Biblical Answer

The Power of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is an act of self-defense, a tourniquet that stops the fatal bleeding of resentment. It is an unnatural act that takes practice to perfect, but it is essential for our well-being and spiritual growth. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting, but it means not holding a person's sin against them. As the Bible teaches, "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Colossians 3:13).

The Connection between Forgiving and Being Forgiven

The connection between our forgiving and being forgiven is graphically expounded in the Bible. The point is not that forgiving is a prior condition of being forgiven, but that forgiveness cannot be a one-time event. It is a process that requires us to continually renew our commitment to forgive when feelings of resentment or bitterness well up within us. This is why the Bible teaches that we must forgive as we have been forgiven by God. When we forgive others, we are not just releasing them from their debt to us, but we are also releasing ourselves from the weight of our own unforgiveness.

The Freedom of Forgiveness

Forgiveness brings freedom from the weight of our past. When we forgive others, we are not making them right, but we are making ourselves free. We are free from the burden of resentment, bitterness, and anger that has been weighing us down. Forgiveness does not change whatever weakness led to the failure, but it can set punishment aside. The goal of forgiveness is reconciliation with others and with Christ. As the Bible teaches, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" (Ephesians 4:31). By forgiving others, we can experience the freedom and peace that comes from living in harmony with God and others.