"Forfeiting Our Forgiveness"

part of the "Hard Teachings" series

(Part 2 of 2)

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

                                                                                                Colossians 3:13

When we receive God’s forgiveness we are not simply receiving a pardon for our iniquities, but we are becoming a conduit of forgiveness to others. Jesus, when teaching His disciples to pray, said:

“Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.”

                                                                        Matthew 6:12

And again in In Luke 6:37, Jesus said:

 “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Jesus ties His forgiveness with our willingness to forgive. This is how we know that we are truly experiencing God’s forgiveness. We forgive as the Lord forgave us! Our unwillingness to forgive others demonstrates that we did not truly receive the forgiveness Christ purchased for us. We are still in sin!

How can we say Jesus Christ chose to forgive us of our sins, although we did not deserve it, yet not model that same forgiveness towards others? There is a story in Matthew 18 about a servant that owed his master ten thousand talents (that’s like a million dollars), but was unable to pay it back. The servant pleaded with him and Matthew 18:27 says:

“The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.”

However, once the servant left, he found a fellow servant that owed him money (just a few dollars, compared to what he had owed) and he grabbed him and choked him demanding that he pay him back.  His fellow servant pleaded with him for mercy, but he refused and had the man put in prison.

When the other servants saw what happened they told the master. The master was furious. In anger, he turned the servant over to the jailer to be tortured, until he could pay back all he owed. Jesus closed this parable with this statement:

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

In a tremendous act of selfishness, disregarding the sacrifice made by his master on his behalf, this man refused to give to someone else what the master extended towards him. In doing so, he forfeited his forgiveness. How many Christians today are forfeiting their forgiveness because of their unwillingness to forgive others?

 
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Pastor Scott Burr