SOTM 25—Forgive

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15).Forgiveness is conditional.Matt 6:14-15 ties in directly to the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt 6:12), which parallels Luke 11: “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us” (Luke 11:4).Forgiveness is conditional, not unconditional. This is a serious theme in the teaching of Christ.The principle is well illustrated in the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matt 18:23-35). The unmerciful servant's debt is un-cancelled. The implication is clear: we can be "un-forgiven"—just as the Lord makes explicit in Matt 6:15 and 18:35.The early church concurs:Clement of Alexandria: “Accordingly, God gives forgiveness of past sins. However, of future sins, each one brings this to himself [by forgiving others].” Who Is the Rich Man? (ANF 2.602)Cyprian: “‘If you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive you your trespasses.’ There will remain no grounds for excuse on the Day of Judgment, when you will be judged according to your own sentence.” On the Lord’s Prayer 23 (ANF 5.454)Summary Forgiveness is not unconditional.For some of us, this may not be controversial, but this contradicts the teaching of reformers like Luther and Calvin, who taught “once saved, always saved.” Their teaching, in effect, claims, “When we are converted to Christ, every sin we will ever commit is pre-forgiven.”However, if this were true, then Jesus’ words are false.ChallengeDon’t let things drag on. Always seek reconciliation!Always resist unhealthy theology.Don’t utter the Lord’s Prayer, or any prayer, if we have no intention of forgiving our brother or sister. Let's examine our hearts.Next: Fast