Forgiveness

[George]

Forgiveness

I would like to take a look at the Biblical teaching of forgiveness. This is not about the forgiveness of God toward us but rather our forgiveness of others as they trespass against us. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer we ask that those who trespass against us are forgiven. I find this to be very important doctrine in the lives of Christians.

Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Actually this study could end right here but it will not. Let us take a closer look at what we have been told in these two verses.

Firstly, all means all and that is all it means. Bitterness is acridity and is related to the word poison. Bitterness is as a poison. In this case I believe it kills the spirit of not only the person or persons it is directed at but also the spirit of the one who harbors the bitterness. In order to not define terms in terms that need to be researched I must point out that acridity means deeply or violently bitter. Bitterness can become anger and anger can become wrath.

Wrath is defined as fierceness and indignation.

Anger means violent passion and by implication punishment. When involved in anger we are attempting to punish someone else for usually what is our shortcoming. I say shortcoming in that the Bible tells us to be angry and sin not. (Eph 4:26) Let us take a look at what John Gill has to say about Eph 4:26 in his commentary:

“Eph 4:26 - Be ye angry, and sin not ... There is anger which is not sinful; for anger is fouled in God himself, in Jesus Christ, in the holy angels, and in God's people; and a man may be said to be angry and not sin, when his anger arises from a true zeal for God and religion; when it is kindled not against persons, but sins; when a man is displeased with his own sins, and with the sins of others: with vice and immorality of every kind; with idolatry and idolatrous worship, and with all false doctrine; and also when it is carried on to answer good ends, as the good of those with whom we are angry, the glory of God, and the promoting of the interest of Christ: and there is an anger which is sinful; as when it is without a cause; when it exceeds due bounds; when it is not directed to a good end; when it is productive of bad effects, either in words or actions; and when it is soon raised, or long continues:”

According to Gill and I believe according to the Bible the only time anger is permitted is when it concerns anger over sin and particularly the sin in our own lives. You see we cannot really come to the point we despise the sin in other’s lives until we learn to abhor the sin in our own lives. We must become angry at the sin that exists in our own lives first and foremost.

Clamour is defined as an outcry resulting in tumult or grief. My word, why would we possibly want to cause tumult or grief in another person’s life? According to Eph 4:29 rather than cause clamour in another’s life we are to speak only those things which are edifying. Edifying means to build up. Rather than tear down another person through anger or wrath or clamour we are to speak those things which build him or her up. In Philippians 2:3 we are told to esteem others better than ourselves. We are to build them up and support them rather than tear them down through our own vainglory or gossip.

(Mat 18:21) Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? (Mat 18:22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

In Matthew 18:21,22 we find one of the more well-known passages in the Bible concerning forgiveness. In this instance the figure of seventy times seven is a complete or certain number for an uncertain or unknown quantity. What Jesus told us is that we are to forgive our brothers, as often as is needed with no limit to the amount of times the forgiveness is required; and it is required.

The topic of the Lord’s Supper comes to mind at this point. It is one of the two ordinances of the Church. There is some rather interesting scripture concerning the Lord’s Supper and our participation in that ordnance.

(1Co 11:26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. (1Co 11:27) Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (1Co 11:28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
(1Co 11:29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (1Co 11:30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (Emphasis added)

The Bible says, “whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily….For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” How is it that we can partake of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy state? In effect when we partake of the Lord’s Supper we are bringing our gift to the altar. What is that gift? It is our lives. Not only our mortal existence but also our entire existence including our mind, will and emotions. We are showing our love for and allegiance to Jesus Christ. As Paul put it when we partake of the Lord’s Supper I believe we are presenting our bodies a living sacrifice. (Rom 12:1)

Our sacrifice must be pure and clean, without spot or blemish. If we harbor ill will between us and our brother or brothers we are not upholding that requirement. We have unfinished business we need to attend to. Of course the very first thing we must do if there is ill will between us and someone else is to get right with God. We must keep short accounts with God. Then we must take the step of rectifying the problem between us and the other person or persons. Witness the following:

Mat 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Mat 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Pay particular attention to the teaching in these two verses. If we are presenting our gift to The Lord as we partake of the Lord’s Supper what does Jesus tell us we need to accomplish first? We must get right with our brethren. Jesus said not to even come to the altar if someone has something against us. If we have created ill will with someone else or even if we feel we are completely correct in our position yet someone has a problem with us we need to rectify it. We need to apologize for what has happened and ask forgiveness seventy times seven. I believe these two verses above are directly tied to 1 Cor 11:26-30. Compare the two and look at the ramifications of what they are telling us. It is dealing with forgiveness. Since God, for Christ’s sake has forgiven us how can we not forgive others?

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Col 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

The term “Put on” as used here literally has the sense of being clothed. We are to be clothed or cloaked with what follows the command. We are to cloth ourselves with those things because we are the elect, chosen or favorites of God. Then we are told with what to cloth ourselves. The word “bowels” literally means inward affection coupled with tender mercies. Mercies comes from a root which means to have pity on and to treat with compassion. Again I believe we ought to take a look at the mercies God shows us as an example of the mercies we need to exercise toward other people.

Then we are told to add to that kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and longsuffering. Are you aware the only people who can exercise these things on a regular basis are Christians? That is scripturally correct. Witness the following:

(Gal 5:22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Gal 5:23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Pay particular attention to the fact that most of the terms used in Colossians 3:12 are gifts of the Spirit. An unsaved person does not have the ability to interact with the Holy Spirit therefore they cannot receive those fruits. Certainly people can exhibit those traits part of the time. I have known very kind and gentle people. Yet according to the Bible those who work toward exhibiting these things in all their lives have to be Christians because these traits come from the Holy Spirit.

