How do I forgive and why should I?

I want to go to the conclusion first to answer this question about forgiveness. Forgiveness is easy. We have to decide to do it. When we are fully persuaded (faith) in our mind in anything regarding the word of God we can then perform those things. 

Romans 4:21

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

The question may then shift to what am I fully persuaded of?

Now let's get into what Christ said regarding forgiveness. 

Matthew 6:14-15

14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

In Matthew 6 we see that the Most High will only forgive us if we forgive others. The word forgive in this passage is G863 according to the bible concordance in the Greek (a concordance gives a Greek or Hebrew definition to a word or phrase written in English in the bible) and means to remit. Remit means to cancel or refrain from exacting or inflicting a debt or punishment. According to this scripture, we are to relinquish any thought of punishment or subsequent payment (vengeance) that we think is owed according to the transgression that was done if we want the Most High to do the same for us.

What does forgiveness look like?

Forgiveness is showing kindness and looking to help someone that has done something offensive to you or someone else. Forgiveness looks like what Christ did for us by dying on the cross. He sacrificed his life in the ultimate act of brotherly love and kindness, to remit a debt that was rightfully ours! 

Therefore, we are to sacrifice our fleshly desire to either hold onto a grudge or repay the transgression and be like our Saviour.

Galatians 2:20

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

We must show mercy

James 2:13

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

The word mercy is G1656 in the bible concordance simply means kindness or good will toward the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them. Essentially, it is a desire to help.

“Mercy rejoiceth against judgment” means that mercy boasts itself superior to judgment, i.e. full of glad confidence and has no fear of judgment. In essence, mercy will cancel out judgment against us! That makes sense as to why Mercy is among one of the weightier matters that Christ describes in Matthew 23:23.

Matthew 23:23

23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

We see that forgiveness, in general, is a heavy subject because it contains all the weightier matters. If we are fully persuaded and believe the word of God (Faith) then we can have Mercy on others to help negate Judgment that we may receive from God for our sins. The Pharisees had no desire to help anyone nor did they understand the payment that Mercy provided at judgment.

So, what does forgiveness have to do with the miserable and afflicted? Aren’t I the one who was done wrong?

Many of us think that we have a controversy with an individual when in reality we are in conflict with spirits.

Ephesians 6:12

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

It is very likely that the person who has done something to us is afflicted with powers, darkness and spiritual wickedness that they have no idea has inhabited their vessel. It is important that we recognize this quickly and not allow the affliction to impact us by causing us to act in a way that is not according to the Holy Spirit. We are to have mercy and seek to help that individual and seek to understand what spirit they are operating in. We should also self examine and understand where we may be at fault in the transgression, as well as recall how we used to be before maturing in Christ.

Galatians 6:1-10

6 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.5 For every man shall bear his own burden.6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Remember, we want the Most High to grant us mercy during our judgment. Us showing mercy to others is a way of storing up treasures in heaven. There are sins that we commit that we do unknowingly. The same happens with people around us. We must forgive quickly and also ask the Father to forgive us for sins that we commit that we haven’t recognized or repented of. 

How do we help?

So now let me further qualify how forgiveness becomes easy. We MUST walk according to the spirit. Once we are able to stay out of our flesh we can now get our personal desires out of the way so that we can understand what another individual needs from us. 

Galatians 5:16-17

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Now that we have self examined and made sure that we are walking in the spirit, the Holy Spirit will give us the right things to say and it will provide the correct fruit for the occasion to help uplift that individual.

Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

What makes Forgiveness easy?

Forgiveness is an opportunity to win a brother or sister and it is a way for us to have our sins pardoned by our Father on that day of judgment. If we are fully persuaded in our minds that forgiveness is a gift, then we will have no problem performing!