“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
A friend pointed me to the October 2, 2018, broadcast of Pathway to Victory by Robert Jeffress. My friend heard him say that most religions say “DO,” and Christianity says “DONE.” That is a great saying.
I found that quote at the 11:45 mark if you want to check it out. You can hear the message here.
However, as I listened to the whole message, I found Jeffress saying that repentance and remorse are necessary to receive everlasting life (9:40) and that “the Bible says your eternal destiny depends on your willingness to forgive other people” (3:28-3:35).
In Matt 6:14-15, the Lord is speaking of forgiveness, not everlasting life. Jeffress wrongly assumes that positional forgiveness is in view. However, what is actually in view is fellowship forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 makes it clear that if we confess our sins, then God forgives us in a fellowship sense. The same idea is found in John 13:10 and Matt 6:14-15.
Confession of sins as found in 1 John 1:9 is only effective “if we walk in the light as He is in the light,” as 1 John 1:7 says. Confession of sins is not magic. It works if we are walking in the light, walking in fellowship with God. If we are walking in the light, we will forgive those who sin against us. But if we are walking in the darkness, like the prodigal son of Luke 15:11-24, then acknowledging our sins will not result in fellowship forgiveness and fellowship with God. The prodigal needs to repent, turning from the darkness back to the light.
It is possible to have everlasting life and yet to be out of fellowship with God. The believer who is out of fellowship with God is not experiencing fellowship forgiveness. He remains born again. But he lacks fellowship forgiveness.
The Lord does not say that God will forgive us if we are willing to forgive others. He says He will forgive us if we forgive men their trespasses. The issue is not willingness to forgive. To have fellowship forgiveness from God we must actually forgive those who sin against us.
I hope this was just a slip of the tongue. Normally Jeffress says that to be born again one must “trust in Christ as Savior” (e.g., see 16:50). To add in a willingness to forgive others is to distort the message. Adding in repentance and remorse is confusing as well.
Your eternal destiny depends on believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for everlasting life (John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47; Acts 16:31; Eph 2:8-9). Keep it simple, saint.
Tom passmore
I found the parable of the prodigal is the central theme of the entire Bible. It’s not about eternal destiny but having fellowship with the father. The older brother was just as lost as his younger brother. Though he was in his fathers house he was not in fellowship with him. He was lost in the house. forgiveness of our brother is necessary for us to have fellowship with GodAnd experience everlasting life
Alvin
All it takes is a little poison in the pot~! 2 Kings 4:40 death in the pot~!
Daniel Miller
Amen! Thank you for clarifying this. Too many pastors claim salvation is by grace through faith alone, but then later state this verse as another condition for salvation.
Chad
I want to believe that John 3:16 and John 3:18 are examples of the true Gospel, but there seems to be so many verses like the ones you discuss here in Luke about needing to forgive prior to receiving forgiveness. I like your explanations, but I’m haunted by the mass of texts that seem to indicate we are “meritoriously saved by grace.” Of course such a statement sounds ridiculous. Another explanation is perhaps that the Bible writers had different veiws on salvation. Of course this explanation destroys the traditional evangelical understanding of scripture inspiration and authority. Please help me.
Pam
A rule to interpret Scripture is this: use the easy verses (Jn 3:16; 3:18; 5:24; 6:47; Eph 2:8-9, etc) to interpret the more difficult verses. Never use the difficult verses to interpret the easy ones.
The easy ones are clear that eternal life comes only by believing in Jesus for it.
When you follow this rule, it becomes obvious that the more difficult verses deal with discipleship issues, not eternal life salvation issues. You must rightly divide the Word of truth to avoid confusion.
Brady Mayo
If your implying that the Prodigal repented by walking in the light, I don’t see that. The Prodigal came home because he was miserable and was humbled to a point of taking a low position with the father. The father ran to him before he even said a word.
Alvin
All three Parables represent something that is lost, and then is found. The Ninety-Nine Righteous Sheep with one lost Luke 15:1-10, the Parable of the Lost Coin Luke 15:8-9, and the Parable of the Prodigal, lost Son Luke 15:11-32.
All three Parables represent born again believers who need to repent, to come back into fellowship. Great book to buy on this is Zane Hodges “Harmony With God.”
Barry Blundi
Lord Jesus very simply teaches us in the Prodigil, the results of the difference between fellowship with our Father, and the lack of it. As first John teaches, “…our fellowship is with the Father and his Son…” When all is well there, they we can have fellowship one with another. Our Master makes things very simple and understanding for us. Yet again Bob, all things that Mr. Jefferies makes as a condition of salvation are filthly cerimonial rags, fig leaves, and destroys Lord Jesus’ very nature and ability to save. “..tryng to establish a rightousness of their own…”, and not submitting to the rightousness of God. They payment for sin is precious blood, infinate suffering by a sinless victum. And ressurection from the dead. It Is the Lord Yeshua! Again Mr. Jefferies, what will pay for all your sins? The ones you commit against God till the end of your temporal life?
Barry Blundi
The soul of the flesh is in the blood (not the law), and I have given it to you upon the alter to make atonement for your souls. And God made then coats of skins: GENESIS. Who’s blood did all the sacrificial animals typify. What makes atonement for the sins a person will commit till their last breath? God says, know you not that it is you sins that seperate you from Him, not your good (filthly cerimonial rags) works. If rightousness comes by the law, then Christ DIED IN VAIN!!!!!!! Unknowingly, this is an attact on our Masters Lord Jesus’ very nature, person, and work. Do unbeleivers, and unassured beleivers see this!!!!!!! It is Lord Jesus and only him that is being assailed. Humans hate grace, and beleivers (still having the flesh) are still tainted by the fleshes blinding effect to their real condition after they are saved, but have no assurence. The make themselves equal with God, ( Christ ). Human work is incapable of forgiveness of sins. Only Lord Jesus’.
Alvin
If people would simply take this verse (John 1:29) for what it says they would know that there is NO SIN that can eternally condemn anyone. So, when a verse like Matthew 6:14-15 speaks of the Father not forgiving you of your trespasses you would know it’s talking about here and now~!
John 1:29. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Matthew 6:14-15. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.
“But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
If Jesus took away the sin of the world, what sin could condemn you~? None~!