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.

In ending this study let us take a look at the two verses above. In Luke 17: the phrase “Take heed to yourselves” gives us the command to watch out for ourselves. Not to dismiss the needs of others but to watch out for our doctrines, our walk and our conversation. When we are told to rebuke the trespasser it is telling us to chasten; to punish; to afflict for correction. Notice it says to afflict for correction. We are not told to become angry over something our brother has done which offends us. I believe the following verse will explain it well: (2Ti 3:16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

If he repent forgive him. There is a lot of controversy in Christian circles concerning what the word “repent” actually means. The best definition that I have found relating to this verse is to remember with sorrow; as, to repent rash words; to repent an injury done to a neighbor; to repent follies and vices. So you see, we are told that if the one who has harmed us comes to us in the spirit of repentance and restoration we are to forgive that person. Not to think about it or consider it but to forgive.

We end with Luke 17:4 which is an expansion of Luke 17:3. We are told that no matter how many times in a day our brother causes us harm we are to forgive him. I believe that means that if someone comes to us in the spirit of repentance and we forgive him and then that person turns right around and does the same thing as long as the person comes back to us in the spirit of repentance we are to forgive them no matter how long it takes and how many instances occur.

Let us strongly consider this spirit of forgiveness in our lives.

In Christ,
George

[Brother Tim]

Well said, Brother George. Amen and amen!

Our church is having to deal with a member who has had a lifetime of drug abuse. He falls back over and over, then gets straightened out for awhile. He recently stole some equipment from us, and was confronted. The pastor forced his correction with the threat of jail (he will face 10+ years if he gets another conviction). Forgiveness is mandatory, but how to handle his continued failures is wearing some thin.

[IM4given]

I struggle with this issue on an almost daily basis - mostly against people who have wronged me and continue in their wrongness. Forget about them making any apologies either! It takes a lot of effort and energy concetrated on them, which takes my mind off the Lord. So by forgiving them, again and again, and letting go of their evil deed towards me instead of trying to "get back at them" in some way - I have more time to devote to prayer and Bible study.

Anyone who has ever lost a job due to back stabbing coworkers, or ever experienced an acrimonious divorce, knows what I am talking about.

[George]

Sister you must also remember that when you spend time in thinking about the folks who wrong you, you have given them control over your life. Now why on earth would you want to give anyone other than the Lord control over your life?

It is truth. Not too terribly long ago I had a Pastor wrong me incredibly. I let this man take control of my life to the point I left the Church I had been a member of for so long. It was a sad thing but I realize now that I let him control me rather than letting the Lord control me.

You see, when something like this happens our thoughts are consumed by the other person. These types of thoughts can progress to the point of rage if we are not careful. I find it vitally important that when a wrong thought comes into my head that I deal with it within 4 seconds. If that is done the thought does not have a chance to multiply. I find the best way to do it is to ask the Lord to take the thought away from me and replace it with something else. I must tell you that I am not always successful but I certainly do work at it.

In Christ,
George

[Bro Nobody]

Also keep in mind we forgive not because of, or through our own power or might. For if we attempt this, it is unworthy of acceptance and has little vallue. We forgive not because the person in our judgement seems repentant and humble. We forgive those who trespass against us, because God, through the Blood of His own Son leaves us without excuse. For if Jesus could say upon the cross "Father Forgive them". He is our example, He is our forgiveness, He is our power to forgive. If the master forgives, the servant must do no less.

[candlelight]

What a beautiful message on "Forgiveness" Brother George. I 100% agree with what you said about giving a person "control over your life." When a person (Christian) forgives someone they are getting rid of that bondage of sin. That horrible feeling of having a person take control of one's thoughts is terrible. When Jesus Christ is reigning in our lives--- we shouldn't give anyone access to our souls... except Him. Anger is like a virus. If you don't arrest it in time... it will continue to fester. And, the longer it festers? The longer it takes to remove it completely.

Satan loves it when we stay angry at someone. He knows he has gained control of our thoughts. Why would I want him to take control of my life? I don't! If I can help it... I get rid of that anger and fast! I know that the scriptures speak for themselves. The more a Christian stays in the Word of God... the more we learn to forgive and forget. Forgetting doesn't mean to not be cautious; however, keeping too "cautious" will allow "the Enemy" access to my life. I struggle with this all the time. I "try" to keep in mind that Satan is the "Accuser of the Brethren." When he goes to tattle on God's children... daily--- I "try" to combat that with going to the Lord with everything. Oh... how that is such a relief!

Bro Nobody said it well! Thank you for that reminder. How very true. God bless.

[George]

Bro Nobody Wrote:Also keep in mind we forgive not because of, or through our own power or might. For if we attempt this, it is unworthy of acceptance and has little vallue. We forgive not because the person in our judgement seems repentant and humble. We forgive those who trespass against us, because God, through the Blood of His own Son leaves us without excuse. For if Jesus could say upon the cross "Father Forgive them". He is our example, He is our forgiveness, He is our power to forgive. If the master forgives, the servant must do no less.

Amen Brother, that is why the verse: (Eph 4:32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

In Christ,
George

[candlelight]

Brother George... Ephesians 4:32 was what I included in my wedding announcement with another scripture verse. It is SO beautiful. Anger will just "eat a person's heart out." There is so much out there in the area of "Forgiveness." A person just needs to have a willing heart... of course. *Smile Christians and seekers of the Lord Jesus Christ*

God bless,

Molly

[Bro Nobody]

Amen to this message George. ...And I just wanted to change the topic word on the main page after seeing it for a long time Not that it should not be discussed just would rather see the word "forgiveness" instead