My apologies.

[Whyme]

Im not always soft-spoken and that's something i need to work on.. I want to apologize for offenses on my part. I love Jesus and i believe he wants me to say i am sorry. The Spirit wants humility and gentleness, and i hear God calling me that way. If i could be more self controlled and gentle i would be very happy. God will get me there if i abide in the Lord. Fellowship i believe is part of abiding in Him. So please forgive me for contention and offenses. Thank you.

[Guest clancy]

Praise God, He places it on our hearts when we are to say sorry...that is my belief, but, brother Josheb on a thread I started, about an apology , said it should be followed by change that can be seen, my point is,if it’s genuine change will follow, so I agree with Josheb on that point, in fact the Holy Spirit spoke to me about my behaviour through Josheb..

Not referring to you here Whyme........saying sorry is easy to say ,but must be followed by notable change.

 

[Whyme]

11 minutes ago, clancy said:

Praise God, He places it on our hearts when we are to say sorry...that is my belief, but, brother Josheb on a thread I started, about an apology , said it should be followed by change that can be seen, my point is,if it’s genuine change will follow, so I agree with Josheb on that point, in fact the Holy Spirit spoke to me about my behaviour through Josheb..

Not referring to you here Whyme........saying sorry is easy to say ,but must be followed by notable change.

 

Sure, i agree. Jesus said to forgive 70 times 7. Sometimes i feel like i need that.

[Debp]

2 hours ago, Whyme said:

Im not always soft-spoken and that's something i need to work on.. I want to apologize for offenses on my part. I love Jesus and i believe he wants me to say i am sorry. The Spirit wants humility and gentleness, and i hear God calling me that way. If i could be more self controlled and gentle i would be very happy. God will get me there if i abide in the Lord. Fellowship i believe is part of abiding in Him. So please forgive me for contention and offenses. Thank you.

It was refreshing to read your post.   I can tell your words were spoken in sincerity by someone who was touched by the Holy Spirit in his heart.   That is genuine Christianity....a heart sensitive to the voice of the Spirit.

[Ray12614]

3 hours ago, Whyme said:

Im not always soft-spoken and that's something i need to work on.. I want to apologize for offenses on my part. I love Jesus and i believe he wants me to say i am sorry. The Spirit wants humility and gentleness, and i hear God calling me that way. If i could be more self controlled and gentle i would be very happy. God will get me there if i abide in the Lord. Fellowship i believe is part of abiding in Him. So please forgive me for contention and offenses. Thank you.

My exhortation to you is certainly we can disagree on various topics . . . but when it turns 'personal' accusing each other, we need to stop ourselves immediately otherwise we add 'wood to the fires' so to speak.

I would like to say that I have mastered that, but, cannot do so. I am continually working on that part of interpersonal relationships. There is something in all of us that wants to have the last word on any topic, but, once we make our points we should just leave it at that and move on with a spirit of gentleness. Once we arrive at our heavenly home with Jesus, we will be perfectly united in one mind and accord. There are no divisions in the presence of the Lord, and I personally look forward to that day!

It is obvious that the Holy Spirit is working with you on this subject, and all I can say is 'welcome to the group' as He is also working on me in that regard. Wether we agree or disagree at times I am proud to call you my Brother in Christ!  I look forward to your posts in the future. Lets stay kind to each other . . . 

Grace and Peace to you . . . Ray . . . 

[Whyme]

8 hours ago, Debp said:

It was refreshing to read your post.   I can tell your words were spoken in sincerity by someone who was touched by the Holy Spirit in his heart.   That is genuine Christianity....a heart sensitive to the voice of the Spirit.

 

6 hours ago, Ray12614 said:

My exhortation to you is certainly we can disagree on various topics . . . but when it turns 'personal' accusing each other, we need to stop ourselves immediately otherwise we add 'wood to the fires' so to speak.

I would like to say that I have mastered that, but, cannot do so. I am continually working on that part of interpersonal relationships. There is something in all of us that wants to have the last word on any topic, but, once we make our points we should just leave it at that and move on with a spirit of gentleness. Once we arrive at our heavenly home with Jesus, we will be perfectly united in one mind and accord. There are no divisions in the presence of the Lord, and I personally look forward to that day!

It is obvious that the Holy Spirit is working with you on this subject, and all I can say is 'welcome to the group' as He is also working on me in that regard. Wether we agree or disagree at times I am proud to call you my Brother in Christ!  I look forward to your posts in the future. Lets stay kind to each other . . . 

