Forgive

[apothanein kerdos]

All of existence rest upon forgiveness. While it was not created to be this way, due to the fall it has inevitably become this way. Everything is in its fallen state and no longer how God intended it to be, thus without forgiveness, everything, including you and I, decays into nothingness. The forgiveness of sins, of our fallen state, is really the only hope that we have. For without forgiveness there is no communication with God, which is exactly what hell is.

[Imamom]

I loved your post. It is so true that we must forgive those who sin against us as our sins are forgiven through Christ. Its in the Lords prayer also "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." I once asked a question about when Jesus is asked how many times you should forgive your brother and he responds seventy times seven. Hmmm. seventy times seven...four hundred ninety times. I no longer have to forgive the person that led me to ask this question. Ha! No. It's not to be taken literal in that sense. It means to keep forgiving over and over. Should our sins not be forgiven by our heavenly Father because we've exceeded the number. I think not. Since our sins are continually being forgiven we should do the same.

There is a difference between forgiveness and tolerance that should be addressed. Which I think hits on the trust and ill feeling issue in the original post. When you really forgive someone who sinned against you then the feelings of bitterness no longer burdens you. In a way when one can forgive another it gives a good effect.

This is how I explain tolerance which is not the same of forgiveness. When someone sins against us it causes bitterness and resentment which are like a wound that are filled with infection. The wound will not heal and grows bigger and more damaging. Sometimes it will heal over on the surface only and the infection that is deep within keeps growing. Over time the growth of the infection causes such great pressure that eventually the wound reopens in order to release that which is filling it. Until this wound is properly taken care of and healed from the inside out does the cycle end. And what big scars we are left with.

Just because someone does not ask for our forgiveness does not mean that we should not forgive them. To not forgive someone just because they haven't asked eliminates our own ability to heal the wounds caused by whatever it may have been. Forgiving someone does not make what they did right. And forgiving someone is also not giving them the right to purposefully keep sinning against you. (It is tolerance to an unhealthy degree that gives the person the opportunity to keep sinning against you).

Remember that when someone sins against you they typically have also sinned against God. Likewise when we sin against another it is the same that we have sinned against God. It is important that we ask forgiveness as well as offer forgiveness. Jesus, came as a man and remained sin free. His life was given up for me and my sins. How can I better honor what he has done for me than to offer forgiveness to others. Thank You Jesus for saving me.

Edited March 3, 2005 by Imamom

[tsth]

I'm sorry SJ, but I do believe that in the example of the unforgiving servant, it WAS after he WAS asked to forgive a debt, that he was unwilling to forgive. Also, take the example of Joseph and his brothers, I believe that this story is a wonderful example of forgiveness and the process of it. Forgiveness is about being willing to forgive when someone asks for it.......just as Christ is willing to forgive (when we ask).

We are not to harbor hatred toward our brothers.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[apothanein kerdos]

Good luck ever getting God to talk to you then. Remember, if we do not forgive He will not forgive us. There is no stipulations or prerequisets for us in order to forgive someone else.

In fact, Matthew 6:14 would show us that in order to, once again, have fellowship with God, we must forgive somebody of what they have done to us regardless of if they asked for it.

[hmh]

Forgiveness is the first big step in healing, especially if you suffered any real harm from someone's sin. Forgiveness also is a second step in reestablishing your walk with God, because without forgiveness we would not be able to have fellowship with him. Because God forgave our transgressions, and as such we also need to forgive the transgressions that have been committed against us. Sometimes it can be difficult, but with God's grace and help we can reach that point.

[eric]

I believe when Jesus was explainig the forgiveness, He was referring the forgiveness of the believing brothers, not the unbelievers. For instance, Peter said to Jesus,: Lord how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him, Until seventy times?Also in Matt.7 Jesus said why look at the splinter in your brother's eye but do not consider the log in your own eye? Many times in the NT the forgivness of brethren is mentioned. I could be wrong,but I believe forgiveness of your brethren is paramount, but I'm not to sure about people like the Tyrants of yesteryear., like Hitler and co. Those like have probably gone where they belong.

just my thoughts,

eric.

Edited March 3, 2005 by eric

[apothanein kerdos]

Brother can also refer to neighbor. In fact, "brother" wasn't used by Christians until after Christ had died and rose again. So Peter talking about "brother" was refering to most likely a fellow Jew or even a fellow man.

[tsth]

I think I'm being misunderstood. I'm talking about the heart being ready and eager for forgiveness. It is having a heart that is praying for restoration to happen, according to God's Will. It is not forcing the issue, sometimes God intends for certain circumstances to take place, in order for His Divine Plans to come to fruition. I do not believe that we should go and force the issue of forgiveness, when it is not time, in the heart of the offender.

Joseph waited and watched, he did not reveal himself immediately to them. He listened first.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Orr v'emet]

I think I'm being misunderstood.

[Keith]

I think we should be willing to forgive everyone, brother/sister or not. God didn't pick and choose who He would forgive. Forgiveness is available to everyone.

It may take time for us to be able to forgive someone else for something they've done, but I think if we are at least willing to forgive someone, even if we are unable to at the moment, then God will work that forgiveness out in us.

It reminds me of the story of Corrie ten Boom, the daughter of a Dutch watch maker in Holland. Her family hid Jews during the Nazi invasion and were all sent to concentration camps for it. One of the guards at the women's camp treated her and her sister horribly! Her sister ended up dying in there. When Corrie was "accidentally" released due to a clerical error, she ended up speaking all over the world of God's love. At one engagement, that same guard was present. Corrie's heart was filled with hatred and she prayed that God would take it away. The guard came up to her after she spoke and asked for forgiveness. She said that God filled her heart with love for this guard and she forgave the guard and embraced her. This guard was a Christian at this time so it's a case of a sister forgiving another sister, but the principle of being willing to forgive was there.

By the way, the day after Corrie was "accidentally" released, all the women her age were put to death in the gas chamber.