Christianity is all about forgiveness, with other people and with God.

In Christ, forgiveness has been made available.

In teaching us “the Lord’s Prayer,” Jesus gives us the phrase “forgive us our sins as we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us” (Luke 11:4). In Matthew’s version, Jesus adds the caution, “If you do not forgive others their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14).

One definition of forgiveness is “giving up the right to get even.” This means that someone must pay a debt. In the Matthew 18 parable, Jesus makes it clear that God has paid the immeasurably greater debt in forgiving us, therefore we must forgive others who sin against us. It also means that we have the resources to do so. God has declared that his forgiveness of our trespasses is dependent on our forgiveness of others.

But don’t confuse this with the concept of justification. The believer is “justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23). God as Judge has declared that all who believe in Christ are justified and credited with his righteousness. However, God as Father expects his adopted children to be forgiving as he is. Unless we forgive, our relationship with our Father is hindered, and he holds our trespasses against us.

Taking It Home: Search your conscience and consider if you are walking in forgiveness with everyone, as much as it depends on you. If there is someone you haven’t forgiven, pray first for them, then forgive their debt against you. If you can be reconciled and save the relationship, that’s even better. If you need pastoral advice related to this topic, reach out to one of our clergy.