Forgiveness only happens with Forgiveness
 

We all know these verses but I don't think anyone ever ponders enough on their doctrinal significance.

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.


Repentance and baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit aren't enough. We must forgive others or we will not be forgiven. How does this reconcile with the thought that we are forgiven by Christ dying for our sins? Was Christ's death alone not enough, must we still forgive others in order to obtain forgiveness as Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15?

Any thoughts or opinions or comments?

Re: Forgiveness only happens with Forgiveness
 

You can be a forgiving person but without faith in Christ and obedience to the gospel, you still cannot obtain forgiveness.
Forgiving others is part of becoming Christlike. It doesn't mean that you earn God's forgiveness because of your "act" of forgiving others. An unforgiving spirit is rooted in pride. And pride is sin. One cannot be proud and repentant at the same time.

Re: Forgiveness only happens with Forgiveness
 

I never implied you could.

But Jesus said we would not be forgiven if we did not forgive others. Call it what you want but if you want forgiveness you better be doing what Jesus says is required.

Re: Forgiveness only happens with Forgiveness
 

Yup. And I didn't say it was implied in your post either. :-) Just sharing my thoughts on the subject. And let me add... I'm not sure if it's even possible for a person to receive the Holy Ghost if he is harboring bitterness in his heart.

Re: Forgiveness only happens with Forgiveness
 

Well if he's repented and been baptized then it's promised to him. So I guess we better put this back at repentance. Do you really believe a person must forgive every single person that has wronged them or that they didn't truly repent?

Re: Forgiveness only happens with Forgiveness
 

If a person is aware that he has not forgiven someone, and chooses to harbor an unforgiving attitude, he has not truly repented. If he will allow the Lord to search his heart, the Lord will call his attention on certain things or situations that he needs to surrender to Him, including forgiving everyone that has wronged him.

Re: Forgiveness only happens with Forgiveness
 

amen
What is 'faith in Christ,' or 'obedience to the Gospel?' I submit that these are some religious words, that religious people say--quite possibly even meaning them; and even in those cases, quite possibly hypocritical. So, i look for forgiving people, over the other, to be called 'faithful servant.'

"With the measure you use, it will be measured to you," so I'm not sure how you might justify this statement? Although surely i am just lost in the semantics here, i think the first one may largely come from the other two. Or wholly.

Re: Forgiveness only happens with Forgiveness
 

amen, and trust that all the other is only just words to get one to see this. Many, many, will be called 'faithful servant' who never said the words we consider essential for salvation. While Scripture in places would seem to place great importance upon these words, i think it is to the concept that the words speak, and It also describes this concept in many places as not being relevant to what phrases one says, but what one does. You cannot accept Christ with your mouth.

Re: Forgiveness only happens with Forgiveness
 

I think the chambers of a man's heart can hide many, many things.

GOD may know about them, but a man may not know his own heart.

I think a person can be saved, in spite of what is going on deep in the recesses of man's heart.

God's Plan for a man's life has many twists and turns sometimes.

Re: Forgiveness only happens with Forgiveness
 

UNforgiveness hinders our prayers.

Mar 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mar 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.