Forgiveness Comes from Unity
Forgiveness is at the same time the easiest and most difficult part of every relationship. It is easy because we desire to be united with those from whom we are estranged. It is difficult because our pride always gets in the way. Unity is the key to all forgiveness.
The Lord said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; and large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.
Matthew 18:18-22;19:1-2; 13-15
Notice first off, that Christ was not asked about forgiving a total stranger. “How often shall my BROTHER sin against me.” Whether the ‘sinner’ is a physical brother or spiritual brother, the same unity is implied.
We are in a relationship with those who sin against us. Either we are united by blood, or through Christ, but we are united. Embracing true unity is the first step toward forgiveness and reconciliation. Let’s look even closer at our unity.
Brethren, just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single organ, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all the members suffer together; if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice together.
1st Corinthians 12.12-26
In this passage from Saint Paul, we see a deeper understanding of our unity with each other. “If one member suffers, all the members suffer together.” Without forgiveness, what is left but pain and suffering? Without forgiveness, BOTH suffer.
Ready for another challenge? Force yourself to see the unity that already exists between you and the one who ‘sins’ against you. The ONLY one please when that unity is broken is the devil. For the sake of unity, but at minimum to defeat the devil, choose to forgive.
Choose unity over division, and forgiveness over resentment. Hold each other’s hearts rather grudges. If all else fails, remember the world turned against Christ too, and He forgave. Be like Christ, not like the devil. Forgive like your soul depends upon it, because it does.
