forgiveness

​There are many, many layers to comprehend when it comes to the gospel. One of those layers has to do with 'forgiveness'.
 
In Genesis 2, it is written that God planted a garden and placed Adam in the garden then formed Eve. The garden was the place Adam & Eve nurtured their relationship with God. It was the place where they were with God. Now, God also instructed Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. By the end of Genesis 3, both Adam & Eve were kicked out of the garden for disobeying Him. From here on, man was separated from God.
 
To understand forgiveness is to truly appreciate who God is. He is the maker of this universe and nothing can happen on earth without His existence. This includes our own existence. What Adam & Eve did was unforgiveable; to disobey the great God and creator of the world. God by His grace, did not destroy them as He could have. Instead, they were removed from His presence as we are removed from His presence today. Over time, it is written that man without a close relationship with God became more wicked, riddled with sin and unrighteousness. God even regretted making us. (Gen 6:5-7)
 
However, when God saw there was someone like Enoch (Genesis 5:24) or Noah (Genesis 6:8) or Abraham (James 2:23), God hoped that one day man could return to Him. And this is where Jesus became the way that man could re-establish a relationship with God again. If we are willing to admit our sins and sinful nature (that was caused or passed down from the original sins of Adam & Eve) and receive the sacrifice and blood of Jesus as the atonement for our sins, we could repent from our sins (turn away from sin) and start getting right with God. This is where we are today. If you have believed in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and confessed this with your mouth, you are meant to be on your journey to overcome the desire to sin so that you have a chance to finally be back in the presence of God at the end of time.
 
But, as Jesus said, 'For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses' (Matthew 6:14-15). If we expect God to forgive our past sins or the sins of our forefathers such that we can begin afresh with Him, then who are we to withhold forgiveness from others? Your broken relationship with God cannot start to mend if you cannot forgive others for what they have done to you.
 
When Jesus healed the man, who was paralysed He said 'Son ... thy sins be forgiven thee' (Matthew 9:2) and then 'But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. (Matthew 9:6). See, it was sin that caused the paralysis and it is Jesus who has the ability to forgive the sin and heal just as it is today.
 
Brothers and sisters, if you want to turn your upside-down life the right side up, you must mend your relationship with God. We can do that today because of Jesus but you must also forgive others in order to be forgiven by God.
 
*If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
 
*In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)
 
*And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)
 
*And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. (Luke 17:4)