Growth Harbouring Unforgiveness Towards Another by Greg Gordon

[Greg Gordon]

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. – Luke 6:37

You will never have to forgive anyone more then you yourself have been forgiven by God. Unforgiveness will leave you miserable. We forgive for our own happiness and benefit. When we do not forgive resentment and bitterness can defile all aspects of one’s life. Forgiving means to give up all resentment and the ability to exact revenge to get even. As we are called to be more like the Son of God (1 John 2:6) we can know how much we are in his likeness by our love and forgivenness of others. You know the grace of God as much as you are able to show it to others. No one will ever deserve to be forgiven, we must forgive because God forgives us. We judge and condemn others because we have not forgiven them and have not sought to bless them and see them bettered. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) we say to the Lord: “Come, O Lord, and forgive me my sins even as I forgive those who sin against me.”

On speaking of those who would come to partake of communion with unforgiveness John Chrysostom says, “As it is not to be imagined that the fornicator and the blasphemer can partake of the sacred Table, so it is impossible that he who has an enemy, and bears malice, can enjoy Holy Communion.” Our Lord teaches us to seek forgiveness first before worshipping God, for we ourselves need forgiveness to enter into his holy presence (Matthew 5:24). Of the many sins we can commit unforgiveness is a terrible sin, it is refusing to do what God himself did in offering his Son to forgive our sins. When we harbour unforgiveness we are helping the devil to expand his kingdom as it is a kingdom of accusation, unforgiveness, slander, lies and evil. John of Kronstadt says, “Forgive them that trespass against you with joy, as a good son rejoices when he has a chance of fulfilling the will of his beloved father.” Father in heaven give me a new realization of the great forgiveness you offer me daily so that I may be able to have more grace and forgivenness to all men. And allow me to release and forgive anyone who has hurt me and caused me pain. Amen.

from: https://gregjgordon.wordpress.com/2015/06/07/harbouring-unforgivenness-towards-another/

 

[DWJL511]

Harboring unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer and die. It's not easy to forgive at times, especially when the hurt goes really deep (like in cases of adultery or murder), but we have to eventually for our own sanity and health. May God give us all the grace to forgive always.

 

[Eugene]

John Chrysostom says, “As it is not to be imagined that the fornicator and the blasphemer can partake of the sacred Table, so it is impossible that he who has an enemy, and bears malice, can enjoy Holy Communion.”

This sounds somewhat akin to the confessionals of the Catholic Church I came out of. Do you think we are worthy by what we do, or what Jesus did? And then would our lack be the sin you listed, or every inadequacy of our flesh. Do I say forgive me Father, for I have sinned. In me is no good thing? There's a litany of prayers on some web sites to make one worthy. I even read of us being carnal for saying we belong to some assembly other than the one Church which is every believer in Christ. (1 Cor 2:4).
God bless you Brother Greg in Jesus' name.

 

[Greg Gordon]

Harboring unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer and die. It's not easy to forgive at times, especially when the hurt goes really deep (like in cases of adultery or murder), but we have to eventually for our own sanity and health. May God give us all the grace to forgive always.

Well said and very true!

Eugene, I believe we just don't understand how bad of a sin it is to not forgive someone when Jesus does and he forgives us also. When one understands grace more then forgiveness will be easier no matter how bad a circumstance. I do not see it as works personally but a response to grace in my own life.

Great comments and thoughts, glad it was encouraging to brethren.

 

[Eugene]

Well said and very true!

Eugene, I believe we just don't understand how bad of a sin it is to not forgive someone when Jesus does and he forgives us also. When one understands grace more then forgiveness will be easier no matter how bad a circumstance. I do not see it as works personally but a response to grace in my own life.

Great comments and thoughts, glad it was encouraging to brethren.

I do believe lack of forgiveness by us for others is one of the most damaging consequence we can suffer, but I do not believe our remembering our Savior's sacrifice is based on such criterion. We are made worthy in Jesus the moment we believe for ever.

The problems I see in God's people is the sin that brands their conscience even to the point of not seeking God when they need Him the most. I reckon it reminds me of the ill person that might be ashamed to go see their doctor because they wouldn't take their prescribed medicine.

