The forgiveness of mankind cost God His only begotten Son. It cost the Son His life and His blood. It cost His mother a Son, her firstborn for that matter. It cost His family a life.

Before the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus Christ, the sins of men had to be covered, because the blood of animals could not completely take away iniquity.

The dead were kept in a compartment in hell called Abraham’s bosom until the atonement was fulfilled and the price was fully paid. They were then transferred to Paradise above.

What does forgiving your brother cost you?

Forgiveness cost Stephen, one of Christ’s disciples, his very life. Even while he was being stoned, he prayed for those who persecuted him.

What is the gravity of the offence committed against you that will not allow you to forgive others?

There are things we call offences that are not necessarily harmful to our destiny. Some are part of the processes through which God leads us to the fulfilment of our destiny.

Joseph understood this very well. Without what his brothers did to him, he would not have risen to the position of prime minister in a strange land, nor would he have been in a position to preserve his family during the famine.

Jesus also knew that what was done to Him was part of the fulfilment of the mission for which He was sent: the salvation of mankind. Therefore, He prayed for His persecutors, saying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

If you knew the kind of danger that was removed from your life through that betrayal, instead of fighting your enemy and keeping them trapped in your heart, you would begin to praise God and pray for them.

Forgiveness is not easy to give unless you have the Spirit of Christ in you. That is why Jesus asked, “Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?”

But this is what Jesus did for us. Otherwise, all of us would have been on the road to hell without looking back because of the things we have done to arouse divine anger.

Yet Jesus Christ, in His infinite mercy, desires to forgive, wipe away our sins, and remember them no more. If we desire God to forgive us, why should we not also learn to forgive others and refuse to hold their offences against them?

We do not want God to count our sins against us. Why, then, should we count the sins of others against them?

Someone who sins against you seven times and still returns to ask for forgiveness may be struggling with his weaknesses. That is why you should pray for him rather than hold him captive in your heart through unforgiveness.

How much more should we, who continually err against God’s Word and come before Him repeatedly to ask for forgiveness, understand that God is merciful toward us, knowing that we are human beings who still live in this nature?

This should be done with respect for His name and honour, remembering that we are still human beings who need His mercy daily to live successful lives without continually sinning against Him.

The person who recognises what he has done and still comes to ask for forgiveness is demonstrating respect for you, regardless of how many times he has offended you.

Forgiveness means that the offence is no longer held against the offender before the throne of judgment, and the accusation is silenced. If God forgives you, who can then use your past against you to condemn you before the law?

When you forgive your brother, you should not continue to bring the offence back into the relationship. Even if he offends you repeatedly, as long as he genuinely comes to ask for forgiveness, you should forgive him.

How many times have you asked God to forgive you in a single day?

A person who is under the direction of the Holy Spirit should not desire to hold on to an offence. He understands that the enemy can use unforgiveness against him if he refuses to confess, repent, and seek forgiveness.

This teaches us something about the mercy of God. As long as we are alive, we are capable of making mistakes, and God remains willing to pardon us when we genuinely repent, no matter how many times we return to Him.

However, do not take God’s mercy for granted. His mercy is not a licence to continue in sin. Those who deliberately persist in sin and mock God will face the consequences of their actions.

Forgive as you have been forgiven. Show mercy as you have received mercy. And remember that the same God who refuses to count your sins against you expects you to learn not to hold the offences of others against them.

Prayer: Father lord, give me the grace to forgive others as you have forgiven me, in Jesus’ name, amen.