Sharing Heaven

The New Testament talks a lot about mercy and forgiveness. I don’t just mean the mercy and forgiveness that we hope to receive from God, but also the mercy and forgiveness that God insists that we show toward others.

For example, Jesus warns us that we must forgive others if we expect to receive mercy from God: “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 6:14-15)[1] In one of Jesus’ parables, an unforgiving servant is punished by his master for enforcing a small debt after being forgiven a very large debt.[2] The Lord’s Prayer asks God to forgive our debts, “as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)[3] Indeed, we are to forgive repeatedly:

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

—Matthew 18:21-22[4]

A closely related concept is that of peace. Jesus urged us to “be at peace with one another” (Mark 9:50), while Paul went even further: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” (Romans 12:18)[5] Other New Testament writers agree.[6i] Peace requires forgiveness, because we cannot be at peace with someone against whom we harbor a grudge.

So what do forgiveness, mercy, and peace have to do with Heaven? To answer this question, let’s consider what the New Testament tells us about Heaven. . . .

Beyond Shallow Faith is available on Amazon.com.

[1]. See also Mark 11:25-26.

[2]. Matthew 18:23-35

[3]. See also Luke 11:4, Ephesians 4:31-32, Colossians 3:13; and James 2:13.

[4]. See also Luke 17:3-4.

[5]. Paul talks elsewhere about the need to be at peace with other people, such as Romans 14:19; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 2:14-16 and 4:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 5:13; and Titus 3:2.

[6]. See, for example, Hebrews 12:14; James 3:18; 1 Peter 3:8.