“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” (Luke 6:37 KJV). It is interesting that forgiveness for our sins is reciprocally dependent on our forgiveness of those who have sinned against us. One might think our need for forgiveness for our own sins would be more the deciding factor for our effectiveness rather than our ability or willingness to forgive others. Apparently, we are more prone to stymie our Spiritual Effectiveness by disregarding our need of forgiving others. Most likely, what we do not think to be a lack of forgiving others, we may label as a lack of necessity for our forgiving others.
What does forgiving others look like?
On the Cross, Messiah Jesus “made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12), who were nailing Him to the Cross. “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do [Greek, poiousin, present tense, are doing]. And they parted His raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23:34). He was praying for their forgiveness before they were done sinning against Him. Certainly, the Father will not forgive anyone unless they confess and repent of their sin. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). We can tell if someone responds to our pray for their being forgiven, when we can see them cease from their sinning. “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil [literally, stop sinning]” (Isaiah 1:16). “Awake to righteousness, and sin not [literally, stop sinning]; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame” (1Corinthians 15:34).
We have not been praying for the forgiveness of those, who have offended against us, because:
First, though we admit the intellectual need for forgiving them, we don’t see the practical point of praying for it. Yet, Jesus’ prayer was answered even as He was dying. “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).
Second, we were there in spirit nailing Jesus to the Cross, since “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5), so He prayed for our forgiveness in the same fashion we should pray for the forgiveness of others we do not directly know nor are present at hand.
Third, we are releasing the Holy Spirit upon those, for whom we are praying to be forgiven. “And when He [Holy Spirit] is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8).
Fourth, the forgiveness of sin magnifies God even more than the healing of disease. “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house” (Matthew 9:6).
Fifth, concerning forgiveness, unlike the OT sacrifice, whose sacrifices were only a temporary covering for sin, waiting for Christ’s atonement, our forgiveness is now once and final. “1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:1, 10).
Sixth, our forgiving others and praying for others’ forgiveness is a mark of ushering in the Kingdom of God on Earth, until the LORD returns. “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me” (Acts 26:18).
Seventh, though there is no need of forgiveness of sin in Heaven — since there is no sin in Heaven — God will wipe away all the tears from the sin for which we already have been forgiven, remembering the first sin committed by Lucifer was also in Heaven. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Father, the blessing and power of Your forgiveness of us can only be seen in the power of changed lives. Teach us to trust and pray for Your forgiveness of us, even as we forgive and pray for others. Magnify Your name by who You forgive. Bring captivity captive and give the gift of repentance and forgiveness to as many as our Lord will call. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen and amen.
