Forgiveness: The Heart of the Kingdom | Jesus At The Center Of The Kingdom - Part 5 | Perry Duggar

Forgiveness isn’t optional in the Kingdom—it’s essential. In this message from Matthew 6:12–15, we explore how receiving God's forgiveness through faith transforms our hearts and calls us to extend that same mercy to others. When we forgive, we release both the offense and ourselves. Holding on to unforgiveness doesn’t punish the offender—it punishes us. Discover how confession, mercy, and grace lead us into deeper intimacy with God and freedom in our relationships. Watch now and learn how forgiven people become forgiving people. Let God's mercy shape your heart and set you free.
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Forgiven People Forgive People

"Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us." — Matthew 6:12 (NLT)

Forgiveness is at the very heart of the Kingdom of God. It's not just a concept we acknowledge—it's a reality we’re called to live. Jesus made it clear in the Lord’s Prayer: forgiveness is both received and given. As believers, we come to God daily, asking Him to forgive us. But Jesus adds a crucial condition: we must also forgive others.

Why? Because forgiven people forgive people.

When we accept God's forgiveness, we acknowledge the immense debt we've been pardoned from—our sins, our rebellion, our rejection of His ways. That debt isn’t financial; it’s moral and spiritual. Sin separates us from God and distorts our relationships. Yet, in His mercy, God made a way through Jesus. By faith, we receive complete, once-for-all-time forgiveness through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. We are made new, restored to our Creator, no longer under judgment (Romans 8:1).

But forgiveness doesn’t end there.

Jesus warns us in Matthew 6:14–15 that if we refuse to forgive others, our own connection to God is hindered. This isn’t about losing salvation; it’s about broken fellowship. Unforgiveness creates a barrier—not just between us and people, but between us and God. It invites bitterness, steals our peace, and keeps our souls in prison.

Confession is the key to staying close to God. When we agree with Him about our sin, we are met with grace and cleansing (1 John 1:9). That same grace should overflow into our relationships with others. Forgiving doesn’t excuse the hurt, but it releases the burden. It’s not forgetting—it’s choosing freedom.

Is there someone you need to forgive today? Ask God for the strength to release the hurt. Remember: Jesus forgave you fully, freely, and repeatedly. Let His mercy change how you live and love.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for forgiving me. Help me extend that same mercy to others. I don’t want anything to block my intimacy with You. Teach me to forgive from the heart. Amen.