Dearest Brothers and Sisters, It is GOD’s desire that you become transformed into His image (into His likeness Gen 1:26,27).

One of the characteristics that we as God’s children should and must carry is His power to forgive.

1. Forgiveness is an important nature of GOD

Exodus 34:4-6 “…as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone. And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth"

GOD Himself proclaimed His nature to Moses on Mt. Sinai and He starts His proclamation by saying He is ‘merciful and gracious’.

Paul writes in Eph 2:4, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us”

Is your love rich in forgiveness? Show forgiveness and be rich in mercy.

In doing so, you become transformed in the image, in the likeness of GOD your Father.

2. Forgive others just as CHRIST forgave you: (Col 3:13, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”)

After His resurrection, CHRIST showed Peter and the His disciples what true forgiveness is. Every disciple except for John fled away from the LORD during His difficult time including Peter who denied the LORD JESUS 3 times.

We must carefully note that not even once, JESUS spoke about the past when He visited them later- not once.

He came to them and spoke to them with the same love He spoke to them few days ago at the last supper.

CHRIST’s love never changes when provoked by man’s unfaithfulness and so must you as a CHRISTIAN live. You must be like CHRIST in 'forgiveness'.

Is there something or someone you cannot forgive? ‘If the blood of JESUS cannot forgive the sin of another person, it cannot forgive your sin’.The blood has the power to forgive. Meditate on the blood and this nature of CHRIST will be seen in your life without which you will not be a true CHRIST-IAN.

3. Forgive to Glorify GOD: “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinth 6:20).

Do you desire to Glorify GOD your Father in all you do?

Forgiveness brings glory to GOD. Jesus said, John 15:8, “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” The fruit of Forgiveness can only be found in those who continue to walk with Jesus. Math 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven”.

• Forgiveness cleanses you: Jesus teaches, Math 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

Jesus teaches that you can only be forgiven to the same extent you are ready to forgive. Do you know what this means? You won’t be forgiven if you do not forgive. “and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.” (Luke 11:4).

Forgive others so you will be forgiven. A very important story:

Mathew 18: 21-35, “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will 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-seven times. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred penny, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed. 35That is how My Heavenly Father will treat each of you, unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Jesus used the word, ‘tortured until you repay’ It is important we forgive people as the lack of forgiveness causes many problems with an open door for devil, sickness to enter in.

Next time, taking part in the Lord’s supper, imagine how God has forgiven your sins by cleansing you with His only dear Son and how through His forgiveness you partake by eating His flesh and drinking His blood and then becoming one with His body. Forgiveness makes you a part of His Body- the Body of CHRIST Himself.