Is it pride that keeps us from forgiving ourselves?

Forgiveness is not an option for Christians - the Bible teaches - it is mandatory.

As Jesus taught in Matthew 6:14-15, "For if you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not not forgive you your sins."

The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 4:32, urges, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, as in Christ God has forgiven you."

Scripture is clear that this does not mean once, but again and again. "Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive them," Jesus said in Luke 17:3-4.

But what about ourselves? It's one thing to forgive another person, but what about when we have sinned? Sometimes we find it difficult to forgive ourselves, even if we are able to forgive others.

In 1 John 1:9, we are taught that if we confess our sins, God will "forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Yet we may be struggling, thinking that we are too "bad" or that our sin is somehow exceptional, that God shouldn't forgive us, or that even if He does, we shouldn't. accept this forgiveness or forgive us the sin in turn.

Is it pride that keeps us from forgiving ourselves?

It is indeed usually pride that stands in our way, preventing us from accepting the gift of forgiveness that God offers to each of us.

What is Forgiveness?

In the Bible, forgiveness is a release or rejection of something, such as when charges are dropped against a person in court.

In Matthew 6:14, the original text is the word aphiēmi, from the root aphesis, meaning remission or forgiveness. Another meaning is dismissal, a dismissal.

Basically, we need to get rid of, postpone, reject, or return any negative feelings or debts. Essentially, the slate is wiped clean and the person can start over as if it never happened and no punishment awaits.

Romans 8:1 tells us that there is "no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus".

Similarly, in Colossians 1:14, we are told that in Jesus we have "redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Just before Jesus died, he said, "It's over." That the word translated "finished" is actually teleō, meaning to complete, fulfill, or repay, as in a debt. To forgive is therefore to let go completely of a sin or a pain, to erase it forever.

We need to do this to others - and to ourselves.

What is Pride?

Bible pride is usually an over-absorption of ourselves, seeing ourselves as superior or outside the typical. It is an exaggerated sense of our own dignity, importance, worthiness or superiority.

The opposite of pride is humility. The Bible makes it clear that God hates pride and that pride is a sin.

Proverbs 16:18 tells us, "Pride goes before destruction, pride goes before a fall."

In Luke 14:11, Jesus said, "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Isaiah explains, "The Lord Almighty has provided it, to bring down his pride in all its splendor, and to humble all who are renowned in the earth" (Isaiah 23:9).

Pride isn't just about thinking we're awesome or even on par with God. It is also thinking that we are an exception to the norm or that we are somehow different or special apart from the graces and gifts that God has given us.

Adam and Eve showed pride in the Garden of Eden when they were tempted to believe they could be like God and ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil ( Genesis 3).

We show pride when we believe we are above the law (whether divine or human) or better or more deserving than others in some way.

>

As 1 Corinthians 4:7 says, “For what distinguishes you from others? What didn't you get? And if you got it, why are you bragging like you didn't get it?"

Why Pr...