This is a part of the message for Sunday at the retirement and healthcare center where I'm the chaplain.
This is serious instruction about forgiving and forgiveness, how serious is it. I take it very serious, since Jesus said it, I believe it is an absolute truth.
What do you say?
Mark 11:25-26
"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."
Luke 6:36
Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
The benefits to us and to those whom we forgive their sins and trespasses against us are great.
That is part of Ephesians 4:1-3 that cannot be done with out the forgiveness that comes from humility and meekness and longsuffering and forbearing one another in love
Jesus said what people under the law needed to hear.
He reminded them of the need to live the truth in every facet of their lives under the law.
Jesus Christ accomplished something that enabled believers to live in grace not under the law.
When he died for us and paid for our sins in full, our forgiveness was no longer dependent on whether we forgive or not. We forgive because of what God did in Christ to remit and forgive our sins.
Ephesians 4:32 KJV
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Our salvation, our righteousness is no longer dependent on our keeping of the law, but on the completed works of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:16-21
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.