Consequences of Unforgiveness – Forgiveness Part 7

ByJim Stephens

Scripture:  Matthew 6 (Click Link)

12 Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. 14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:12-15 NLT)

Dangerous but avoidable consequences of not receiving God’s forgiveness by grace through faith, and not forgiving others as God has forgiven us:

  • Unforgiveness hinders our prayers, our spiritual growth, and our relationship with God. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. (Mark 11:25)
  • Unforgiveness breaks relationships. You can’t relate openly and honestly with people you haven’t forgiven. It also becomes difficult to develop close, honest, vulnerable relationships with others, even those who haven’t offended you.
  • Unforgiveness splits your world into two categories: Those “friends” who will carry your offense with you, and those “deserters” who won’t. The “will carries” are good, the “won’t carries” are bad.
  • Unforgiveness eventually becomes resentment, and resentment becomes bitterness, a preventable but deadly cancer of the soul. What began as a sin against you becomes a deadly sickness within you.
  • Unforgiveness causes us emotional, physical, and spiritual damage. Refusing to forgive is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
  • Unforgiveness destroys our ability to trust. First we can’t trust the offender. Then we can’t trust anyone who reminds us of the offender. Then we can’t trust anyone. Eventually, we can’t even trust God.
  • Unforgiveness puts us in bondage. When we don’t forgive and release the offender from judgment, we are in bondage, unable to be free. We become judge, jury, and jailer. Jailers are in jail, too, you know! Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:37)

Three Rules of Unforgiveness:

  1. You are only hurting yourself when you do not totally forgive from the heart.
  2. You are only hurting yourself when you do not totally forgive from the heart.
  3. You are only hurting yourself when you do not totally forgive from the heart.

Prayer:

Father, Please forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. Amen.