Forgivness

[BoldlyProclaimingChrist]

I definitely agree with Lady C. Forgiveness is a tough thing. I've hated my dad my whole life and for good reasons...VERY GOOD REASONS. But I COULD NOT forgive him until I got saved. I prayed and asked God to take this anger away from me. I was also angry because my dad had gotten saved since and I was wondering where is the justice? I was still hurting yet he's off scott free. So I prayed and it took time. I could not have done this on my own. I guess I should have stated that - I did nothing on my own strength.

Thanks LadyC

[hal]

In our healing class we teach that holding unforgiveness is one of the main barriers to healing.

For what we teach and how to do it, go to:

http://home.san.rr.com/healing/barriers.htm

[Guest ILive4Him]

yes i agree, healing eluded me until I was able to forgive. When I forgave, my whole identity changed, I changed! before, i was a victim of abuse, once i forgave, I am no longer a victim but am truly a new creation.

[traveller]

Forgiveness is one of the biggest things we need to do in our Christian walk.

Mat:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Peacemakers. We know we are to forgive, but why? Look, unresolved conflicts causes hindrances in our relationship with God.

1 John 4:20

20. If someone says, "I love God,'' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

It also grounds our prayers.

Mark 11:24-26

24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

25 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

26 "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.''

Luke 6:27-28

27. "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28. "bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.

Yeah - it's hard to forgive at times. But it hurts you and I more to not forgive. We are the ones that suffer if we carry it around. We have to come to a place where we can lay it down. Our difference may not be resolved, but Jesus didn't ask that of us. We are told to reconcile. To be a peacemaker does not mean to have all the answers and all the solutions. It means to walk in love. Don't carry bitterness and hate around. Not even grudges. Sure we will be hurt and persecuted and lied to and physically harmed and many many things. But we have to get to a place where we can forgive, and go on. Ahhhh - the rewards that follow.

Black and white? It should be. Jesus said to do it, therefore, he will enable us to do it. Sometimes we have to pray like this:

Father, in obediance to you I forgive my brother. You know my heart and that I don't want to and I don't know how to, but I trust in you to change my heart and equip me to do this. Thank you for showing me what is important and what is merely flesh. Teach me your ways Lord.

Remember, this place is temporary.

[BigJer]

"Forgive us our traspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"

If we even want God's forgiveness, we must choose to forgive. That doesn't always mean that THEY will let go of their hatred, but we must do our part if we want forgiveness.

[Guest aka_mary]

I've always felt that forgiveness was like a command. Not a choice.

Most of us by nature would not be able to forgive willingly. Our hurt, pain, disappointment etc would get the best of us. We are emotional by nature.

I've recently experienced what the effects of unforgiveness are.

Myself and a friend had a falling out 2 weeks before christmas. It was a very bad situation that touched my entire family. I knew from past experiences that holding onto the hurt and pain was only going to bring about anger and bitterness.

I chose forgiveness. Swiftly. I wrote her a letter and mailed it. I was obedient to God, and thankfully bitterness and anger did not flourish. That doesn't mean that I wasn't sad however.

She on the other hand just sent me an email last week. She felt like she had to work through forgiving me. Said it took 6 long months. She had to feel like forgiving me. Said she wanted to make sure it was genuine.

I don't understand that way. Again I don't think it has anything whatsoever to do with what we think. It isn't a choice if you are a christian. If God can forgive a wrech like me, instantly.....

[Jedi4Yahweh]

I kind of agree with most of you guys on forgiveness.

But as I was reading the bible on forgivenes the stood out to me.

Luk 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Luk 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Notice the words "if he repent".

I believe forgiveness is based on our repentance. I believe God forgives us based on our repentance.

I believe if I go out and commet a sin and ask forgiveness yet in my heart I truly intend to continue doing that sin. God is not required to forgive me.

Its the same when we deal with others I am not required to forgive others unless they repent of their wrong doing. Yet if that person ask for my forgiveness i am required to forgive based on this persons change of heart and repentance.

I may be wrong but it seems pretty clear in scripture.

Another example:

I am not required to forgive a murderer while he continues to murder people. Yet if he stops and request my forgiveness I would be required to forgive that person.

Amen

[Guest aka_mary]

Jedi4Yahweh,

you brought up some interesting points.. I do have a question though. I will be straight with it and not hypothetical. I was molested as a child, it was not until I became a christian 8 years ago that I was finally able to forgive my perpetrator. He has never repented or sought forgiveness. Heck he denies it ever happened.

If I had to wait to forgive him based on his asking I would not be able to in this in my lifetime. My bitterness and anger for some 22 years is what prevented me from becoming a christian. It was not until I forgave him, and gave him over to the Lord that I felt peace, and was released. He's God's problem not mine.

So what do you do if the person doesn't seek forgiveness?

[Jedi4Yahweh]

He has never repented or sought forgiveness. Heck he denies it ever happened.

I think out of the kindness of your heart you forgave him, but I also believe that you were not obligated based on scripture to forgive him because he never repented or confessed of his wrong doing.

But maybe one day as you pray for this persons repentance and salvation he may repent and ask for your forgiveness.

I have seen it happen.

[BobTriez]

He has never repented or sought forgiveness. Heck he denies it ever happened.

I think out of the kindness of your heart you forgave him, but I also believe that you were not obligated based on scripture to forgive him because he never repented or confessed of his wrong doing.

But maybe one day as you pray for this persons repentance and salvation he may repent and ask for your forgiveness.

I have seen it happen.

I would have to disagree with you here.....in the Words of our Lord Jesus -

Matthew 6:14-15

14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Jesus made it clear over & over again throughout His ministry that forgiveness is paramount in a Christian's life. If you desire forgiveness from God, you must forgive others. I do not see that as an option!

Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians -

Ephesians 4:31-32

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Again, this as a command, not an option....and more so, it's a condition of your heart....it's all about love....if you love your neighbor, and I mean truly love your neighbor as Christ commands us to, there is absolutely no room for a grudge. Read 1 Corinthians 13 and see what it has to say about love. How can you love one another if you don't or won't forgive someone ?

It's not just a matter of "kindness of the heart", it's a matter of love and how it all ties everything together. Hope that made sense....

In Him,

Bob