Forgiveness
Mark 11:25 KJV
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Forgiveness means to let go of a person’s wrong towards you, when you forgive, you are not expected to make reference to it anymore.
It is expected that after you forgive a person, you shouldn’t relate with the person having remembrance of the issue in mind. If God could forgive us despite all we have done, then we should be able to do the same to our fellow human beings.
Our Father in heaven had so much compassion to the point that he sent his only son to die for our sins because he knows that the blood of bulls and rams cannot wash away our sins.
Hebrews 10:4 KJV
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
This single act of God shows his readiness to forgive the whole of humanity, so we should be able to forgive who ever wrongs us.
Why should we forgive?
1. Because God first forgave us
Psalm 51:5 KJV
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
The psalmist said in the scripture above that in iniquity we were formed. So we came to this world as a sinner already.
2. Because God is ever ready to forgive us
John 6:37 KJV
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
If a sinner retraces his or her step back to God, he won’t cast him or her out. God is so full of compassion, he rejoices over that one soul that repents even though he has “ninety nine more sheeps in the fold”
Luke 15:7 KJV
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
3. That our prayers may be answered.
Matthew 18:23-35 shows a parable of a man who forgave his servant for owing him, but the servant in return did not forgive another person who owed him. It was recorded that he was cast into the prison for that act; in short his prayer(his plea) was no more answered
4. That God may forgive us our sins
Mark 11:25 KJV
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
If you have not forgiven your fellow human being and you ask God for forgiveness, you are joking, you need to forgive others in order to access your own forgiveness.
Even in the Lord’s prayer which we recite very frequently, it is clearly stated; forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
Matthew 6:12 KJV
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
We recite it both consciously and unconsciously, so we should also put it to practice.
Matthew 6:14-15 KJV
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: [15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Forgiveness doesn’t have limit, you are to forgive as many times as they offend, it might not be easy but remember God forgave us even while we were yet sinners, so we should forgive too.
Matthew 18:21-22 KJV
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? [22] Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.