The primary purpose of the cross is the forgiveness of sins.Being in Christ, you have accepted His work on the cross as to the forgiveness of sins (See -The Cross -addressingsin click to read!) but that is only the beginning.You must forgive from your heart.Letting an injustice go by or accepting a wrong is not forgiveness.Forgiveness can be as hard as the wound is deep but remember Christ paid the ultimate price for our wrongs.Fortunately, death is not required of us to forgive others as Christ paid, but our death is required at the cross.Many have been hurt, wronged, or abused growing up and have hurt, hate, or resentment hidden deep inside toward parents, relatives, or situations that have never been addressed.Over the years they have been covered up, adjusted to, or dealt with but never sincerely addressed, but they are still there and are a part of you.These hidden feelings spurn unforgiveness and bitterness, which block the fullness of realizing and appreciating the work of Christ on the cross.We accept the work on the cross as to our sins being forgiven and we recognize Christ as our savior but we cannot truly love Him deeply, unless we fully understand the depth of our sinful nature.This is not based on our actions, moral judgment, or self-examination but what the scriptures say the “works of the flesh” are (Galatians 5: 19-21).These works stem from “the heart which is deceitful and desperately wicked: who can know it”(Jer 17:9)?This is the condition of man.“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jo 3:16).We are forgiven solely by mercy because of the love from the Father.The more we see of ourselves what we are forgiven for, the more we will appreciate and understand the work of the Cross (See – TheCross - addressing sin click to read!). The love for Christ should deepen because He bore upon His body your sins and paid your price.For it is written “...her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much, but to whom little is forgiven the same loveth little” (Lu 7:47).You are to forgive from the heart because ofyour love for Christ, “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from alliniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people,zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). Forgiving from the heart (Mat 18:35) means being willing to go to that person (swallowing your pride and humbling yourself) and telling them you are sorry for any bitterness, inconvenience, or hurt that you have caused.(Keeping in mind that your relationship with God must be established in love without bitterness, hate, or envy.)By doing this, you are humbling yourself before God that He may exalt you and make you free. This must be done in sincerity and from the heart and you will experience a great burden being lifted that you were not aware of and a sense of being “right before God”. Forgiveness does not require acknowledgment, that is a personal desire (of the flesh).When Christ was on the cross He said “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do...” (Lu 23:34).As you have read they knew exactly what they were doing, from the plotting to kill Him (Lu 22:2), the betrayal by Judas (Lu 22:48), to the trial (Lu 22:66) and crucifixion.However, Christ, asking for forgiveness for them, knew that they did not know who He really was. So knowing this, He could ask with a pure heart that they be forgiven.This is how we are to forgive.Regardless of the wrongs done against us, be it passed or present, and even though they may be intentional, the person or persons really know not what they do.When Stephen was stoned, “he cried out with a loud voice, Lord lay not this sin to their charge...” (Acts 7:60). As long as we seek admission or acknowledgment to forgive it will not be from the heart, although that would make it easier but it cannot be a requirement for forgiveness.Christ paid for our sins and forgave us with His life; therefore, the cost for us to forgive has already been paid.The more we are able to forgive those who hurt or wronged us deeply, the closer we are to Christ in understanding His love for those who accept His work on the cross (us) and His heart for forgiving those that do not know Him yet.
