John 20:23: If you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven. If you retain people’s sins, they are retained.

When someone sins and you do not forgive them; then you retain these sins and the person remains un-forgiven. Scripture teaches that the Lord cannot and will not forgive us of our sins unless we first forgive those who have sinned against us. This is reiterated in the Lord’s Prayer and it is important to note this.

This is not easy and it is difficult to forgive an unrepentant sinner of the harm they have caused. This difficulty causes us to retain people’s sins and this becomes a heavy burden to bear. When we forgive we transfer that burden onto the Lord and He carries the weight of that sin setting us free from the person that sinned against us!

Be encouraged today to forgive others that you are free of retaining the hurt caused by that sin.

David

Point to ponder: Forgiveness sets free.

Question to consider: Do you sometimes find it difficult to forgive?