Matthew 6:14-15 has a direct and uncomfortable application; persistent unwillingness to forgive may be evidence of not being in Christ, not a cause of losing salvation

Winger reads the passage: if you forgive others God forgives you; if not, God will not forgive you. He acknowledges this is extreme but takes the application as clear. The acts of a Christian are an outgrowth of the Holy Spirit working within (Philippians 2:13). Refusing to forgive may not cause a genuine believer to lose salvation but persistent unwillingness to forgive can be significant evidence that one is not genuinely in Christ. He cautions against paranoia — Christians can struggle with forgiveness — but this should not be minimized.