One of the most significant bible teachings is forgiveness. It is said by many people that one should forgive and forget but the bible expounds on forgiveness. It teaches us how to forgive other people with genuine will as God has been forgiving us.
Forgiveness does not come that easily particularly when the injury is severe. But God desires his people to have a forgiving heart. I now understand that we should not only be ready to forgive the person who had wronged us but also ourselves so that we may have peace.
Jesus made it clear in the bible that people should forgive others. According to Gospel of Matthew 6:14 15, it reads, For, should ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father shall also forgive you: But should ye not forgive men their trespasses, neither wilt thy Father forgive thy trespasses.
This indicates that forgiveness is an aspect that God requires us to do. As I read this text, it reminds me that forgiveness is not a choice of a Christian. It is a command that indicates the mercy that God has had towards us.
Nevertheless, the term forgive and forget does not necessarily imply that we are going to forget about what occurred fully. It is easy to remember painful experiences as human beings.
According to what the Bible says, we must not have hatred, revenge or bitterness in our hearts. The apostle Paul stated in Book of Ephesians 4:31 32, that we should put all the bitterness, wrath, and anger away out of us. And do ye to one another goodwill, as tender, forgiving to one another, even as God, through Christ, forgave you.
When I consider the forgiveness of God on us, it is easy to see how we should also forgive others. We commit numerous errors yet God forgives our sins.
The Bible states in the book of Colossians, 3:13 that, for, forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. This is what teaches us that we should forgive as Christ did.
Finally, the Bible advises us to forgive and forget about bitterness. We ought to love rather than hate even when we are remembering the pain. Authentic forgiveness makes the heart calm and makes us lead a life of obedience to God.
God bless his word
Amen