Forgiveness

Forgiveness

Cleansing effect of sins forgiven can only come from God.

Mark 2:7b , 10 who can forgive sins but God only?
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

Matthew 9:6b But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We have a duty to forgive others. To withhold forgiveness to others is cruel and frankly unhealthy as well. Bitterness and resentment is a systemic poison. The Lord's admonition to forgive is once again for our good. Our willingness or lack thereof, to forgive others is conditional to God’s pardoning us of our failures and sins.

Matthew 6:12, 14, 15 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Luke 6:37b Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Christ gives such a perfect example of the practice of forgiveness while on the cross.

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Who of us have even been wronged wrongly to that degree? Yet there are times that we find occasion to hold a grudge or resentment toward others…..It ought not be so.