SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1374

“Forgiveness”

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. – Matthew 6:14-15

Have you ever struggled with unforgiveness and the desire for vengeance?

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32

Do you value your choice to harbor bitterness, vengeance, and unforgiveness over a close relationship with Jesus Christ?  Is bitterness more valuable to you than your own personal forgiveness from God?  There is no room for our vengeance in forgiveness.

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” – Hebrews 12:15; Romans 12:19

Unforgiveness, i.e. your inability to truly forgive, is a major stumbling block in your Christian walk and a serious hindrance to your effectual prayer.  Your prayers of intercession at the altar of the Lord for your spouse, children, church, business, and coworkers are hindered when you harbor unforgiveness in your heart. Is unforgiveness more important to you than effective prayer? 

So, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. – Matthew 5:23-24

Is There a Limit to Forgiving?

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. – Matthew 18:21-22

The number ‘seven’ signifies totality and completeness. We are to forgive completely. There is no limit to forgiveness according to the Word of God.

How is Complete Forgiveness Possible?

It is only possible through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit and the love of Jesus in our hearts that we are able to forgive. 

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. – Colossians 3:12-14

Forgiveness has taken root in your heart when you can earnestly pray for the soul of the person who hurt you. When you can intercede for their good rather than their harm.

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… – Matthew 5:44

Does God Forget Our Sins? God is omniscient – He does not forget as we understand forgetting. The original Hebrew word translated as ‘remember’ is ‘zakar’ which in this context means that God will not mention our sins nor actively call them to mind after we have been forgiven through Jesus Christ. In other words, God sees us as being justified, clothed in the righteousness of His Son, Jesus.

I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more; For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God; There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. – Jeremiah 31:34; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:1

Does God Expect Us to Forgive and Forget?

We have a choice in our human relationships to forgive an offense and putting it behind us and moving on with our life. Forgetting is impossible, but we can choose to use the remembrance as a stepping block to a brighter future rather than a ball and chain of bitterness that adversely affects our spiritual and physical health and the health of our relationships.

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:13-14

Forgive and forget involves not holding a sin against a person any longer, but it is vastly different from trust. We must be willing to forgive completely (innocent) while remaining cautious (wise).

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. – Matthew 10:16

‘I forgive him because of it’s what Christ did and it’s what Charlie would do; The answer to hate is not hate, the answer we know from the Gospel is love and always love, love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us…’ – Erika Kirk, Sep 21, 2025

May you forgive completely as you have been forgiven through Jesus. May you leave the offense behind, at the foot of the cross and be set free from the bondage of bitterness and vengeance moving on with your life in the power, peace, and strength of the indwelling Holy Spirit.