Holding on to Him

In the second letter that the Apostle Paul sent to Timothy, his son in the faith, he tells him, "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come." (2 Timothy 3:1) Paul then proceeds to reveal to Timothy of the great apostasy which was to be expected in the church. He continues on and states several of the characteristics of what was coming. One of the definitions of the word perilous is, "exposed to imminent risk of disaster or ruin." Now we know that the church will never be ruined, because it is Christ's Body, His Bride and He most definitely loves an protects His Bride. However, this does not mean that Satan is not working against it, simply that a number of believers will fall prey to his schemes which are the works of the flesh. (Compare 2 Timothy 3:1-4 with Galatians 5:19-21 and see the similarities)  

Although all of the characteristics listed in 2 Timothy 3:1-4 are certainly destructive, two of the main ones that I believe have captured many believers for some time are "unloving and unforgiving." If we were to look at 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (the characteristics of the God kind of love), we would notice that if believers lived in this kind of love daily, which we should (Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22), apostasy would never get place in the church. If every believer operated in the God kind of love, then the other characteristic, unforgiveness, would never have become the stronghold that it has become among some many of God's children. Unforgiveness is “a grudge that one person holds against someone who has offended them and is unwilling to exercise compassion or love from the heart towards the person who brought the offense, to totally forgive them."

Jesus spoke many times concerning unforgiveness (offenses). He told us, "It is impossible that no offenses should come." (Luke 17:1) Jesus goes on to tell us no matter how many times a person offends (sins against) us, we are to forgive them. Look what the apostles ask Jesus after hearing this, "Lord, Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5) This is the only place in the New testament where Jesus' apostles ask Him to increase their faith. Even when Jesus sent them out to go to the towns in Israel to preach, heal, cast out demons and raise the dead, they did not ask to have their faith increased. By this we can see that it take more faith to forgive and let go of offenses than it does to walk in the supernatural ministry of Christ. 

One day Jesus was hungry and passing by a fig tree he found nothing on it but leaves. In response Jesus said to the fig tree, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." (Mark 11:12-14) The next morning Jesus and the apostles passed by the fig tree and Peter comments on how the fig tree had dried up from the roots. Jesus then speaks to them concerning the power of faith, "So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Mark 11:22-24) This passage of scripture is most likely the most used scripture when talking about faith and rightfully so. This passage of scripture points out three very important things, faith, doubt, and the words that we speak, (say).

However, Jesus does not stop here. He continues saying, "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." (Mark 11:25-26) Why did Jesus say this? Not only was He teaching us the power of faith, but how holding a grudge (an offense) or unforgiveness in ones heart will keep faith (literally the God kind of faith that Jesus is talking about in Mark 11:22) from working. This is serious business. We need to forgive so that our Heavenly Father can forgive us. 

Unfortunately, there are some believers who cannot accept this truth. They will contend that it is harsh and that God is a God of grace and love and would not hold this against His people. He is certainly full of grace and love, but He is also a God of justice. (Job 37:23; Romans 3:26) Jesus was saying these things to those who were His followers. If you are a follower of Jesus then He is speaking these things to you (us) also. This is not an isolated teaching of Jesus concerning unforgiveness. In Matthews Gospel, Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, He continues, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15) To forgive others and let go of offenses is not an option or some concept that we can take or leave, it is a command from the Lord. 

Jesus again talks about unforgiveness at length in Matthew 18:15-20. He speaks of forgiving a fellow believer who has sinned against us (offended us) and then continues with a parable in Matthew 18:21-35. There are some important keys revealed to us in verses 33 through 35, "Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?" (Verse 33) The king in the story forgave the man of an insurmountable debt, yet the man turned around and showed absolutely no compassion on his fellow servant who had only a small penny ante debt in comparison. "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him." (Verse 34) Unforgiveness breeds torment in the very soul of a person. Finally, Jesus says "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." (Verse 35)       

God has forgiven each one of us of an insurmountable debt, a debt that no human ever born could ever pay. Think about it. Jesus was arrested, scourged, beaten, spit upon, beard ripped out, mocked, had a crown of thrones forced on His head; made to walk approximately three miles through the streets of Jerusalem with a one hundred and twenty five pound wood beam on His beaten bloody body and finally stripped naked and nailed to the cross and yet He was completely innocent. Then after hanging on the cross for six hours every sin of man and all the sicknesses of man was placed upon Him. (Isaiah 53:4-6, 10; 1 Peter 2:24) Because Jesus became sin with our sin, His Father would have to forsake Him. (Matthew 27:46) Yet, from the cross, His body filled with unimaginable, horrific physical pain that was coursing throughout His entire body, He said, "Father forgive them for they do not know what they do." (Luke 23:34)        

Jesus wants us to know that no matter what others have done to us, no matter how deep an offense may have hurt us, we must forgive them as God has forgiven us. We must let go of every and any offense at all cost. If we are going to walk in faith then we must walk in God's love towards everyone, even those who may have or will offend us. We must not let our weak flesh have place, but let our spirit have the dominion and completely forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us. (Ephesians 4:32) Forgiveness is not just words from our mouth, but we are to forgive as God does, "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. (Offenses)" (Isaiah 43:25) If need be, let us do as the apostles did when Jesus spoke to them concerning offenses. They asked Him, "Lord, increase our faith." 

The unsaved are depending on the church to be an example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So, let us do exactly that. Let us love all others, brothers and sister in the Lord as well as the unsaved so that the Name of Jesus is magnified. Let go, at all cost, any and all of the unforgiveness that you may have in your heart. You can do this! Simply meditate on what Jesus did for us. Look at His struggles from the Garden of Gethsemane to His agony and horrific physical suffering. See Him hanging naked on the cross, His body so beaten and bloodied that He did not look human (Isaiah 52:14). Hear His most wonderful cry from the cross for us all, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do" and be free from a broken, tormented heart! "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)

May the peace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ overtake us and fill us to overflowing, that we can walk free of offenses and help others to do the same.