Forgiveness

We know that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. What about follow peace with all men?

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" - Hebrews 12:14

God made peace with us. 

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." - Colossians 1:20

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 

God forgave us. Now it is our turn to have peace with others and forgive. (Follow peace: “to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire” - Thayer’s)

What if we do not follow peace with all men?

A servant owed the king ten thousand talents, but was unable to pay the debt. The king commanded that his family and possessions be sold to pay the debt. The servant begged for mercy.

"Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 

“But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest." - Matthew 18:27-28 

The fellowservant begged for patience, promising he would pay. Yet the servant had no mercy, casting him into prison.

"Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 

[Note: Because the servant was not merciful, the debt that he had been forgiven of was put back on him.]

“So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." - Matthew 18:33-35

We are the servant that had a debt we could not pay. Our Lord and King Jesus forgave us of our debt of sin. It is now our turn to be merciful and forgiving, and to make peace with all.