God is a forgiving God. If He were not, no person could ever be saved.
Jesus forgave those who killed Him. Luke 23: 34
Stephen forgave those who killed him. Acts 7: 60
Erika Kirk, standing before the whole world, forgave the person who killed Charlie.
The apostle Paul dealt with a sin issue in the Corinthian church. In the conclusion of the matter, he said the person was to be forgiven “in the person of Christ; lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 1 Corinthians 5: 4-5; 2 Corinthians 2: 6-11
Forgiveness is of God. It opens the door to allow God to work in a situation. Unforgiveness is of Satan. It opens the door to allow Satan’s devices to operate.
Forgiveness releases you from the sin that person or organization has cast upon you. Unforgiveness keeps you tied and bound to that iniquity. David said the wicked “cast iniquity upon me” (Psalms 55:3). Forgiveness casts it off of you. That does not mean the offenders won’t have justice served on them. Vengeance is not yours. Vengeance is the Lord’s. He is the just Judge.
Forgiveness allows you to have closure so the wound can heal. Unforgiveness keeps the wound open with negative words and memories. There is no healing. The wound is open for the infection of bitterness, and like gangrene, bitterness can cause death if it goes unchecked—death to the anointing, death to relationships, and physical death.
Forgiveness is a spiritual transaction bringing God on the scene in love, grace, righteousness, redemption and restoration. Unforgiveness is a spiritual transaction that brings bitterness, hatred, malice, vengeance, gossiping and every evil work. It colors one’s whole outlook on life dark shades of negative, skeptical, hurt, and speaking evil.
Jesus taught us to carry the message of mercy and forgiveness to the world. He paid the price for every person to be forgiven, and for every person to forgive. Through the work of our Lord Jesus Christ all people can be set free. Sin’s power is broken. The power of death is broken. Forgiveness releases this power of God in the earth. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” God is the just Judge. Romans 12: 17-21
We reap what we sow. Do we want to reap from forgiveness or from unforgiveness?
