Nothing comes to mind with Paul connecting mandatory forgiveness of others to salvation. I searched it earlier, I googled "must we forgive others" and saw Matthew 6:15 and Luke 17:4 NIV (King James says "shalt") but not anything from Paul that it's necessary for salvation. I still struggle with certain things commanded by Jesus in His earthly ministry but not after DBR. I go with what Christ says after DBR by revelation to Paul. Obviously, we should forgive others according to God and Paul.
Are some sins against us virtually impossible to forgive? How do we know if we have completely forgiven someone if we have lingering feelings of anger and bitterness? Are we forgiven if we don't forgive?
Forgive this long wind.
My hope is that you might benefit from it, in some way.
I know that I do, each time I "think on these things."
The answer is always one and the same.
Look to the Cross.
Was God able to forgive the murder of His Son?
Obviously.
Is that very grace available to the Believer?
Again, yes.
It is just a matter of searching it out in Scripture, towards studying out how it works, towards walking by faith in a sound understanding of it all.
And this is an issue where the study of it should be taken care of long before its answer is ever needed.
Towards having it already in hand "by reason of use" when needing it greatly eventually shows up - and show up it will.
To paraphrase the Lord - the best time to build a house is before, not during, a storm.
So there is that. And there is the right how to. And there is the doing so - way before it is needed.
And the simple fact IS that you were forgiven ALL your trespasses the moment you trusted that Christ died for YOUR sins.
I mean that is what it says, bro - for - YOUR - sins.
I hear ya. I feel for you in these kinds of things. We've all been there.
But we each have that Book :thumb:
A momentary wandering off into where the freshly mind looks at things from will result in a wondering about this or that.
But that is all that is.
And that is why the call for the need to "die daily."
That "by reason of use" when the internal storms come - for whatever reason - the peace of God that passeth all understanding automatically kicks in its long since built up in the mentality of your soul sense of "it is well with my soul."
Its odd how loving someone who has injured you ends up concern for them over yourself.
That is how this is meant to work in the Believer, as odd as that sounds.
Then again, that is not so odd at all, but to the wisdom of this world often still residing within the mind of the Believer.
Thus, why the need for time in the Word daily.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
See that, it is not odd at all to love one's enemy.
The trap we set for ourselves as Believers is only caring for those who agree with us, or who like us, or who have done something for us, and so on.
Not so the Grace of God toward us in His Son...
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
You see this....
1 Corinthians 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
It is just a matter of doing a thing in remembrance of Him.
In rembrance of how "that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Which is how His grace is enabled in one - via a focus on a remembrance of Him...
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
See that - even as God for Christ's sake HATH forgiven you.
When YOU least deserved it.
Do that - forgive as He forgave you - when you least deserved it - and you'll find yourself able to.
Do that and you'll be walking in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
In other words, bro, look at such moments as opportunities to somehow sort out through the Word, how all this "works in you that believe."
I mean, you're IN Christ - ACCEPTED IN the BELOVED.
Meaning, simply remind yourself that you have no business allowing your flesh to dictate how you live, or what you feel or don't feel.
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
That right THERE IS YOUR reality RIGHT NOW.
Just a matter of reminding yourself, when the issues come - "THIS is NOT who I am in Christ - I'm a child of God! Accepted in the Beloved! Blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places!"
And so on. And the more time you spend in the Word getting to know the real you in the Lord, the longer that list I have just shared a bit of, becomes and works what it is meant to.
2 Corinthians 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.
In short, when the issues of life come - rejoice in the reality of Romans 5:8 :thumb:
