In Part 1 of this blog I talked about how forgiving others benefits you. There is another dimension to forgiveness. There is a spiritual dimension. It is profound and mysterious. My decision to forgive, or not to forgive, is reflected in Heaven itself. Matthew 18 states, “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”[1] The book of John is even more clear.  “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.'” [2]

In the court of heaven my decision to forgive, or not to forgive is binding; it’s staggering. If a person wrongs me and refuses to listen to correction I have the “right” to treat them as a “pagan” (someone without regard for God) or a “tax collector” (someone who extorts and steals).  But I also have another “right.”  I have the right to forgive.  And when I choose to forgive, I have released the other person-I have reflected God’s heart.  Jesus said, “I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?”[3]

The picture is complete.  When we forgive it benefits us, and it benefits those we forgive.

– Greg