The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum On Granting Forgiveness

quigley,

What Matt 6:14, 15 doesn't mean is that if a believer doesn't forgive someone who repents of their sins that our own actual sins aren't forgiven, i.e., covered by the blood of Christ. This would be a direct contradiction of what Scripture teaches concerning the efficacy of Christ's atonement. In Him, ALL; without exception, sins are remitted by Christ's shed blood.

So, what does this mean then that if we do not forgive the sins (aka: debts and trespasses) of others, the Father won't forgive us (believers)? I believe this is referring to sanctification and surely not justification. That is, when someone repents of their sins against us and we don't forgive them as freely as the Father freely forgives us in Christ, there are consequences, e.g., our prayers will not be heard, our consciences will not be appeased when we sin, etc., (cf. 1Jh 1:9, 10). Secondly, a habitually and adamant refusal to forgive men their sins could be an indication that one is not truly in Christ, i.e., the marks of grace, spiritual life are absent. (cf. Jam 2:26). To forgive others their offenses against us is an indication of one's identity as a child of God.

In His grace,