Does Christ save those who will not forgive others?

[RedTent]

I recently received a letter fr0m a person very dear to me telling me that I will never be forgiven. There are several people this person will never forgive.

Do you think it is possible to carry this against others and still be saved? Christ died for our sins, He will forgive, and we can live with Him forever. But I read the following scripture and I am concerned about this person’s status with the Lord. What do you think?

Mat 6:14"For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.
Mat 6:15But if you don't forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.

When Christ came back from the grave He gave the disciples the Holy Spirit and told them this:
John 20:22 After saying this, He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
John 20:23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

I don’t understand this scripture. Does it mean that I could intercede for this person?

 

[WolfInOxHide]

John 20:23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

I don’t understand this scripture. Does it mean that I could intercede for this person?

Yes. Do you believe the Son of man is able to forgive sins on earth?

There are many Sons of men, not just one.

Men do their works.
Sons of men do their father's works.
Including forgiveness.

"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

It is my understanding that when you forgive them, for example, for telling you those terrible judgmental words that you would not be forgiven...

Then your Father in heaven will honor His half of the covenant, and forgive as you forgive, and that person will not receive the re-visitation of that sin, the way they would have if you had not forgiven them.

I believe this is a key element of Christianity that is not taught.
Power in Christ.
Change the whole game for some though wouldn't it?

What you bind on earth will be bound in heaven.

So...

Peace!

 

[loveme1]

Is there anything you could do that could change the persons heart?

It may be that something is yet to come to pass to bring this person to forgive you.

If we are forgiven then we must forgive others for we have no stand.


Matthew 18

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

 

[damombomb]

John 20:22 After saying this, He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
John 20:23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
If we don't forgive someone, they retain or keep that sin, but if we forgive them they are loosed from that sin

 

[RedTent]

=loveme1 Is there anything you could do that could change the persons heart?

It may be that something is yet to come to pass to bring this person to forgive you.

If we are forgiven then we must forgive others for we have no stand.


Matthew 18

This is my sister, and this has lasted over 50 years. I tried everything I could think of, her resentments of me are very deep, and are quite silly. I am supposed to have told her daughter she wasn't wanted!! Imagine! I certainly would not tell my neice that! What made her think so those many, many years ago I can not imagine. Or that my daughter didn't want any children at her wedding almost 50 years ago, and my daughter really did ask that guests not bring children. Of course I asked for forgiveness!! Many, many times.
I even tried knitting a sweater for her with a prayer blessing for her with every one of the thousands of stitches!

At this point, the important thing is not our relationdship. The issue is her life with our Lord. She goes to church and believes in Christ.

We are ekerly now, and I will have to accept that she will carry this to her grave. I am concerned for her.

 

[loveme1]

This is my sister, and this has lasted over 50 years. I tried everything I could think of, her resentments of me are very deep, and are quite silly. I am supposed to have told her daughter she wasn't wanted!! Imagine! I certainly would not tell my neice that! What made her think so those many, many years ago I can not imagine. Or that my daughter didn't want any children at her wedding almost 50 years ago, and my daughter really did ask that guests not bring children. Of course I asked for forgiveness!! Many, many times.
I even tried knitting a sweater for her with a prayer blessing for her with every one of the thousands of stitches!

At this point, the important thing is not our relationdship. The issue is her life with our Lord. She goes to church and believes in Christ.

We are ekerly now, and I will have to accept that she will carry this to her grave. I am concerned for her.

does she know that you love her?

 

[loveme1]

Sometimes what seems silly to us actually is quite hurtful to others, i myself have learnt this often in 29 years.

i'm not sure but did you ask your sister to not bring her daughter to the wedding? is that what upset her?

 

[Indubitably]

The question is so critical because so many of us live in unforgiveness, even though we declare we have forgiven. Well Redtent, the scriptures you posted are not given to us as options. If we want to be forgiven, we must forgive. And the forgiveness must be complete and without reservation. When we obey these scriptures, we come, clean before the Lord and there is nothing standing in the way of His forgiving us.

We make all kinds of excuses and arguments, but I would not want to risk all of eternity with Jesus because I failed to forgive!

 

[loveme1]

i believe Redtent is genuinely concerned for her sister.

Scripture is clear we are Forgiven and must forgive.

The concern here is what is stopping Redtent's sister from forgiving.

 

[RedTent]

=loveme1; ]Sometimes what seems silly to us actually is quite hurtful to others, i myself have learnt this often in 29 years.

i'm not sure but did you ask your sister to not bring her daughter to the wedding? is that what upset

My sister tells me I don't love her, I tell her I do and try to show my love any way I can. That is difficult as she has asked that I have nothing to do with her.

Of course I didn't tell her not to bring her children to my daughter's wedding. My daughter didn't ask me about thiis decision she made, and she didn't think that anyone would have hurt feelings. She made this decision because of very personal reasons having nothing at all to do with her cousins. It was on the invitation to the wedding that everyone had.

 

[crossnote]

Does Christ save those who will not forgive others?

He doesn't have us clean up our act first and then forgives us.
We see ourselves as sinners, cry out for forgiveness of our sins and He is just and faithful to forgive us.
Having been forgiven and having received the new nature we freely forgive others. If we harbor unforgiveness as Christians God will deal with us as His children reminding us of the pit from which He rescued us.

 

[loveme1]

My sister tells me I don't love her, I tell her I do and try to show my love any way I can. That is difficult as she has asked that I have nothing to do with her.

Of course I didn't tell her not to bring her children to my daughter's wedding. My daughter didn't ask me about thiis decision she made, and she didn't think that anyone would have hurt feelings. She made this decision because of very personal reasons having nothing at all to do with her cousins. It was on the invitation to the wedding that everyone had.

May Yahvah God and Yahshua the Messiah bring peace and forgiveness to your relationship.

 

[jkalyna]

I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO ON THIS DEAR SISTER IN THE LORD. JESUS TELLS US IN [LUKE: 8 21} MY MOTHER AND BROTHER ARE THOSE WHO DO WHAT THE WORD SAYS. GOING TO CHURCH IS NOTHING, COULD BE JUST RELIGIOUS. THERE IS A PERSON THAT IS ACTING EXACTLY LIKE YOUR SISTER IN MY FAMILY. SHE DOSN'T SPEAK TO US, AND WRITES NASTY LETTERS. THESE THINGS COULD BREAK YOUR HEART, AND PROBABLY HAS. I THINK YOUR A GREAT WITNESS HERE FOR CHRIST, AND WOULD WANT YOU TO STAY. THIS IS JUST A TACTIC, TO MAKE YOU FEEL CONDEMED AND UNWORTHY OF LOVE AND FELLOWSHIP. WE CAN NOT CHANGE PEOPLE'S HEARTS. WE CAN PRAY FOR THEM, AND LET GO OF THIS SITUATION. WE CANNOT JUDGE HER, SHE CAN SAY ONE THING BUT NOT MEAN IT. JESUS SAYS SOME TOUGH STRONGE WORDS, "' LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD". SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING. BE STRONGE, AND LET YOUR WILL BE STRONGE, LEAVE IT IN THE LORDS HANDS. YOUR A BLESSINGS, AND LOVED. HUGS. SHALOM. PEACE. IN YESHUAS, JESUS'S NAME. MAY HE GIVE YOU JOY, AND PEACE ABOUT THIS, MAY THE HOLY SPIRIT COMFORT YOU. WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOUR SISTER, PRAY FOR MINE.