Our theme of “Good Works” focuses on “Forgiveness for the month of September. We are all familiar with the New Testament’s teaching on forgiveness. It has many exhortations, examples, and commandments concerning the practice of forgiving. The subject of forgiveness is a great and wonderful study in the Bible. All mankind stands in need of God’s forgiveness and the only way through which mankind can have forgiveness is through the blood of Christ. As I’ve said many times the greatest example of forgiveness are the words Jesus uttered on the cross as He was about to die: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34). Such compassion and forgiveness shown toward mankind!

Can we forgive like Jesus? Our capacity to forgive is directly tied to our salvation. “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions” (Matt. 6:14-15). “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions” (Mark 11:25). Forgiveness might be something we don’t give out easily, but oh, how we want it when we have offended. We plead for forgiveness from God, yet we might not be prepared to extend the level of forgiveness we have received to others.