How to forgive your brother

Forgiveness is possibly the most difficult issue, not only in the church, but in every sense of the word. Within our churches it should not be a difficult word to assimilate, since Christianity is about forgiveness. Before answering how we learn to forgive, we must understand why we should forgive.

We must forgive because Christ forgave us, extending grace even when faced with our sinful nature. Christ’s forgiveness was unconditional, setting the precedent for us to forgive others. If Christ pardoned our grievous sins, should we not extend the same grace to our brethren?

For Jesus, forgiveness was vital in the life of a believer, and He taught this and wanted the people to receive that teaching well:

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:21-22

This profound response signifies that forgiveness has no bounds. We aren’t meant to tally the times we forgive but to understand that forgiveness is boundless; we should forgive indefinitely.

The key to forgiving lies in understanding Christ’s boundless forgiveness for us, even as sinners.

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By Joseph Montas

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