Everything comes in packages, even spiritual truths. And so while having a conversation with a friend about anger and not being able to forgive past hurts, the Holy Spirit bought forth a great word of wisdom. The word of wisdom was grace and what it really means to find God's Grace. Later on it was confirmed two other times, once on TV and another by a family member. 2 Corinthians 13:1 Matthew 18:16 In the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter will be established." NAS
We must forgive because it is in our power to forgive and move on, but also because forgiveness is essential for a successful and peaceful life. To have an unforgiving spirit brings on a spirit of hate and anger which also brings in a spirit of bondage. This spirit of bondage not only influences the hater but also binds the one being hated and causes misery to both parties. In this spirit of bondage neither party can move forward or succeed because they are both being bombarded by demonic influences. Hate is a seed and like all other seeds can only bring in a harvest of hate and failure. While hating you will never succeed.
This is one of the major spiritual truths of God's word and of Gods world. When Jesus walked the earth he spoke of this many times because he wanted people to be free of this curse of the law. Jesus spoke of it to the Jews who were under the Law of Moses and were used to having this kind of preaching on how to keep the law. But after his death and resurrection it was understood that it had nothing to do with the salvation of the soul which was a free gift from God by Grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.
Grace from God is the unmerited favor and unmerited kindness which he bestows on those who call upon Jesus who paid the price for this favor and kindness. You cannot earn this grace by being good or by working in religion. You cannot pay for it or make it yours because you think you are special. Even the works which you might do such as forgiving someone for past hurts or helping the poor are only for your benefit in this world we live in. It is to your advantage to forgive and try and forget but not because it will bring you closer to God or save you from hell. You are as close to God right now as you will ever be, sinful and all because you were saved and loved even while still a sinner.
It is this grace that makes it possible to forgive by not making forgiveness a law that must be kept in order to please God. You cannot not please God; the only one who pleases God is Jesus. What we must do is to believe in what Jesus has already done for us and live in this victory. When and if you can forgive it has nothing to do with the victory that is already yours in Jesus. When you look at it in this form you will deny the devil his condemnation of you for not forgiving. You will also not condemn yourself for this act. Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
You cannot be condemned for not forgiving someone, or for smoking or drinking or even adultery, but you will be condemned for not believing in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. The more you try to stop doing something like smoking, drinking or even having lustful thoughts, the stronger the spirit of these vices will come on you and make you do them. Only when you speak to your mind and remind it that through grace these spirits have no hold on you will they stop being a problem. And that is because they only work thru condemnation in order to defeat you and make you fail in life, but in Jesus there is no condemnation. Where there is no condemnation there is no devil because he only works in this dark realm.
Grace is the greatest concept or spiritual law in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, without it we would be doomed to fail and be lost forever. Grace is everything combined, love, kindness, mercy, compassion, clemency, leniency, and most of all pity for our weakness and lack of common sense. Grace always works because it is not controlled by you it is controlled by the one who paid the price for it, you just trust in Him and it.

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