In our Men’s Bible Study, we are currently going through the Red-Letter Challenge. For those who are unfamiliar with this book it is a 40-day discipleship challenge where we are introduced through the words of Jesus, to the five main principles of being a disciple. Those five principles are being, forgiving, serving, giving, and going. We meet once a week to discuss the readings and to look ahead to what is next. Recently we met and had an amazing discussion on forgiveness and how important it is in our lives. It was so great that it inspired me to share with everyone how important forgiveness is whether we are the ones giving it or receiving it.

                Forgiveness is important. But how important is it? Well, it is something that we all need! We are all sinners! Romans 3:23 sums it up perfectly. It says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Paul has an amazing understanding that we are all sinners. Every single person who has walked this earth has sinned. There is nothing we can do to fix that. That’s where Jesus comes into play. Jesus lived the perfect life and took the punishment of all our sins on the cross so that we can be saved. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9 “⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast”. The forgiveness we receive is an amazing lifesaving gift that comes from God because of Jesus. Without it we would be doomed to eternity in Hell.

                We know that receiving forgiveness is important but what about giving forgiveness? Well Jesus teaches very clearly on this issue. He says in Matthew 6:14-15 “ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Forgiving others is difficult. The hurt and pain that can be caused by other people is immense and very real. Jesus tells us that even though those things happen we need to forgive those who sin against us because God has forgiven us, and we don’t deserve it. It’s so important that we even pray about it every time we worship in The Lord’s Prayer.  Jesus echo’s this in Luke 6:37. He says “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven” Forgiveness is not just between us and God. It is something we should share with everyone so that they can feel the joy that we all get from it.  

                Forgiveness is an amazing gift from God that we can rejoice in! We do nothing to receive it but it is still given to all of us! There is no sin that God’s grace does not cover. We should strive to share this gift no matter how hard it is to do. My prayer is that if you are withholding forgiveness from anyone you follow Jesus’s command and forgive them just as you have been forgiven.

In Christ Alone

Aaron Finkel