When our Father sees us, He sees Jesus or there would be no acceptance, and to me without Jesus' righteousness it would be akin to touching the Holy thing such as Uzzah touching the ark.
Blessings in Christ Jesus.

 

[DWJL511]

If I am harboring unforgivness toward someone, then all the more I see my need to go to His Table. There the cup of His blood reminds me that all my sins are forgiven through His grace and finished work. There I know He died also for my offender's sin(s). It is receiving His grace for me that then helps me to also forgive and impart grace to my offender.

 

[By Grace]

Harboring unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer and die. It's not easy to forgive at times, especially when the hurt goes really deep (like in cases of adultery or murder), but we have to eventually for our own sanity and health. May God give us all the grace to forgive always.

That is why I say that forgiveness is mandatory for all. But that is not the same thing as forgetting. We do not forget because failing to do so can place our life in danger if we repeat mistakes.

 

[Kenny_ms]

I ask for forgiveness from God in Christs name. So are those who trespass against us, to ask for our forgiveness too?

I find it rather easy to forgive when someone shows remorse and asks...actually, I love to forgive in cases like that just as I think others probably do. It feels natural and normal and would feel real bad not to.

There are some circumstances where it's pretty tough to forgive, as in someone did/is doing something bad to you, is still doing it in that it's well within their power to stop at any time and they don't ask for forgiveness, nor show any remorse for it.

I need some rock solid scripture that says I have to forgive them or scripture that says I don't.

 

[jasonc]

I ask for forgiveness from God in Christs name. So are those who trespass against us, to ask for our forgiveness too?

I find it rather easy to forgive when someone shows remorse and asks...actually, I love to forgive in cases like that just as I think others probably do. It feels natural and normal and would feel real bad not to.

There are some circumstances where it's pretty tough to forgive, as in someone did/is doing something bad to you, is still doing it in that it's well within their power to stop at any time and they don't ask for forgiveness, nor show any remorse for it.

I need some rock solid scripture that says I have to forgive them or scripture that says I don't.

matthew 6.

 

[Kenny_ms]

Is there a particular verse in Mathew 6 I should be looking at?

I see the Lords prayer in that area and I do forgive if they ask and may even try to if they don't. It's the "if they don't" part that concerns me, am I even supposed to be forgiving those? Is it biblical?

 

[jasonc]

Forgive us as we forgive others. We don't show mercy to others none shall be shown to us

 

[Kenny_ms]

Forgive us as we forgive others. We don't show mercy to others none shall be shown to us

I get that and I do forgive others as I just mentioned. The very prayer we are talking about has us asking God for forgiveness and if God wants us to for give others, just as he does us, I mean exactly as he does us, then it is reasonable to believe we need to be asked too, just as we ask him in the prayer.

And that prayer just happens to be a model prayer for us, and how we should pray, so it's stands as pretty good evidence of what's reasonable here.

Still, I'm not convinced that we aren't to just forgive others whether they ask or not, but you must see why I'm leaning in that direction.

I think, and I could be wrong, but I think God wants us to ask for forgiveness of our sins, right? and if so, are we better than God in that others don't even need to ask us, we just do it without the asking?

 

[jasonc]

I get that and I do forgive others as I just mentioned. The very prayer we are talking about has us asking God for forgiveness and if God wants us to for give others, just as he does us, I mean exactly as he does us, then it is reasonable to believe we need to be asked too, just as we ask him in the prayer.

And that prayer just happens to be a model prayer for us, and how we should pray, so it's stands as pretty good evidence of what's reasonable here.

Still, I'm not convinced that we aren't to just forgive others whether they ask or not, but you must see why I'm leaning in that direction.

I think, and I could be wrong, but I think God wants us to ask for forgiveness of our sins, right? and if so, are we better than God in that others don't even need to ask us, we just do it without the asking?

when paul was saul he murdered Christians. I bet some of the Christians he never met and they had to be under his apostolic authourity. remember he wrote most of the nt. yet its not recorded but once of a man that was told to drop it about sauls past and anoint paul and lay hands for the holy ghost. surely the entire church had to let that go. I doubt paul went around to say im sorry for the families I killed to each and every person. he might have if he knew them but likely they had to confront him or just choose to let it go first.