“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 1:13

Matthew 6:14-15
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
– Matthew 6:14-15
Main Thought: This statement of Christ to his disciples follows immediately after the Model Prayer, in which Jesus says for them to say “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). Forgiveness of others is difficult when we have been wronged by another. The tendency we have before salvation is that of desiring to get even, to see vengeance exacted upon those who have wronged us. But what Christ is speaking of here is not the heart or desire of the sinful man, but it is the heart and desire of a child of God, one who has been forgiven of his or her sins. The great forgiveness of our sins that we have experienced, Jesus is saying here, is that there is a willingness in our hearts to forgive others. It is not always easy, but think of the fact that we were forgiven of our sins eternally, and we should certainly be willing to forgive sins against us which are very temporary in nature. Our Lord demonstrated the example of this type of forgiveness on the Cross when he said in Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He suffered the greatest wrong ever done against anyone who has ever walked the earth, and yet he asked His Father to forgive them. Should we not do the same? Should we not manifest the forgiveness we have received by manifesting forgiveness toward others? A spirit of unforgiveness, and a refusal to forgive, indicates someone who has never experienced the forgiveness of God. Look at what Paul says in Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Perhaps even now you are struggling with forgiving some wrong done against you, even by a brother or sister in Christ. Our calling as a child of God is to forgive those who have sinned against us, and not to hold on to that unforgiveness. Forgive that trespass, and demonstrate to others the forgiveness that God has so greatly bestowed on you.

David Webber
David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.

More from David Webber
1 Peter 1:13
2 Corinthians 8:9
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9
Job 14:1-2
“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.” – Job 14:1-2
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
Proverbs 28:13
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” – Proverbs 28:13
Psalm 119:41-42
“Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me.” – Psalm 119:41-42
Psalm 86:9
“All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.” – Psalm 86:9 (ESV)
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” – 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV)