Do I Have to Forgive? Part 2

Do I Have to Forgive? Part 2

Now that we have examined the Scriptures and determined that as a born-again believer, God’s forgiveness toward us is not predicated on our forgiveness of others, let’s dive into the Word to determine why the Holy Spirit adamantly instructs us through Paul’s letters to forgive those that sin against us. To reiterate our conclusion yesterday, we determined through the Word that unforgiveness in believers is not a mandate to which we will be held accountable; it is not a sin for believers because the law does not apply to us. However, there are multiple verses that instruct believers to forgive those that harm us. But before we dive into the Word, let me clear up what I mean when I state that unforgiveness is not a sin for believers. And this will apply not only to unforgiveness, but to all actions, behaviors, and attitudes that violate the laws of God.

Have you ever heard of diplomatic immunity? Diplomatic immunity is a legal principle that protects foreign government officials from the penalty of violating laws of the country they are in. Diplomats are required to follow the laws of the host state. However, should that diplomat violate a law of the host state, the home state government of that official must be contacted, and the home state government determines whether that diplomat will be prosecuted. The diplomat can be stopped and detained until the home state makes that determination. Being a believer is somewhat similar. For example, stealing is a violation of the law, God’s law and the laws of the land. However, if I steal as a believer, I will not be held accountable to God for stealing because my standing in Christ has made me exempt from the law of “…thou shall not steal.” I will be held accountable to the local government and there will be consequences for breaking the laws as applicable to theft because I am not exempt from the laws governing my earthly residence. I will be prosecuted here on earth, in an earthly court. Is unforgiveness a violation of earthly laws? Of course not. It is God’s law only. However, in God’s government, I will never be prosecuted for stealing. Why not? Because I have diplomatic immunity in the heavenly courts.

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…

If I steal, the accuser Satan presents his case against me before God. But in my home state of heaven to which I belong, I have an Advocate sitting at the right hand of the Father. He says to the Father, the Supreme Judge, “All Alex’s crimes have already been adjudicated. He cannot be prosecuted in this court for violations of the laws of earth. Here is the evidence of that” and He shows the Father the scars in His hands and feet.

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

There are still consequences on earth for violating the law, but in heaven I am innocent. Why? Because I am no longer subject to the law. And if I am no longer subject to the law, failure to keep the law is not a sin for me. This is why Paul wrote this in Romans 7 (I suggest reading Romans 7 in its entirety):

Romans 7:6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

The law only applies to those that are subject to the law and as a believer, I am not subject to the law of “thou shalt not steal” in the heavenly court. I cannot be prosecuted in heaven for stealing because the requirements of the law do not apply to me. They only apply to those under the law for which I am exempt. I pray that the church will one day soon get the revelation of the magnitude and all-encompassing totality of what Jesus’ sacrifice accomplished for us. He did not just erase our sins. He made it so that we never have to face accusations again. He freed us from ALL the requirements of the law. I know what I am saying is extremely difficult to receive for those that have not taken complete hold of God’s grace, but Jesus freed us from the law. He did this so that the accuser could no longer accuse us. Because we are not subject to the law, he lost his power over us. He cannot use it against us ever again. The strength of sin is in the law. We are either free from the law, or we are not. And the Word says we are.

Here is another example of freedom from the law. When someone asks you, “As a Christian, are you allowed to drink?” The answer is yes. “Oh, but wait, Alex! The Bible says we are not to be intoxicated.” Yes, it does and being intoxicated is a sin for those who are under the law. But Christians are not under the law. We are exempt from it and if exempt from it, it means it does not apply to us. However, just because I can, does not mean that I should. The potentially destructive consequences of getting drunk remain. My liberty does NOT exempt me from the consequences of sinful behavior. But will I be prosecuted in heaven for drinking? No. However, what are the “Kingdom” consequences or repercussions of identifying myself as a Christian and then getting drunk? Would my intoxication bring glory to Jesus? Absolutely not! Remember, we are not our own.

Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

1 Corinthians 6:9-20; 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

If you are not your own because you were bought with a price, then you cannot be held accountable; only Jesus can, and He paid for all your sins already. When you do sin, sin is not counted against you as sin. Jesus has already paid for your sins and God would be an unjust God to punish you and Jesus for the same sin.

Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

We took a long way around to get here, but I hope I cleared things up. When you are the righteousness of God in Christ, you can still be guilty of sinful behavior according to the law, but you cannot be guilty of sin because the law does not apply to you.

Now let’s tackle why we ought to forgive those that trespass against us. As a Christian, we have a responsibility and even an obligation to conduct ourselves in a manner that brings glory to our King. He gave us the example of how we should forgive and being a Christian means being Christ-like. But what if there is more to it than just looking and acting like a Christian? What if His reasoning for instructing us to forgive others has more to do with our own well-being and emotional health? Consider this hypothetical:

You lose your spouse in a car crash and the at-fault driver was found to be severely intoxicated. Your entire world is destroyed, and you endure grief for years; pain that feels like an elephant is standing on your chest and the mental torment is so overwhelming that you even have thoughts of suicide. Day in and day out for weeks, months, and years you endure excruciating pain. You are a born-again believer, but you refuse to forgive the person that took your spouse’s life, and you become consumed with thoughts of revenge. Your entire life was shattered, and you have experienced greater pain than you could have ever imagined. Here is the evil of unforgiveness. You have endured the most horrific pain imaginable, and your thoughts are monopolized, not by God, but by an overwhelming desire to see that person suffer and go through not just what you went through but even more pain, and you carry that hate with you until you feel like that person has suffered sufficiently according to your measurement. You refuse to be happy until that person suffers immensely. Can you fathom what kind of havoc the devil could wreak on you and those around you with that kind of hatred inside you? This is why God instructed us not to seek revenge. He knows how devastating hate and revenge can be to our mental and physical health and His desire is for you to live a life exceedingly and abundantly above all you can imagine or hope for. God alone can measure out justice.

Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.'

Romans 12:17-19; 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.

By forgiving, you free your own mind from the destructive effects of revenge. This is why the Holy Spirit said so often that we should forgive.

Ephesians 4:26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

I want to close this blog by encouraging you. If you have been wronged, mistreated, taken advantage of, or if someone has taken something from you that tore your world apart. Forgive! Forgive! Forgive! If the Holy Spirit says we should forgive, then it’s probably in your best interest to do so. Sometimes, forgiveness is a process. But when you are going through the process of trying to forgive, do not listen to the enemy. He will point his nasty finger at you and say, “You call yourself a Christian? Doesn’t the Bible say that you must forgive? You must not really be saved.” And he will use those kinds of accusations against you to destroy you and get you to doubt your salvation. He can’t bring those same accusations against you to God because your Advocate and Justification sit at God’s right hand and those claims don’t work with God. God knows you are His and that is why He has exempted you from the law. Do not entertain the thoughts the enemy throws at you. While you are working out forgiveness, boldly stand your ground against the enemy and declare, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I will not be moved.” And ask the Holy Spirit to both enable you and empower you to forgive.

I hope this helps. Jesus loves you!