that if we refuse to forgive one another, we are exposed to the devices of the Satan who will take advantage of it to cause more disagreement. Joseph was able to forgive his brothers when they met in Egypt, long after he was sold by the same brothers into slavery because he was looking at the grace of God in his life, rather than the offence of his brothers. He said to them, “I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life” (Gen.45:4-5) Joseph ignored their wickedness towards him in consideration of God’s grace in his life. He was quick to forgive them because he looked at their error from godly perspective. He did not remember again all the troubles he passed through but the goodness of God that resulted from their action. As believers, let us display the sufficient grace of God in our lives to our offenders and the offence through forgiveness. When we forgive our offender, we are expressing the grace of God in our lives and at the same time displaying our obedience to the word of God that says we should forgive one another. More importantly, it will deliver us from the torment and troubles of bitterness and anger that comes with unforgiveness. Forgiving others set us free from the bondage of the devil. Let us be mindful of the warning from our Lord Jesus Christ. He says, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Farther forgive your trespasses.” (Matt.6:14-15) The summary by our Lord Jesus Christ does not require any interpretation. It simply means, our prayer to God for the forgiveness of our sin, is only qualified by our willingness to forgive others. I urge you to please forgive someone you are holding his or her offence against you this day, so that you can receive forgiveness from our Father in heaven. Evangelism Tell that someone you are introducing the Gospel of Christ to, that Jesus Christ is willing to forgive all sorts of sins. Rev. Shobayo Kayode The Gospel Study Centre