Mark 11:20–25 Faith and Forgiveness: The Fruit of True Belief

Faith and Forgiveness: The Fruit of True Belief

Mark 11:20–25

Introduction

What do you think of when you hear the word “forgiveness”? Is it just something you receive, or is it something you give as well? Normally, when we share the gospel, forgiveness is presented as something we receive through Christ. But what happens after that? What role does forgiveness play in your life?

Faith and forgiveness go hand in hand. Our faith in Christ is not only about believing in Him but also about living out that faith through our actions—especially in how we treat others. Jesus teaches that faith is powerful, but it is also deeply connected to our ability to forgive. If we trust in Him, we should reflect His grace in how we deal with people who have wronged us (Matthew 6:14–15).

Have Faith in God

As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that You cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:20–22).

The object of our faith is the person of Christ—Jesus of Nazareth—described in Scripture. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin in Bethlehem, and lived a life of obedience under the law, fulfilling it in all ways. As a descendant of David, Abraham, and Adam, He willingly offered Himself as a sacrifice to take away the sins of the world (Philippians 2:6–8). Both Jews and Gentiles participated in His crucifixion, where His sacrifice was accepted. Because sin and death had no authority over Him, He was resurrected.

Those who trust in the person of Christ for salvation are adopted as children of God and counted as heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16–17). They look forward to His return, when He will establish His physical kingdom, which will be inherited only by those who have received mercy and grace through Him (2 Peter 3:13).

Have faith in God, revealed through the person of Christ. Understand that it is through faith in Him that we receive grace and forgiveness. As we await His return, we are called to obey His teachings in this life.

The Results of Having Faith

“Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him” (Mark 11:23).

This verse is often misused within the prosperity gospel or the “name it, claim it” philosophy. Many teach that if you simply declare what you want and believe it, you will receive it. Some even claim that “sowing a seed” of money is necessary to prove faith, and refusal to do so is seen as doubt. However, this is not what Jesus was teaching.

Faith is not a tool to get what we want but a trust in God’s power and authority (Hebrews 11:6). Being obedient and acting in firm biblical convictions of performing works that God has commanded for His glory will be fulfilled in His time. We must grow in spiritual maturity to discern what is good and in alignment with His will (Hebrews 5:14).

The Fruit of Faith

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:24–25).

The demonstration of faith and the tangible fruit of belief in the person of Christ is attached to our ability to forgive others. Just as we have trespassed against Christ and received His forgiveness, we are called to forgive those who have wronged us (Colossians 3:13).

A heart that forgives has a deeper understanding of the character of God and what He did to forgive—even though He did not have to, nor did He gain anything from doing so (Ephesians 4:32). It is through the power of the Spirit that we are able to reflect this divine mercy (Galatians 5:22–23).

Conclusion: The Measure of True Faith

Faith is not proven by the size of our prayers or the boldness of our declarations—it is proven by our obedience to Jesus and our ability to reflect His heart. Forgiveness is not optional for the believer; it is evidence that we understand the depth of what God has done for us (Matthew 18:32–35).

To follow Christ is to live in light of His mercy. He forgave us when we were His enemies (Romans 5:8), bore the punishment we deserved (Isaiah 53:5), and welcomed us into His family not because of what we did, but because of His love. If we claim to know Him, then we are called to forgive as we have been forgiven (Colossians 2:13).

When we choose to forgive, we echo the gospel itself. We declare that our hope is not in being proven right or seeking revenge but in the justice and mercy of God. We trust that He sees, He knows, and He will restore.

So, the question we must ask is this: Does my faith bear the fruit of forgiveness? If we cling to bitterness or withhold grace, we must return to the cross and remember what was given to us. And if we find forgiveness difficult—and we will—we must ask for God’s help, trusting that the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead can also soften our hearts and strengthen our will to obey.

Scripture References

  • Philippians 3:2–11 – True faith is found in knowing Christ, not personal achievements or religious performance.
  • Luke 17:3–6 – Jesus teaches that forgiveness is not optional and that faith is needed to obey this hard command.
  • Matthew 18:21–35 – The parable of the unforgiving servant shows the danger of receiving grace without extending it.
  • Matthew 6:7–15 – Jesus links our willingness to forgive with our own reception of forgiveness from the Father.
  • Romans 5:8 – Christ died for us while we were still sinners, showing the depth of divine forgiveness.
  • Isaiah 53:5 – The Messiah bore our punishment, securing peace and healing through His suffering.
  • Colossians 3:13 – We are commanded to forgive others as the Lord has forgiven us.
  • Galatians 5:22–23 – Forgiveness is a fruit of the Spirit, made possible by God's power working within us.
  • Hebrews 11:6 – Without faith, it is impossible to please God; we must trust that He rewards those who seek Him.
  • Hebrews 5:14 – Spiritual maturity is marked by discernment, knowing good from evil through constant practice.

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