Seeking Jesus First May 6, 2025
“Unforgiveness” is not a word, but it is a condition that invites bitterness into the heart.
The blood of Jesus Christ was shed on the cross for the remission of sins. The blood of Jesus Christ is holy, and it was accepted by God our Father as a propitiation for sins. Our sins are forgiven through the blood of Christ Jesus.
If we fail to forgive someone who has sinned, we are discounting the blood of the LORD Jesus. Either we trust in His precious blood or we don’t.
“Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21–22, NKJV)
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:9–15, NKJV)
God sent His Son to save the world and to remove our condemnation. Our Father in Heave is willing to forgive. Forgiveness has been an option with God from the beginning. He has always been full of mercy and compassion. It is not difficult to receive forgiveness from God. “To err is human. To forgive is divine.”
However, we cannot receive from God what we are not willing to give to others. When we close our heart to forgiving someone, we block off forgiveness. Forgiveness is an aspect of the eternal river of love that flows from our Father in Heaven. If the river will not flow through us, it stops flowing into us.
Matthew 6:15 is not about the willingness of God to forgive. It is about our faith in Christ Jesus and His blood. “For without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.” (Heb.9:22) Do we believe that the blood of Jesus was enough to forgive sins? If we believe it, there is no room for unforgiveness. I heard a well known preacher say, “Unforgiveness is the primary reason for demonic possession or oppression.” Nothing opens the heart to evil like bitterness does. “looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;” (Hebrews 12:15, NKJV)