What does the Bible say about forgiving your brother and sister?
Forgiveness is part of the nature of God.
"That God like you, who forgives evil and forgets the sin of the remnant of his inheritance? He did not retain his anger forever, because he delights in mercy ”(Micah 7:18).
Forgiveness is necessary when a barrier of sin is raised to the steadfast love of God.
God is love and delights in unchanging love. Forgiveness is necessary when a barrier of sin is raised to the steadfast love of God. The first thing is to learn to accept God's forgiveness and what it has cost Jesus to forgive us. When we have seen and experienced that, we have taken an important step. It will cost us something to forgive others when we are hurt. A natural human reaction would be to counterattack to hurt them in return. It is even more difficult when they do not accept our forgiveness. However, keep in mind that forgiveness was not an easy thing for Jesus, and it is also a step of faith for us.
“Be sympathetic to the faults of others and forgive everyone who offends you. Remember that the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others ”(Col. 3:13).
Paul was aware that we must bear one another, but yet we are commanded to forgive. Thank God, it is not a mosaic commandment that we must obey in ourselves, but we forgive through "obedience to faith" (Rom. 16:26). We know that we can forgive because we have "become partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1: 4).
"I can't forgive!"
You need a springboard to exercise faith.
Relax, if you are a believer, you are a new creation. You share in the divine nature. You are a branch and Christ is the vine. Without Him you can do NOTHING, including forgiveness (John 15: 5). When our first reaction is that we can't forgive, that's not wrong. We live on opposites, and the negative is always the springboard for faith. Lord, I cannot forgive, but I share the divine nature and You can forgive through me. A Christian always lives by what follows BUT. So don't worry if your first reaction is not of faith. You need a springboard to exercise faith.
There is no place for a relentless spirit.
"But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your offenses either" (Mark 11:26).
This is a solemn word. If God freely forgives us, we must also freely forgive others. Christians are people who must be known for forgiving others, because it is the attitude of our Lord. We share the divine nature and are always ready to take the first step, even when others are unwilling to forgive us.
Forgiving is avoiding a root bitterness
Get rid of all bitterness, fury, anger, harsh words, slander and all kinds of misconduct. Rather, be kind to one another, be kind-hearted, and forgive one another, just as God has forgiven you through Christ ”(Eph. 4: 31,32).
Ephesians 4:31 describes the person who is unwilling to forgive and who acts according to the flesh. It bears the root of bitterness and scandal. Bitterness is a dangerous infection and difficult to get rid of. Bitterness and scandal eat away at our spiritual vigor. The Bible says, "See to it that no" root of bitterness "sprout and cause trouble" (Heb. 12:15). "But that's not the way you learned about Christ!" (Eph. 4:20). We learned from Christ by being kind, compassionate, and forgiving (Eph. 2:32). And we too!
We forgive others from the heart
"So also my heavenly Father will do to each one of you, if you do not forgive your brother in heart" (Matthew 18:35).
The Lord wants us to forgive from the heart, completely and unconditionally.
Summary
So what does the Bible say about forgiving your brother and sister? The Bible commands to freely forgive them, even when they don't forgive us. Because we are partakers of the divine nature, the new life in us can forgive. We have no excuse It may cost us something, but remember, it cost Jesus everything. No relationship can function or be restored without forgiveness.
How does this biblical teaching speak to you? Please share your thoughts below!
Also read Do you have to keep asking for forgiveness?
Forgiveness is part of the nature of God.
"That God like you, who forgives evil and forgets the sin of the remnant of his inheritance? He did not retain his anger forever, because he delights in mercy ”(Micah 7:18).
Forgiveness is necessary when a barrier of sin is raised to the steadfast love of God.
God is love and delights in unchanging love. Forgiveness is necessary when a barrier of sin is raised to the steadfast love of God. The first thing is to learn to accept God's forgiveness and what it has cost Jesus to forgive us. When we have seen and experienced that, we have taken an important step. It will cost us something to forgive others when we are hurt. A natural human reaction would be to counterattack to hurt them in return. It is even more difficult when they do not accept our forgiveness. However, keep in mind that forgiveness was not an easy thing for Jesus, and it is also a step of faith for us.
“Be sympathetic to the faults of others and forgive everyone who offends you. Remember that the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others ”(Col. 3:13).
Paul was aware that we must bear one another, but yet we are commanded to forgive. Thank God, it is not a mosaic commandment that we must obey in ourselves, but we forgive through "obedience to faith" (Rom. 16:26). We know that we can forgive because we have "become partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1: 4).
"I can't forgive!"
You need a springboard to exercise faith.
Relax, if you are a believer, you are a new creation. You share in the divine nature. You are a branch and Christ is the vine. Without Him you can do NOTHING, including forgiveness (John 15: 5). When our first reaction is that we can't forgive, that's not wrong. We live on opposites, and the negative is always the springboard for faith. Lord, I cannot forgive, but I share the divine nature and You can forgive through me. A Christian always lives by what follows BUT. So don't worry if your first reaction is not of faith. You need a springboard to exercise faith.
There is no place for a relentless spirit.
"But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your offenses either" (Mark 11:26).
This is a solemn word. If God freely forgives us, we must also freely forgive others. Christians are people who must be known for forgiving others, because it is the attitude of our Lord. We share the divine nature and are always ready to take the first step, even when others are unwilling to forgive us.
Forgiving is avoiding a root bitterness
Get rid of all bitterness, fury, anger, harsh words, slander and all kinds of misconduct. Rather, be kind to one another, be kind-hearted, and forgive one another, just as God has forgiven you through Christ ”(Eph. 4: 31,32).
Ephesians 4:31 describes the person who is unwilling to forgive and who acts according to the flesh. It bears the root of bitterness and scandal. Bitterness is a dangerous infection and difficult to get rid of. Bitterness and scandal eat away at our spiritual vigor. The Bible says, "See to it that no" root of bitterness "sprout and cause trouble" (Heb. 12:15). "But that's not the way you learned about Christ!" (Eph. 4:20). We learned from Christ by being kind, compassionate, and forgiving (Eph. 2:32). And we too!
We forgive others from the heart
"So also my heavenly Father will do to each one of you, if you do not forgive your brother in heart" (Matthew 18:35).
The Lord wants us to forgive from the heart, completely and unconditionally.
Summary
So what does the Bible say about forgiving your brother and sister? The Bible commands to freely forgive them, even when they don't forgive us. Because we are partakers of the divine nature, the new life in us can forgive. We have no excuse It may cost us something, but remember, it cost Jesus everything. No relationship can function or be restored without forgiveness.
How does this biblical teaching speak to you? Please share your thoughts below!
Also read Do you have to keep asking for forgiveness?
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