Evidence of Forgiveness

RECONCILIATION is the EVIDENCE of true FORGIVENESS between BRETHREN

2Corinthians 2:6-8 (6) Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, (7) so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. (8) Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

2Corinthians 5:19-21 (19) namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (20) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (21) He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

You say you forgive your brother/sister in Christ, but still have a grudge? That's NOT true forgiveness. Every sinner whose faith is in Christ for forgiveness and salvation has experienced true forgiveness:

Romans 5:7-9 (7) For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. (8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.…

Ephesians 4:31-32 (31) Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (32) Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

May God grant His children the grace to truly forgive brethren who have wronged us. 

- JFS