Have You Truly Forgiven

Have you truly forgiven, or are you just using the words to make yourself feel better?

Years ago someone asked me a question that is just as pertinent today as it was 2000 years ago. They asked, “Dennis, how can you forgive me for what I have done?”

I said, “How can I not forgive you, seeing how much God has forgiven me.”

Forgiveness is choosing to no longer to hold the offence against the other person. If you are still remembering the offence and holding it against that person, even if you say that you’ve forgiven them, then you haven’t yet forgiven. And if this is you, then you’re the one who is in danger.

When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray He said,

“And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” (Matthew 6:12 NKJV)

Now this is a scary thing to pray, because what we are asking God to do is to forgive us the same way we forgive others. And so if you are continuing to hold something against someone, then what you are asking God is to continue to hold your faults and failures against you.

And Jesus makes sure that this point is not lost, because right after this prayer He says,

“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: 14-15 NKJV)

And so for your own eternal destiny, choose to forgive and no longer hold the offense against the other person. And Jesus portrays this very forgiveness for all of us to follow.

He said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NKJV).

So be doers of the word, and not hearers only. If you say you forgive and continue to hold the hurt or offense against the other person then you are in essence being hypocritical.