Forgiveness

During a recent Sunday Morning Bible Class there was a discussion of how proper "Forgiveness" is appropriate in our daily lives.

We then focused on Matthew Chapter 6, versus 14 and 15, which I will quote here:

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also firgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Thus it is often understood that in order to receive forgiveness of your sins from God it is required that we must forgive the sins of those who sin against us. 

As we discussed this topic we investigated Holy Scripture further to learn that our God is a loving God and that he forgives us our sins when we ask him for forgiveness.  We cannot perform any actions to receive or warrant this forgiveness from our God. 

Therefore we concluded that God forgives us for our sins because He loves us.  We cannot ever perform any actions to earn God's great love.

That stated, as followers and believers in God it should be our mission to forgive others who have sinned against us.  By doing this we are bearing witness to others of God's Great Love for us.  If we do not witness God's great love for us out of gratitude we are simply ignoring His Great Commission contained in Matthew Chapter 28 in the final three verses.

Thus we concluded that it is of great comfort to know that our God, our Savior forgives us because he Loves us and all we have to do is believe in Him and confess our Sins.  We do not ever earn any forgiveness because of our actions.