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Forgiveness
Without forgiveness, we would have no friends, no family, and no
relationship with God. But forgiving is not as simple to understand nor as
easy to do as it may seem.
Forgiving is not forgetting. One can forgive without forgetting as
well as forget without forgiving. Forgiving is not a big person getting
two little persons by the arms, forcing them to face each other and say,
"I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
Forgiveness is not justice.
An "eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" has nothing to do with forgiveness.
Forgiveness is more like a pardon.
The debt is completely canceled, and the record is wiped completely clean. This is what the prophet was
referring to when he said, "Their sin will I remember no more" (Jer. 31:34
nkjv). New Testament writers use the word "justified" (Rom. 3:24). When
God forgives, He makes me just as if I had not sinned. God's forgiveness
is so complete, and the forgiven are so cleansed that the forgiveness
process is referred to as being "born again" (John 3:7), and a "new
creation" (2 Cor. 5:17 niv). The process is what Peter identified when he
said, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:38 niv).
And this is the forgiveness we are to extend to one another: "And be kind
to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in
Christ forgave you." (Eph. 4:32 nkjv).
Why are we often remiss in our forgiveness of others? Jesus points to a
bad memory as the reason. We tend to forget just how much and how often
the Lord has forgiven us. Remembering we are sinners saved by the grace of
God will result in a forgiving spirit.
Author: Jack Harriman, Four State Gospel News.
Courtesy of The First Account newsletter, Pecan Grove Church, Greenville, TX
http://www.pulpithelps.com/www/docs/1085 |
