After a person has been forgiven, they need to forgive.
In one of his most devastating parables, Jesus taught that forgiveness can be forfeited and cancelled! It is often called ‘The Unmerciful Servant’ (Matthew 18:21-35).
The King who reimposed his courtier’s debt and prison sentence after learning that he refused to exercise the same leniency over a far lesser sum is a picture of God himself. ‘This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart’ (note that words are not enough if insincere). This explains the petition for forgiveness in the daily prayer of disciples: ‘Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us’ (Luke 11:4) and the beatitude: ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy’ (Matthew 5:7).
It is not that to forgive the sin of someone else is to earn or deserve forgiveness for one’s own sins. It is simply a spiritual law that those who are unwilling to show mercy to others are incapable of receiving it themselves. Like electricity, it cannot flow into a person if it can’t flow through and out of them again.
There are other limitations and conditions associated with forgiveness but enough has been said to show that it is not necessarily complete or permanent, as many have assumed. This makes it all the more amazing when it is received and retained. Forgiveness makes eternal life possible.
By Derek Prince
Biblical Teaching to Equip Every Christian 