Grace and Peace to you . . . Ray . . . 

Thank you.

[Not me]

The Spirit of Love being tasted in the post(s) a blessing to partake of..,

Munchidy munch, uumm good..

Blessings. Not me 

[Wayne222]

Paul said if we have anything agaisnt anyone we should forgive them. Otherwise satan will use it against us. Its good to practice forgiveness. And to ask for forgiveness. When we need to. 

[Whyme]

1 hour ago, Josheb said:

Change proves confession and repentance sincere. A lack of observable change proves apologies incomplete at best; insincere and self-deceiving at worst.

Matthew 21:28-31
"But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go work today in the vineyard.'  And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward he regretted it and went.  The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, 'I will, sir'; but he did not go.  Which of the two did the will of his father? They said, 'The first.' Jesus said to them, 'Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.'"

You dont need to forgive. The Lord says i can ask 70 times seven and my brother should forgive. The Lord wasn't looking for change, just a contrite heart. But he wasn't looking for perfection.,

[Whyme]

15 minutes ago, Josheb said:

I don't see anyone disputing that so I wonder why the need to post that was felt. Knowledgeable and understanding believers don't forgive solely for the benefit of the wrongdoer. My forgiving others frees me, not just the other. My forgiving another in the flesh is just another fleshly act; it merits little. My forgiving another as a manifestation of Christ within me is what I was created to be, not just do. Anyone can be a person who behaviorally forgives acts of wrongdoing but that is substantively different than being an ontologically forgiving person (a person whose very nature is to forgive). 

That I do need to be. 

Similar truths apply to repentance. Anyone can say, "I'm sorry," but to live a life of confession, repentance, restitution, forgiveness and reconciliation is an entirely different existence. 

And the Lord did NOT say, "Ask 70 times seven..." What he said is forgive seventy times 7. 

Matthew 18:21-22
"Then Peter came and said to Him, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?'  Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'"

There's no "ask" in either of those verses. In point of fact, if I do wrong and correctly repent after having done so then there won't be a second occasion, much less 70 times seven of them. Which is the better life to live: one in which I learn the practice of confession, repentance, etc. so abundantly that it becomes who I am and what I do without further belaboring of the same wrong doing 490 times, or the life where I spend 490 I'm sorries on the same wrongdoing? 

Who among us is so good at the Christian life we never need ask for forgiveness? Who among us is so we never have need to forgive? 

Luke 7:40-50
"And Jesus answered him, 'Simon, I have something to say to you.' And he replied, 'Say it, teacher.' 'A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?'  Simon answered and said, 'I suppose the one whom he forgave more.' And He said to him, 'You have judged correctly.'  Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You gave me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet.  You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with perfume.  For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.  Then He said to her, 'Your sins have been forgiven.'  Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, 'Who is this man who even forgives sins?'  And He said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.'" 

Those forgiven love much. Is that true of those not understanding their forgiveness? 

Surely these things are known, yes?

What love will an apology for rude posts beget a person if no change is witnessed? Trick question. We're called to love regardless of another's integrity (or lack thereof). My repenting of my wrongdoing is for my benefit paid forward into the lives of others. God is a God of relationship. 

A contrite heart is change. The Lord was not looking for change but..... "The Spirit wants humility and gentleness, and i hear God calling me that way". Isn't that change, too?

Hmmm... 

Matthew 5:48
"Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." 

Apparently, he does look for perfection. 

 

My original point is this: Apologies are nice and a very common and possibly beneficial social norm but they are not wholly scriptural. The only time we find anyone in the New Testament apologizing is when pagans apologize for abusing Christians (seriously, look it up). The scriptural expectations, the scriptural standards are much higher. No one here is criticizing the op, Whyme. Everyone, including me, is supportive of the implicit expression of sorrow, regret, and resolve. But look at the posts. There is also the call to apply that repentance to future posts. Apply it to future posts so others can see it and bear witness to its authenticity. 
 

You said forgiveness was dependent on change. Why did you post that? I see no relevance. There is either forgiveness or not. Jesus said forgive seventy times seven. That doesnt sound like Jesus is looking for perfect actions on the part of the one asking forgiveness. So why did you post contrary to what the Lord taught?

Edited April 28, 2021 by Whyme