What Christ Meant When He Said If We Don't Forgive Someone, They Aren't Forgiven

This short devotion helps us understand What Christ meant when He said if we don't forgive someone, they aren't forgiven.

In John 20:19-23, Jesus gives instructions to His disciples saying, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (20:23).

This doesn't mean that any human being can give or withhold God’s forgiveness—only God can do that. It means the church has a duty to tell people that they can't claim to be a believer and continue living a sinful lifestyle.

These instructions are similar to Christ's instructions about formal church discipline in Matthew 18:15-18 and 1 Corinthians 5.(1) 

Christians sin, but Christians cannot live a sinful lifestyle because “no one born of God will continue to sin” (1 John 3:9).

“No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” 1 John 3:6

“Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.” 1 John 2:4

Titus 1:16 and 1 John 1:6 explain that people who claim to have fellowship with Christ cannot continue to walk in darkness.

A professing Christian who is living a sinful lifestyle needs to be warned that if they don't repent, they are not forgiven and not saved. 

If we fail to warn them, we aren't walking in love (Ephesians 5:1-20).

💙💙💙💙

(1) Matthew 18:18 echoes the command in John 20:23 saying, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”


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This short devotion helps us understand What Christ meant when He said if we don't forgive someone, they aren't forgiven.


 Bible Love Notes

2 comments:

  1. Andi PayneMay 30, 2026 at 1:45 AM

    Hi, are you claiming that a Christian can lose their salvation or are you saying that person is only a Christian by name and not change of heart?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gail @ http://biblelovenotes.comMay 30, 2026 at 6:25 AM

      Hi Andi,
      There are two major beliefs in this regard, beliefs held by genuine believers on both sides of the issue: the belief that you can lose your salvation and the belief that you cannot. Both sides use Scripture to support their view.

      My readers hold both views.

      I haven't shared either view in my devotion. What I've done is share what Scripture says and I've linked 9 Scriptures that clearly explain that genuine Christians cannot refuse to forgive others. And I've used the term "professing Christian" which leaves it open for either view:

      One side will say they professed Christ but were never saved in the first place. The other side will say they genuinely professed Christ and lost their salvation.

      Delete

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