This is the third part of three posts on forgiveness.  This section focuses on the benefits of forgiveness.  To read the other posts see these links – Part 1 – Collecting Debt; Part 2 – A Decision of the Will

Here is an audio sermon I did on the topic of forgiveness if you are interested.

——————-

           The story of Louis Zamparini demonstrates the tremendous benefits of forgiveness.  Through forgiveness he enjoyed peace and a productive life.  The  benefits of forgiveness are multidimensional, just like the topic.  And in many ways these involve the benefits of the initial forgiveness and the feelings which will be processed over time as well.  They involve benefits in both the vertical and horizontal planes of forgiveness.  They offer benefits to both the individual and to his relationships.  Though not an exhaustive list, we will observe four ways that forgiving like God teaches us to do benefits the Christian.

Spiritual Benefits

         The most important benefit of forgiveness is the salvation of our souls.  Paul teaches us to forgive by reminding us that “the Lord has forgiven you.” (Col. 3:13).  We are able to have forgiveness because of the blood of Christ that was shed for our sins (Eph. 1:6-9).  This forgiveness allows there to be peace in our relationship with God (Rom. 5:1-2), and thus peace in our hearts (Phil. 4:4-7).  To properly understand this benefit a person must realize that they were lost and are saved from the wrath of God (Rom. 5:6-11).  We must put ourselves in the shoes of the servant who owed 10,000 talents.  We must understand that our sin has placed upon our souls a debt that we cannot pay by ourselves.  It is then that we can feel the emotional and spiritual significance of the grace of God.  Paul realized how much he had been forgiven, and thus he was highly motivated to reciprocate God’s love (1 Tim. 1:12-17).

Emotional Benefits

           Peter uses the graphic phrase “gall of bitterness,” which refers to its coming from the liver or biles, to describe the attitude of Simon the magician (Acts 8:23).  Bitterness steals the joy, happiness, and productivity from our lives.  It gets down deep in our hearts and souls and comes out in all aspects of our lives.  It travels with other life-zapping companions like guilt, hatred, malice, anger, and envy.  Determining to forgive and being committed to working through these emotions is a burden-lifting, life-restoring work.  Paul compares it to putting on a “new self” (Col. 3:10).  The work of forgiveness has tremendous emotional benefits by releasing these harmful behaviors and feelings.  Secular medical studies have noted the improved emotional health of individuals who have chosen to forgive.  The Mayo Clinic website notes “greater spiritual and psychological well-being, less anxiety, stress, and hostility, and fewer symptoms of depression” for those who forgive.  Their article nailed the issue emotionally when it stated, “your life might become so wrapped up in the wrong that you don’t enjoy the present.”  (“Forgiveness:  Letting go of grudges and bitterness”  www.MayoClinic.com)

Physical Benefits

         Not surprisingly, forgiveness also has ramifications for our physical health.  Forgiveness has been linked with lower heart rate and blood pressure.  Since the carrying of a grudge creates anxiety, it is understandable that forgiveness leads to less stress, which in turn has many benefits for the body physically.  People often decrease their medicine use and are able to reduce depression symptoms.  Some sleep better and have less physical pain and complaints (“10 Benefits of Forgiveness” www.purposebeyondpain.com).  If our heart and life is convicted of sin before God and guilt weighs us down, then it creates problems emotionally and physically.

Relational Benefits

         Can you imagine your marriage without forgiveness?  Possibly one of the reasons we see such a shameful amount of divorces today is that people have not learned how to forgive.  Forgiveness functions as a cleansing agent in relationships allowing us to learn from the past and let love envelop the relationship.  Secular and religious students of forgiveness all note that it helps improve relationships and allows for better conflict management.  It allows a relationship to move to deeper levels of trust and intimacy.  It also has a freeing quality as it frees the offended from the control and manipulation of the offender.  It allows for the individual to move on and connect in future relationships. Forgiveness makes it possible for sinful humans to function together as families and churches.  Thus, it is no wonder that Jesus required His community of believers, called by His Name, to be a forgiving people.  It is not optional, but is a requirement if they desire God’s forgiveness.