“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21, 22 KJV).
God is a forgiving God. His children have been commanded to forgive, as He does.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32 KJV).
Christians are commanded to be forgiving people and we can be, because we have God’s love in our hearts. He is with us, and His love is in us.
“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:5 KJV).
Unforgiveness is a stumbling-block and hindrance to the Christian walk of faith because faith works by love (Galatians 5:6b). Unforgiveness doesn’t help anybody.
The wonderful truth is that Christians are commanded to walk by our faith, not by sight or feeling (2 Corinthians 5:7). We are not to forgive others based on whether we feel like it or not. We forgive by faith, not by our feelings. It is an act of faith and obedience. We can forgive by faith. We can say: “I forgive that person by faith, in the Name of Jesus.”
“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.” (Mark 11:25 KJV).
We can forgive by faith! Forgiveness is God’s will. Glory to God.
