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Kingdom ways
Transformation Series
Lesson 14: The Central Power and Necessity of Forgiveness
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything
against anyone; so that your Father also who is heaven may
forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive,
neither will your father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.
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Mark 11:25-26

The first necessity of forgiveness derives from the Law. Until forgiveness is effected in the heart, the
law of retribution swings to its inevitable conclusion: When lust is conceived, it gives birth to sin; and
when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death (James 1:15). The legality of the universe demands resolution.

The Cause and Effect of Emotional Stimuli

Every anger in a family is a stimulus. Every stimulus engenders response whether we acknowledge it
consciously or repress it. Each response becomes stimulus to the other, in turn demanding response, which
becomes stimulus, demanding further response, and so arguments incite fights, group hassles to riots, and
national tensions to wars (see James 4:1-2).
As long as we remain unrepentant of a bitter root, our response to an emotional stimulus will
illustrate the law of sowing and reaping. This law will operate as legally as the laws of electricity.
We may try to control our passions, break the stimulus-response arc by willpower or kindly character, or
withhold further stimuli by suppressing our own responses, but we only delay, for there are lawful impetuses
that cannot be denied. We will reap what is sown (Gal.6:7). Gods laws (His Word) cannot be broken (John
10:35).
The fact of the immutability of law is the truth of what the Holy Spirit said in Malachi 3:6: For I, the Lord do
not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. If God changed, we would be consumed. If He
changed what? Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He
always lives to make intercession for them (Heb.7:25). The logic is inescapable if Jesus changed and
thus stopped interceding before the Father, the result would be, This tape will self-destruct in
five seconds!
The laws of sowing and reaping and of increase ensure that all our human relationships, indeed all of human
life, because of our continually sinning flesh, must be ever accelerating to war and destruction! Nothing can
stop that swing, except the cross of Christ. That is the centrality of forgiveness: And according to the
Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no
forgiveness (Heb.9:22).
Hate murders: Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has
eternal life abiding in him (1John 3:15). All resentments and bitterness are born of hate; no matter
how we may want to make things sound mild and claim we dont hate, we do. Our emotions murder
(or bless) the other. Murder destroys life. Life is in the blood (Gen.9:4). Unless sinful propensities born of
bitter roots are repented of, stimulus demands response, and seed sown requires reaping:
therefore, every hatred requires blood. Only the blood of Jesus can enable us to die to self, and stop the
increasing cycle of human hate. The blood of forgiveness is thus central even to the possibility of
continuance of human life.
When Mary Jones feels slighted by her husband, Sam, her unresolved bitterness toward others who have
slighted her in the past demands a response. If she vents it, he might respond out of his own bitterness. Anger
increases, and battles ensues. If he suppresses, that stimulus does not die. It ferments in his heart.
Somewhere, somehow, it will express, even if only by silent rejection, while subliminally, Sams

bitterness is unknowingly murdering his wife. Sam may, by fleshly determination, or even by the power
of the Holy Spirit, give back a loving answer, and that may evoke a loving response, and so the evening may
spiral to joy. Nevertheless, that original hurt cannot be denied. If it is not properly expressed and
dealt with, it lives, repressed and forgotten. But the universe is legal, and that hurt must yet find
a response.
If we multiply that event by the thousands that normally occur in any relationship, we see that if Jesus
failed to intercede continually, death of happiness, or even physical destruction, is unavoidable
for all of us. Today, as the world has turned more and more from God, His mercy is prevented. We hear news
reports so much more often of people shooting and killing one another. The cycle of hate swings to death
unhindered by grace. Law is law and reaping is inevitable when grace is prevented.
But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood
of Jesus His son cleanses us from all sin ( 1John 1:7). Sams choice to love was an invitation, by
choosing to walk in light, to allow the blood of Jesus to cleanse the heart.
On the other hand, no one can know how many billions of instances flow to wholeness every day in human
relationships by His blood, all unseen and unknown. How overwhelming gracious our Lords mercy is no
one can ever know! Nor can anyone know why so many billions of incidents can wash unknown in the blood,
though on the other hand, sometimes conscious recognition and confession are required, else we
suffer the full consequences. Surely God, in His wisdom, knows. Most sins apparently are cleansed
without our ever knowing. Suffice it to say that the command, Do this in remembrance of me (Luke
22:19), is probably based on Jesus knowledge of our continuous need of washing. How often does God forgive
and cleanse us as we worship and we are not aware of it? Choices to walk in love cleanse, but the most
effective choices are worship and prayer. We need to pray for one another regularly, as did St. Paul , May
God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete,
without blame at the coming of our lord Jesus Christ (1Thess.5:23).