Matthew 6:15 – But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses
Forgiveness is what our Lord Jesus has taught us by dying on the cross for us. He took all of our mistakes and misdeeds upon Himself. If you have received forgiveness from God He expects you to be forgiving with others. We are commanded to confess our sins to God so that we can be forgiven. It’s the same with others in the church. If you won’t apologize to others and say I repent , God will not forgive you.
There are people who even partake of Holy Communion today who will not confess and repent to others that they have wronged. The Apostle Paul warned that some people partake of Holy Communion but they drink damnation to themselves. The reason why is because they don’t discern the truth that Christ died to wash away their sins in his own blood. That’s why if you can’t forgive others you yourself won’t be forgiven by God. It doesn’t matter on Church attendance it doesn’t matter about Holy Communion, it matters about doing God’s will. God requires us to Simply say ” I repent ” and he forgives us and that’s what we need to be able to do it at other people who have sinned against us.
Sadly some of us can be like little children who can make the same mistake over and over and over and over again. But the Lord Jesus is like forgiving parents who give us the Grace we need to become better people and To grow into maturity.
I spent many years working with a handicapped boy in a high school. He was hated by everybody… He couldn’t control his hands he used to punch me and others in the face. I went home with black eyes for years. But I never left his side. It took many years of repentance forgiveness and correction to help him… but I never abandoned him, as Christs forgiveness had taught me. Eventually he earned the respect of his peers and the teachers around him.
What’s required to obtain forgiveness from God? God makes it very easy to obtain forgiveness. Luke 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
Looking back, I must have forgiven that young man 1000 times…. but all I needed to hear each day was that heart felt apology from him… ” I’m sorry coach.” God expects no less from us.
Eric
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 