Genuinely Forgive Sin

Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430) wrote of forgiveness,

The greatest gift you can give is to genuinely forgive sin committed against you. It is a comparatively small thing to wish someone well or to do good to someone who hasn’t hurt you. But it is much greater to love and wish your enemy well. When you have the opportunity, do good to those who want to make you suffer and do you harm. For in doing this you obey God’s command: “Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that persecute you,” This is a frame of mind that only the children of God can reach.

All believers should strive after it, by prayer earnestly struggling with themselves to attain this standard. However, such a high degree of goodness should strive after it, by prayer earnestly struggling with themselves to attain this standard. However, such a high degree of goodness can hardly be met by all the people who pray. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” In view of all this those who don’t yet love their enemies can fulfill this command when they forgive someone from the heart who has sinned against them.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses,
your Heavenly Father will Also forgive you.
—Jesus (Matthew 6:14)