How can someone align such a doctrine with new covenant grace? How can your stubbornness to forgive others make void the blood of Jesus Christ? How powerful is your heart! As if your lack of forgiveness towards others puts a dam up, stopping the blood of Christ from washing over you. How self-righteous to think that your salvation is dependent upon your goodness, and your generosity to forgive those that have wronged you (in whatever small way).
People will say that Jesus said that if we don't forgive others, then our heavenly Father won't forgive us and this is true that he spoke such words. However, he said this pre-cross or before sacrificing himself on the cross and then resurrecting on the third day. So you see, you must acknowledge there was a changing of covenants taking place. From the old into the new, from self-righteousness to imputed righteousness (grace).
You will notice that in the OT Law, there were many forms of doing something in order to receive something. Blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Do instead of done (finished). Right? So if you don't forgive someone (the do) then you won't be forgiven (the curse). But if you do forgive (the do) you will be forgiven (the blessing). But what do we say of the verses that go contrary to these pre-cross words of Jesus? What do we say to His grace that says done, instead of do?
Ephesians 4:32King James Version (KJV)
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
"What is this?", you say. You forgive others because "God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." You say, "Wait, what? I am forgiven and therefore I forgive others? But don't I have to forgive in order to be forgiven?" Do you see the change in covenants taking place? From a place of do, to a place of done, by grace. Here is another verse to make the point all the clearer.
Colossians 3:13King James Version (KJV)
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Do you see it? He forgave you. Its done. You don't need to forgive in order to receive forgiveness because Christ has already forgiven you. Its done. You forgive because of this and a number of other reasons. You are coming from a place of forgiveness, Jesus is your example. Forgive as He forgives. Love, as he loves. You are forgiven.
This doctrine of forgiving in order to be forgiven makes the Gospel of Grace into a gospel of self-righteousness. It makes it your responsibility to save yourself, when Jesus is the Author and Finisher of your faith. The doctrine undermines the finished work of the cross done by Jesus Christ. If we had to forgive in order to be forgiven we would not be saved by Jesus but by our own ability and willingness to forgive. We would be saving ourselves, as if Jesus has passed us the baton and said the rest is up to us. No, the rest is where we started in Christ. In His rest. In His grace, better said, in Him. We finish where we started, and that is by faith in Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:11King James Version (KJV)
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
That YOU are!
