Yes — believers should forgive others because they have already been forgiven by God in Christ, not in order to earn that forgiveness under the Law.
Les Feldick teaches that under Law, forgiveness was conditional: you could not be forgiven until you had forgiven the other person. But under Grace, the believer already stands forgiven in Christ, so forgiving others is the natural response to the forgiveness we have received. Because Christ forgave us when we were most unworthy, we can certainly forgive those who have sinned against us.
Ephesians 4:32 — Paul grounds the believer's forgiveness of others in the forgiveness God has already granted for Christ's sake — exactly the Grace-based motive Les highlights.
Matthew 6:12 — The disciples' prayer phrase that, under Law, tied forgiveness received to forgiveness given — the contrast that frames Les's whole answer.
In the prayer Jesus taught His disciples, the request for pardon is expressed this way: "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:12). The apostle Paul likewise connects the believer's forgiveness of others to the forgiveness already received: "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32). Scripture also addresses how believers should treat one another when sin occurs. Galatians 6:1 says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." And 2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds every believer, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
Les Feldick makes a sharp distinction between Law and Grace on the question of forgiveness. In the Sermon on the Mount, under the Law, Jesus taught, "Forgive us our debts... when we forgive those who have sinned against us" — and Les emphasizes that under Law you could not be forgiven until you had forgiven the other person (Clips 2, 6). He illustrates this with a hostage who said he had to forgive his torturers "or I will never be forgiven" — and Les calls that outlook sad and Law-based, even though it sounds good (Clip 6). In contrast, the believer in this age of Grace is already forgiven in Christ. Les argues: if God was gracious enough to forgive us right where we were as condemned sinners, then who are we to say we cannot forgive another person? Instead of drudgingly forgiving so that we can be forgiven, we recognize that we are forgiven — and because Christ forgave us when we were most unworthy, we can certainly forgive someone who has not done against us what we did against God (Clip 1). Les applies this practically to the sinning believer: sin is not licensed, but the believer does not have to beg for forgiveness — we are forgiven, and we confess by agreeing with God about the sin (Clip 3). Every sin is forgivable; there is nothing the Lord will not forgive (Clip 4). And toward a brother who falls into sin, the believer's assignment is restoration in meekness — considering themselves lest they also fall, forgiving that man and continuing to love him (Clips 5, 7).
Les teaches that the disciples' prayer in Matthew 6 operated under Law: "you could not be forgiven until you had forgiven the other person" (Clip 2). He cites a religious man who said, "I have to forgive them, because if I don't I can't be forgiven" — that is what Law demanded (Clip 2). He also tells of a hostage with the same view and comments, "Now isn't that sad? It sounds good, and that's what the Law demanded" (Clip 6). For the believer under Grace, forgiveness is not earned by forgiving others; it has already been given in Christ (Clip 1).
No, says Les. He clarifies that his statement about "no need to ask for forgiveness" refers to the believer, not the unbeliever in search of salvation. For the believer, sin is not licensed, but he teaches: "We are forgiven, but we've got to recognize our sin and call it what God calls it... we confess it" (Clip 3).
Les says the average church tends to joke about or make light of a believer's gross sin, but that should never be the mindset of a believer. Instead, believers should be burdened, pray for that person, and if they have church authority, go to them and restore them into fellowship (Clip 7). Paul's word is "restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1; Clip 7). Even the great apostle told the Corinthians to forgive that man and continue to love him (Clip 5).
Yes. Les assures that "every sin is forgivable. There is nothing that the Lord will not forgive" (Clip 4). The believer's standard is not what society or a denomination thinks, but what God says (Clip 4).
Les points to 2 Corinthians 5:10 — "we must all appear before the bema seat" — and wishes the King James translators had not used the word "judgment," because it scares people. The Greek word bema was a raised platform, like the seat of judges at the Olympic games where winners were rewarded. So the believer appears before the bema not to be judged for sin, but for reward (Clip 0).
The Bema Seat — No Judgment for Sin
Les explains that believers appear before the bema seat — a raised platform like the Olympic judges' stand — not to be judged for their sin, which underscores the complete forgiveness the believer already has in Christ.
Forgiven Much, Forgive Others
Les teaches that since God graciously forgave us while we were condemned sinners, we can certainly forgive others — recognizing we are already forgiven instead of forgiving to earn it.
Forgiveness Under the Law
Les explains that under the Law, a person could not be forgiven until he had forgiven the other person — the religious mindset of 'I must forgive so I can be forgiven.'
Confession, Not Begging for Forgiveness
When believers sin, they do not have to beg for forgiveness — they are already forgiven — but they must confess, agreeing with God about the sin.
Every Sin Is Forgivable
Les teaches that there is no sin the Lord will not forgive; God's view of sin, not society's or a denomination's, is the believer's standard.
Restore and Love the Fallen
Paul's attitude toward a fallen fellow believer is to restore such a one in meekness and to forgive and continue loving — not judge harshly, lest we become the next to fall.
The Law's Sad Demand
Les recounts a hostage who said he had to forgive his captors or he would never be forgiven — a Law-based view that Les calls sad, since it sounds good but misses Grace.
Restoration Instead of Mockery
Believers should not joke about a Christian's fall but be burdened and pray, and church leaders should restore the fallen brother in the spirit of meekness.
Matthew 6:12: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
The disciples' prayer phrase that, under Law, tied forgiveness received to forgiveness given — the very mindset Les contrasts with Grace.
Ephesians 4:32: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Paul grounds the believer's forgiveness of others in the forgiveness God has already granted for Christ's sake.
Galatians 6:1: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
The instruction to restore a fallen believer in meekness rather than with harsh judgment or mockery.
2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Les uses this verse to show that the believer's appearance before the bema is for reward, not for judgment of sin.
Because they have already been forgiven by God in Christ. Les Feldick teaches that under Grace the believer does not forgive in order to be forgiven; rather, recognizing the forgiveness we received while we were unworthy sinners makes it possible to forgive anyone who sins against us (Clips 1, 2, 6).
Under Law, yes — Les says you could not be forgiven until you had forgiven the other person (Matthew 6:12; Clip 2). But for the believer in this age of Grace, forgiveness has already been granted in Christ; a believer who falls into sin confesses rather than begs for forgiveness (Clips 1, 3).
No — Les Feldick teaches that "every sin is forgivable" and there is nothing the Lord will not forgive (Clip 4).
Restore them in a spirit of meekness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted — forgive and continue to love them rather than making light of the sin (Galatians 6:1; Clips 5, 7).
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