The Basis for All Forgiveness

If you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
–Matthew 6:14–15

One of my favorite stories is the one about a man who was bitten by a rabid dog. This was before there was any prevention for rabies. At the hospital, the doctor told the man he had contracted the fatal disease. “We’ll do everything we can to make you comfortable,” the doctor said, “but I urge you to get your affairs in order.”

The man asked for a pen and paper, and he began to write furiously. The doctor was glad to see that the man was getting his will together. But the man said, “Doc, this ain’t a will. It’s a list of all the people I’m going to bite before I die!”

For the past couple of months, we talked about conquering the mountains that separate us from the abundant life God has for us. Based on my experience in ministry, I would say the number one obstacle that Christians and non-Christians struggle with is forgiveness–either receiving God’s forgiveness or extending that forgiveness to others. The issue of forgiveness is so challenging and so important that we’re going to spend several weeks learning why you ought to forgive others, how to ask for forgiveness, and even what it means to hold God accountable for the hurts in your life.

But any discussion about forgiveness starts with the basis for all forgiveness: God’s forgiveness of us through Jesus Christ.

There is an inseparable link between our willingness to receive God’s forgiveness and our ability to forgive other people. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that forgiveness is an option–something that’s nice if you can do it but not that big a deal if you can’t. The Bible says your eternal destiny depends on your willingness to forgive other people. In Matthew 6:14–15, Jesus said, “If you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” It’s not that you’ll lose your salvation if you’re unwilling to forgive, but unforgiveness is a sign that you never received salvation in the first place. Those who have been truly forgiven will forgive others.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “Moving from Bitterness to Forgiveness” and “The Basis for All Forgiveness,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2021 and 2015.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.