Breaking Down The Wall Through Forgiveness

Penned By: Erlinda Mejia Olson

On Sunday, 11th of March, 2012 at 5:26AM PDT

Posted on Monday, 20th of August, 2018 at 5:32AM CDT

1 JOHN 1:9 ~ "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

What comes into your mind when you think of the word, “Forgiveness”?  When you are confronted with a question today if you have forgiven someone—I mean completely forgiven.

I know that forgiveness does not come easy for most of us. Our natural impulse is to shrink-back in self-defense when we are hurt. It is not innate in us to openly spill-over with grace, mercy, and forgiveness when we have been ill-treated. But as a Christian, I believe it is necessary to do so, to exercise Biblical forgiveness in order for real healing, peace, and freedom to take place.

And I can say, that even in my own personal journey, I find it very difficult to go on in life if I have not forgiven.

President Abraham Lincoln once said: "I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends." In Matthew 5:43-45, the Lord has instructed us to love our enemies, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

It may sound difficult to love someone who hates you. But, it is more difficult to hate someone when you are doing something good for them.

Perhaps, you are still in the process of penning down your New Year’s Resolution. Allow me to share with you these insights that helped me exercise Biblical forgiveness. I hope you will make,  forgiveness,  as part of your Resolution not only for this year ahead but all the days of your life.

Is forgiveness a command, a choice, or an emotional state?

Forgiveness is a command not a choice, driven by obedience to God and His command to forgive. It is not based on a mere-emotional feeling—that comes and goes.

It is very clear, the Bible instructs us to forgive as the Lord forgave us:

"bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." (Colossians 3:13)

How is forgiveness possible when we don't feel like it? 

We forgive by faith as an act of our obedience to God. Since forgiveness goes against our nature, we must forgive by faith—whether we feel like it or not. We must trust the Holy Spirit of God to do the work in us so that forgiveness will be absolute.

I believe God honors our steadfastness to obey Him and our desire to please Him when we choose to forgive. He completes the work in His time. Our task is to keep on forgiving by faith until the work of forgiveness is completed in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in every heart of a Saved Christian.

"being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" (Philippians 1:6)

How do we know if we have truly forgiven?

I have read about the story of Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian woman who survived a Nazi concentration camp during the Holocaust, said, "Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you." Apart from exercising Biblical forgiveness, she would never be able to experience true liberation from being imprisoned by her own predicaments. She chose to forgive and that set her free.

We will know the work of forgiveness is complete when we experience the freedom, healing, and peace that comes as a result. We suffer the most when we choose not to forgive. When we do forgive, the LORD sets our hearts free from the bitterness, anger, resentment, and hurt that previously held us captive.

We need to bear in mind, that forgiveness takes time, and so for the results to come.

"Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22)

The LORD Jesus makes it clear that forgiveness is not easy for us. Forgiveness may require a lifetime of forgiving, but it is important to the LORD. We must never cease to forgive until the matter is settled in our heart.

What if the person we need to forgive is not a Saved Christian?

I have found that prayer is one of the best ways to break down the wall of unforgiveness in my heart. When I begin to pray for the person who has wronged me, God gives me new eyes to see and a new heart to care for that person. As I pray, I start to see that person as God sees them, and I realize that he or she is precious to the LORD. I also see myself in a new light, just as guilty of sin and failure as the other person. I too am in need of forgiveness. If God did not withhold His forgiveness towards me, why should I withhold my forgiveness towards another? "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Is it okay to feel anger and want justice for the person we need to forgive?

This question presents another reason to pray for the person we need to forgive. We can pray for God to deal with the injustices, for God to judge the person's life, and then we can leave that prayer at the altar. We no longer have to carry the anger. Although it is normal for us to feel anger toward sin and injustice, it is not our task to judge the other person in their sin.

"Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord." (Romans 12:19)

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)

"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:37)

Why do we need to forgive?

We need to forgive because the LORD Jesus commanded us to forgive. We learn from Scripture, if we don't forgive, neither will we be forgiven:

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15)

We also forgive so that our prayers will not be hampered:

"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." (Mark 11:25)

In conclusion, we practice forgiveness out of obedience to the LORD. It is a command, not a choice, an important task we need to do. As we forgive, we discover the command is in place for our own good, and we reap the reward of our forgiveness—freedom, peace, healing, and blessings from God. As the Lord Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through Him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38-39)

All glory and honor to Christ, my Lord and my Saviour!