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We need to be forgiven by God in order to be saved. Jesus’ death on the cross is the only way for this to happen.
We must humble ourselves and forgive others in order to receive forgiveness.
Are you ready to accept God’s forgiveness?
This article is for you to understand the importance of forgiveness.
Are you forgiven by God for your wrongdoings? Your eternal future depends on the answer to this serious question.
The Bible teaches us that “there is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10)
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
We must find God’s forgiveness if we want to be saved from the consequences of sin. And the consequence is the death penalty. Because God is Holy and He is Perfect – His Standard is 100% Righteousness. Therefore God can not have fellowship with a sinful man.
One day in the near future we will all meet the Lord in judgment. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)
We are to face eternity, and this makes it so important that we know if we are forgiven or not.
If forgiven, we will be accepted into heaven. If we are not forgiven, we will be sentenced to eternal destruction together with the devil and the rest of the fallen angels.
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25:31-34)
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Verse 41)
The question then, what can we do to save our souls?
We can’t save ourselves, it’s not within our own power. But we can accept the plan that God has provided for us.
Before Christ came, God told the Hebrews to sacrifice animals. The lambs that were slain in the Tabernacle in Sinai, pointed toward the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who would redeem all people by shedding His blood for their sins.
The shedding of blood also helped the people understand the seriousness of sin.
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Ephesians 1:7)
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)
Our forgiveness comes through Christ’s death and the spilling of His blood for the sins of man (Hebrews 9:22).
Because of our sinful nature, which happened after the fall of man in Eden, we are worthy of eternal death.
Since God have His love and mercy toward us, Jesus died in our place on the cross, so we can be forgiven and our transgressions covered.
Unforgiveness Brings Bondage
When we experience Christ’s gracious forgiveness we will also receive heavenly peace.
It’s necessary to forgive others in order to obtain peace.
Jesus said; “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
Jesus gives clear teaching on this matter of unforgiveness: “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying: Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, Oh you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you desired me: Shouldest not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” (Matthew 18:23-35)
Hating someone, holding an offense, or harboring a grudge causes many negative effects. The person who allows such attitudes in his life becomes joyless and sour. His health suffers, as do his relationships.
When we don’t forgive others, it brings about a bondage to our souls that could be compared to being enslaved by people or bound by a substance addiction. Often this unforgiveness causes a bitterness that claims us from the inside out. It locks in sorrow, anger and strife; it locks out joy, love and fellowship. This bitterness is a result of a proud spirit that seeks to keep score and gain revenge for perceived and real wrongs. If we refuse to release our offended feelings, they will eventually control us. We will be in bondage to them as well as in the bondage of sin before God.
Unconditional Forgiveness
Jesus taught that the only way for us to grant forgiveness to others is in the way He has forgiven us. We are not to condition forgiveness according to the nature or gravity of the offense against us, the number of offenses, or the character of the offender. We are to show unconditional mercy as God has shown mercy to us. As we humble ourselves and extend forgiveness to others, God opens the way for us to seek forgiveness for our own mistakes and sins. God fully forgives all that come to Him with a humble and repentant spirit.
As we follow the Holy Spirit, we will know the truth, and the truth shall make us free. (John 8:32). Verse 36 says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
“To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come unto me … and I will give you rest.” As we follow these teachings, we will be forgiven and will be able to forgive others.
Coming to God
Now the question is, how do we come to God? The answer is in the Bible. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44). God, through His Holy Spirit, makes us aware that we are sinners and in need of a Savior. Sometimes we don’t fully understand God’s call. We may begin to notice an empty, lonely feeling in our heart-a need of something, a feeling we are not right, a conviction we are lost.
When we become aware of this restlessness in our spirit, we need to open our heart to God for direction. The load of sin will become very heavy, and our heart will become remorseful because of our past sinful life. God wants us to surrender our life to Him in true repentance. When God sees our broken and contrite heart and our readiness to fully do His will, He forgives our past sinful life, and we receive forgiveness and peace. (Psalm 34:18; Psalm 51:16-17). Oh, how happy we now are, and we want to share with others what Christ has done in our heart!
This is not something that is only intellectual, or a changing of one’s mind. It is a work of the Holy Spirit in the heart that converts us to a new life. Through this power of the Holy Spirit we have faith to trust God so we can lay down our own will and forgive others. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
The Bible way of forgiveness is beautiful. A trusting faith in the sacrifice of Jesus, coupled with a complete surrender to God and His will, removes the guilt from our heart. Our sins are completely covered by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The forgiveness that God gives takes away our offenses and hurts. He wipes the slate clean and forgets our transgressions, “And their iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12). What a wonderful freedom we can experience when God forgives our sins and we can forgive our fellowman. You too can experience this in your heart and life. Come to the Lord today!
