Forgiveness is the key to peace
To forgive is not only to give up claim or resentment we have against our offenders but also to bring them healing. Jesus tells us to love our enemy, help those who hurt us and pray for our persecutors (Luke 6: 27-36). We should forgive without limit. If we do not forgive each of our offenders from our heart (Matt. 18, 35) we do not have His Spirit in our heart. Furthermore, in order to accept God's mercy (which brings us Heaven) we have to believe in it by showing the same mercy to others (Matt. 6: 14-15).
Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth (Isaiah 53: 5 &7). Furthermore, during his suffering and death he forgave his persecutors (Luke 23:34); and was concerned about the suffering they would bring upon themselves by their sins rather than his own suffering (Luke 23:28).
To forgive is not only to give up claim or resentment we have against our offenders but also to bring them healing. Jesus tells us to love our enemy, help those who hurt us and pray for our persecutors (Luke 6: 27-36). We should forgive without limit. If we do not forgive each of our offenders from our heart (Matt. 18, 35) we do not have His Spirit in our heart. Furthermore, in order to accept God's mercy (which brings us Heaven) we have to believe in it by showing the same mercy to others (Matt. 6: 14-15).
Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth (Isaiah 53: 5 &7). Furthermore, during his suffering and death he forgave his persecutors (Luke 23:34); and was concerned about the suffering they would bring upon themselves by their sins rather than his own suffering (Luke 23:28).
