What Is True Forgiveness? (2)
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· 7 viewsUnconditional Forgiveness, To be Christ Like.
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What Is True Forgiveness?
What Is True Forgiveness?
A letter written to a man on death row by the Father of the man whom the man on death row had killed:
You are probably surprised that I, of all people, am writing a letter to you, but I ask you to read it in its entirety and consider its request seriously. As the Father of the man whom you took part in murdering, I have something very important to say to you.
I forgive you. With all my heart, I forgive you. I realize it may be hard for you to believe, but I really do. At your trial, when you confessed to your part in the events that cost my Son his life and asked for my forgiveness, I immediately granted you that forgiving love from my heart. I can only hope you believe me and will accept my forgiveness.
But this is not all I have to say to you. I want to make you an offer — I want you to become my adopted child. You see, my Son who died was my only child, and I now want to share my life with you and leave my riches to you. This may not make sense to you or anyone else, but I believe you are worth the offer. I have arranged matters so that if you will receive my offer of forgiveness, not only will you be pardoned for your crime, but you also will be set free from your imprisonment, and your sentence of death will be dismissed. At that point, you will become my adopted child and heir to all my riches.
I realize this is a risky offer for me to make to you — you might be tempted to reject my offer completely — but I make it to you without reservation.
Also, I realize it may seem foolish to make such an offer to one who cost my Son his life, but I now have a great love and an unchangeable forgiveness in my heart for you.
Finally, you may be concerned that once you accept my offer you may do something to cause you to be denied your rights as an heir to my wealth. Nothing could be further from the truth. If I can forgive you for your part in my Son’s death, I can forgive you for anything. I know you never will be perfect, but you do not have to be perfect to receive my offer. Besides, I believe that once you have accepted my offer and begin to experience the riches that will come to you from me, that your primary (though not always) response will be gratitude and loyalty.
Some would call me foolish for my offer to you, but I wish for you to call me your Father.
Sincerely,
God the Father
First let us define “Forgiveness”: As a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness.
But, what is “True Forgiveness?”
Simply putting it, “UNCONDITIONAL FORGIVENESS.”
When God forgives us of our sins, it is unconditional.
He will forgive us of that sin or sins and never brings it back up again, unless we commit the same sin or sins again.
Then we have to ask Him to forgive us of them again.
12 As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Why do you suppose God said, “He will forgive us as far as the east is to the west, other than, north to south?”
Because there is an actual “north pole” and a “south pole,” so that as you travel, at some point you are ending in one direction, and beginning in another, only to eventually wind up right where you began.
But, there is no such starting and ending point if you are traveling east to west.
You simply continue in that direction, without such a point at which you distinctly are then, traveling in the opposite direction.
The reason why? Because, there are no east or west poles.
That’s, “True Forgiveness, and it’s unconditional!”
Starting at a young age, we’re taught to forgive people because it’s “the right thing to do.”
I. So, Why Is It So, Hard For Us To Forgive Others?
I. So, Why Is It So, Hard For Us To Forgive Others?
Forgiving is difficult because, the human consciousness has a hard time living in the present. We dwell on the past and the bad things that people have done to us, as well as what we have done to others.
We are consumed with our past actions. We let things from the past feaster so, we are unable to live a happy life in the present. The past is what it is the past, we can’t change it, but we can learn from it, and with pray and, the Lord’s guidance will help us to overcome our past.
Four reasons people don’t forgive each other.
There’s too much anger that causes a lack of self-control.
When you’re angry, the emotions can be to strong and blinging that forgiveness will be the last thing on your mind.
You may be scared to forgive, in fear of getting hurt again.
Perhaps you’re used to the same behaviors or actions repeating and don’t want to be disappointed again.
As a result, you end up shutting yourself away.
Which doesn’t leave you any room to forgive.
You believe that the person or persons who offended you deserves punishment.
When you hold a grudge against someone, it may be your attempt at punishing them.
This is how you gain a sense of control and power after you get your feelings hurt or feel victimized.
In reality, you may be carrying heavy burden of grudges, while the other person is moving on with their life.
You feel misunderstood and find it hard to trust or let the offensive party back in.
You find it difficult to forgive someone if they never made you feel understood or heard.
It’s easier to justify your decision to hold onto that resentment.
After all, why should you forgive the other person,.
When they didn’t you well, RIGHT?
II. What Does The Bible Teach Us About Forgiveness?
II. What Does The Bible Teach Us About Forgiveness?
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Jesus is saying to Peter, to forgive indefinitely.
The seventy times seven is a symbolic expression for infinity.
In other words, Christian are called to forgive an infinite number of times because,
That is the number of times we are forgiven by God.
When a Christian fails to forgive, it becomes inconsistent with the infinite forgiveness of God.
We are not staying with the will of God.
Which is to forgive each other, the same way God forgives us.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
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.
Paul is telling us to put off our bad habits.
In Christ we are all the same.
Since, we are Born Again Christian’s, we are to take off the old person we use to be, and put on the new person we have become.
Since, we are the elect of God, we need to show others the same mercy, kindness, that God give to us.
Since, Jesus Christ forgives us, we are to forgive others that we have a problem with.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Paul is telling us the same thing that was in the pervious Scripture.
If your in Christ, your a new creature, and our old way pass away.
A. Other Scripture about Forgiveness!
A. Other Scripture about Forgiveness!
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
III. Jesus Himself Tell’s Us We Have To Forgive Others.
III. Jesus Himself Tell’s Us We Have To Forgive Others.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Jesus is saying, “If you forgive others, then God the Father will forgive you.
If you want forgive others, then God the Father will not forgive you.
And why should He?
Jesus told God the Father to forgive the people who nailed Him to the cross.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
If we are to be Christ Like, then we as God’s Children.
Have to be like our Lord Jesus Christ and forgive people unconditionally.
You can’t live a heathy spiritual life with:
Hate
Resentment
Malice
Un-forgiveness
To be forgiven, we must forgive others.
There is nothing in the Bible that says, you have to stay friends, but does say to forgive them.
There is nothing in the Bible that says, you have to run around with them, but does say to forgive them.
To forgive someone unconditionally, you have to forgive people no matter what that person(s) has said, or done to you.
To forgive someone unconditionally, you forgive that person(s) and you never bring it up again.
You forgive them.
You forget what was done to you.
You leave it in the past were it belongs.
You never bring it up again.
Remember the past is the past.
You can’t change the past.
You can change your present.
By forgiving others, “UNCONDITIONALLY.”
Invitation: