About Forgiveness in Mark 11: 23-25

The "Word of Faith" Movement follows from this key passage in the Gospel of Mark:

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."

First of all, verse 22 is better rendered "Have the faith of God" or "God's kind of faith".

His faith is a speaking faith:

"(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were." (Romans 4:17)

With Christ and faith in Him, the emphasis is on "saying", as mentioned in yesterday's post. Jesus said "believe" once, but "say" three times. We must call forth those things which are not, as though they are (Romans 4: 17)

Yet there is another element which cannot be ignored: "And when ye standing praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any."

The next verse amplifies the Law under the Old Covenant, so that men would despair of claiming righteousness through their own confession and appropriation of forgiveness.

For us, who live and thrive under the New Covenant (Herbews 8: 10-12),the "forgiveness" element is taken care of for us at the Cross, so that the more we see how forgiven we are, then we in turn forgive others:

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. " (Ephesians 4: 32)

"Forgive" is better rendered "give grace to". As we keep receiving God's grace in our lives (Romans 5:17), we in turn can give His grace to others, thus allowing us to stand, pray, and forgive.

This grace establishes our hearts, empowers us to work, and guides us in our growing knowledge of the Lord, as well.

We are forgiven righteously and eternally. The more that we grow grace and knowledge, then our prayers are shaped to reflect His will working within us, and we can "have what we say."