YOUR RIGHT TO FORGIVE OR NOT TO FORGIVE

In Christ Jesus, we have been granted much grace and freedom to exercise divine authority in our own favour or the way we want to. In short, Christians are free people in Christ and we are positioned in the highest realm. We are no longer subject to the Old Testament Law, and our true purpose and authority are not determined by works but by the finished work of Christ.

Reference: John 20:20-23 New International Version (NIV) "After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples who were together in a room, on the evening of the first day of the week, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders. After greeting them, Jesus showed them His hands and side. As the disciples were overjoyed that they saw the Lord, Jesus said to them, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Today, we have the same Great Commission as an instruction from the Lord Jesus Christ, to spread the glorious gospel to all the nations of the world. We are commissioned to share it with the lost and to show them the way to heaven, and we go about the mission with the Holy Spirit resident inside us, guiding us as we share His truth. In the process, we are required to tell people that the only way to be forgiven and to receive their salvation is through faith. As they believe and accept the gospel, we can forgive their sins and lead them to their salvation. Also, we could honestly tell those who did not believe in the message that their sins were not forgiven and that they stand condemned in God's eyes.

But here is the main point: Before Jesus' death and resurrection, Peter once came to Him and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times (see Matthew 18:22). In another Scripture, He said, "if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (see Matthew 6:14-15 NIV).

After His resurrection, its no longer a matter of "dos" and "don'ts", because our faith is now based on what He has done for us. In other words, our authority is exercised based on His finished works, not on what we do, or if we forgive or not. Jesus has paid the full price; He has now given us an undeserved love and unconditional authority at such a high personal cost to Himself! And because of the sacrifice involved, this is now part of the authority: "If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Beloved, as Christians we have such a higher authority. However, we stand in grace, and so, in terms of forgiveness, God still expects us to choose the better way, which is to keep our hearts pure toward others, not holding grudges. No wonder Peter explained in 1 Peter 2:16 (NLT): "For you are free, yet you are God's slaves, so don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil." This also implies that though we are free to use Christ's authority in our favour, our freedom as God's people should not be used in justifying wrong or evil choices. To do so shows that we are training ourselves to use our freedom in the negative or as cover-up for evil. But most importantly, we must understand that we are totally free as children of God to exercise our authority in Christ anytime, to our advantage.

Scripture Reading - Galatians 3:22; 1 Corinthians 6:12; Galatian 5:1; 2 Corinthian 3:17; Ephesians 3:12; Galatians 5:13-14.

Exuberant Declaration: I am free in Christ, and I live as God's set-apart and special person. I'm a chosen generation, a royal priesthood and a holy nation, and by divine mandate, I'm commissioned to proclaim in my world, the praises and virtues of God who called me out of darkness into His marvellous light. As a king and a priest unto God, the words of my mouth are spirit and life, and I'm authorised to forgive sins. Praise God!