In the last two weeks, we changed the subject, and I did not continue with what I said we would talk about in week seven of the Kingdom. To refresh your memory, we talked about the priority of the Kingdom, and I said we would continue looking at the priority and forgiveness.
Forgiveness is another key to understanding the Kingdom. The premise of the whole Gospel is that we all have sinned and needed God to forgive us for our trespasses. Throughout scripture, we see God engaging man so that He can deal with him based on His forgiveness.
Isaiah 43:25-26 I, even I, am he that blots out your sins for my own sake, and will not remember your sins anymore. Put me in remembrance and let us plead together, set forth your case that you may be proofed right.
Read Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 103:1-3, Heb 8:12, 10:17.
I love these scriptures because God promises to forgive and forget our sins. He even invites us to come and reason with Him so that we can understand and be convinced that He took care of it. How is that possible? Because He forgives us of all our transgressions.
John 1:8-9 If we say we have no sin, we lie and the truth is not in us, but if we confess our sins, He is able and just to forgive us all our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
How can we ignore such a great reality? How can we not accept the forgiveness that God offers through Jesus to all humanity?
Many people struggle not just to accept His forgiveness, but they struggle to forgive themselves and forgive other people. Forgiveness is a personal choice. You have to let go of the offense. Let go of what was committed against you. God chose to forgive us. This statement might shock you, but walking in unforgiveness does not make someone else guilty. What they did was the offense and make them guilty, not you holding it against them.
2 Cor 5:19 In Christ, God reconciled the world to Himself, NOT IMPUTING(HOLDING) their trespasses against them.
We are not guilty because God holds it against us; we are guilty because of our sin. We are free because He does not hold it against us. When we set people loose by forgiving them, we get free from the offense ourselves.
Jesus commands us to do what he did for us. Forgiveness from God is both free and conditional. He freely forgives us when we freely forgive those that trespass against us.
Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven may forgive your trespasses.
Unforgiveness is a mark of a different kingdom. Retaliation and revenge are the marks of the kingdom of darkness. What we do represents the Kingdom we are serving.
Jesus teaches us in his prayer to pray in this way: And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us – Matt 6:12.
Col 3:12-13 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
What is our responsibility? Do as Christ did for us. Take time today
and forgive others, forgive yourself and step into the fullness He has purchased for you.
