Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. Heb. 12:14
Bitterness often arises because of difficulties in circumstances or relationships. When people hurt us or life seems unfair, bitterness is a common result.
Bitterness produces frustration and anger. The compounding emotional hurt that stems from bitterness creates sin.
Bitter people often hurt others – seeking revenge, or lashing out in anger. They often hurt themselves – maybe turning to drugs in an attempt to cope with pain. “Hurting people hurt others.” Bitterness causes sin. It defiles. it makes us dirty.
Jesus is the only one solution for sin.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, we will receive forgiveness and be cleansed.
The key to receiving forgiveness from the Lord is confession. But if we refuse to confess our sins, then we will remain unforgiven, and we will stay defiled.
Unforgiveness is the root of most bitterness. Someone has hurt us, and we refuse to forgive them. Whenever we refuse to forgive someone, we are trying to be their judge. We don’t want to rest until they are condemned.
Unforgiveness has disastrous repercussions for our own ability to be cleansed from our own sins.
“If you forgive not your brother his trespasses, neither shall your Heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses” (Matt. 6:15).
If we don’t forgive, we won’t be forgiven. Unforgiveness means that we ourselves are not forgiven by God.
Why?
Unforgiveness means our hearts are hard and bitter, and it creates fertile ground within us for sin to multiply. As long as we refuse to forgive others, we refuse to confess our own sins to God – for unforgiveness itself is a sin. Unforgiveness is a result of pride, selfishness, fear, and is itself disobedience to God. As long as we hold on to unforgiveness, it is a sure sign that there is unconfessed sin resting in our hearts.
In other words, if we hold onto unforgiveness, we hold onto our own sins and refuse to confess.
Without confession of sins to God, we cannot be forgiven. Where we are not forgiven, sin defiles us, and this in turn will produce more bitterness.
The destructive cycle of bitterness – sin, unforgiveness, more bitterness, and condemnation for ourselves – can only be broken by forgiving others. We need to forgive others and release them. Then we will be able to confess our own sins to God.
When we forgive, we will be able to confess our own sins, and when we do this, we will be healed.
Bethel Cornerstone 