Mark 11:24-25 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Most Christians are familiar with the verse 24, they often quote this verse as the basis of the “name it and claim it” doctrine. They tend to ignore where Jesus focuses on the person’s heart – the importance of forgiveness. It is not by accident these verses are linked.
If you are struggling in your walk, in your prayer life, or with unanswered prayers – maybe it is time to look at your heart. Are you holding on to any un-forgiveness? We know that our sins can limit our relationship with God and from verse 25 there is a direct link to our reluctance to forgive someone and God forgiving our sins…
Forgiving someone requires humility, patience, and love. We must put our pride aside and let go of our sense of being wronged or hurt and give it over to God. In John 3:16 the words “whoever believes,” include that person you are in conflict with, if they can be forgiven and their sins can be covered, then it is not your debt to collect. We have to exercise patience, forgiving is not automatic and it does take a continuous effort and time. Our society has almost made forgiveness equal to weakness and compassion equal to cowardice, but we must remember we are not of the same mind as our world. Jesus told us to, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt 22:39) We want to be forgiven, so we must forgive. Forgiving is not easy – but it is required.
Let's not take Scripture in isolation. One must compare Scripture with Scripture.
Does God forgive the proud, the unrepentant? NO! A thousand times no! (And don't try to use Jesus' prayer to forgive the IGNORANT - 'forgive them for they KNOW NOT what they do' - to justify blanket forgiveness.
There is a condition that must be met for forgiveness, the oft-overlooked, much-maligned: REPENTANCE!! The If - Then of:
Lu 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. |
Forgiveness implies REPENTANCE upon the part of the trespasser. TRUE repentance often with works/fruits offered to make amends.
THIS is the Truth in Christ. Amen.
Posted by: Brother D | May 30, 2011 at 08:54 AM
Brother D - I appreciate your comments, but I also would say that the scripture you quoted in Luke is speaking about Christians rebuking and forgiving each other. My writing today was on forgiveness in general. If a non believer wrongs you, are you not to forgive them until they repent? It is a condition of the heart and part of each person's walk with God. Throughout the Bible we are taught to forgive... we can speak the truth in love and even rebuke, but my writing was not concerning God's forgiving us, it is about us forgiving each other. When Peter asked how many times must I forgive (Matt 18:21-35), Jesus told the parable of the Unforgiving debtor…
I understand God require repentance, which is a condition of the heart… your points on God requiring us to repent (acknowledge our sins) is valid – but it is also a sin to allow someone’s transgressions to become hatred in our own hearts.
Posted by: TG | May 30, 2011 at 09:22 AM