Forgiveness, There’s a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away and the father set off to find him. He searched for months but to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: “Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father.” On Saturday, 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers. (Bits & Pieces, October 15, 1992, p. 13).
Many times we are so filled with unforgiveness that we cannot see the good in others. As we know it is very difficult to forgive because of all the hurt that we have gone through. However, when Peter asks how many times we should forgive, Jesus says, seventy seven times. I guess many times we ask, out of frustration rather, we ask God how many times should I forgive. God replies, seventy seven times. The funny part to it is that, when we forgive from within, we don’t keep record, according to 1Cor 13, love keeps no record of wrong. So in other words, when we forgive, we cannot keep counting that this number one, number two, etc. of forgiveness. That also, means we have not forgiven genuinely.
Are we struggling to forgive ourself?
Forgiving ourself would be pretty difficult too. When we realize that we have done something that can’t be rectified, or turned around. We try our best to pacify ourselves with good works, buying gifts for people we have hurt, and who actually didn’t deserve it. Sometimes our decision can be drastic like self harm for letting others down. We feel, how could I do this to such a loving person.
Maybe you are curious about God’s forgiveness…wondering if he could forgive you for something you regret.
Micah 7:18-19
18 Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. 19 You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Isaiah 43:25-26
25 “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. 26 Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence
Isaiah 1:18
18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Psalm 103:10-14 – He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for his mercy toward those who fear and honor him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. He is like a father to us, tender and sympathetic to those who reverence him. For he knows we are but dust.
Hebrews 8:12 – For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Timothy 1:15-16 – Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
Luke 23:34 – As he hung on the cross – “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Forgiving Others: What is my Action or how should I behave?
I need to get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger. I need to show forgiveness, not forgetting how much God has forgiven us. My behaviour and action is testimony for many. As a psychologist, I have seen that most of the mental and emotional issues are because of pent up feelings, lies and deception. It is always better to get things cleared. The most important and crucial part of our life, is COMMUNICATION. The enemy always attacks our communication. Between a spouse, children and parents, between friends, etc. Every relationship is based on healthy communication. The moment bitterness and unforgiveness seeps in, we stop communicating and that is the time when the enemy builds a small house in our heart, making it worse. Building bricks of lies and deception. Every action of the other person seems to be hurting. We put on the glasses of unforgiveness.
There are times when we shut the voice of God also. We hear ourself and believe that we are right. We dwell in self pity. We encourage gossip and will speak to only those people who would entertain self pity. It’s a cycle, if not broken, then will lead to massive outcomes which are destructive in nature. We need to seek help immediately. We need to listen to God and our disciplers. Forgive as Jesus forgave. He forgave us, while we were still sinners. He cried out to God saying, Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Easier said than done.
Ephesians 4:31-32 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Luke 17:3-4
3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
Mark 11:25 – And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Colossians 3:13 – Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:13
Matthew 6:12 – From the Lord’s Prayer – “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15
How should we live then? Practical Forgiveness
We live peaceably and in harmony. We need not overcome evil with evil. We need to understand the other person’s perspective. In what state of mind they are?
There was a king who had suffered much from his rebellious subjects. But one day they surrendered their arms, threw themselves at his feet, and begged for mercy. He pardoned them all. One of his friends said to him, “Did you not say that every rebel should die?”
“Yes,” replied the king, “but I see no rebels here.”
Romans 12:18-21 – If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
It is not easier to forgive people who have hurt us. When we look at them, we feel the rage coming back again. How about Jesus? When he looks at us do you think he feels angry or loved. Gladystain’s daughter said forgiveness is a nature that every Christian should have. If we are called the children of God, then, also need to carry his being, his nature of forgiveness.
Without forgiveness, every relationship dies. There is no hope. We need to consciously keep forgiving and ask the Holy Spirit to help us.
Matthew 5:39-41 – But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well, and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
Proverbs 17:9 – Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.
Luke 6:35-36 -But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirs old quarrels, but love overlooks insults.
General Oglethorpe once said to John Wesley, “I never forgive and I never forget.” To which Wesley replied, “Then, Sir, I hope you never sin.” (Source unknown).
God takes heed into our brokenness. There are times when we are speechless, and cry out from our heart, that only if someone could understand us. There are times when issues have gone beyond our control, and we have fallen prey to enemies deception, through misunderstandings and false interpretations, as well as assumptions. There’s still hope. The hope is Holy Spirit. He will enable us to forgive even in the most difficult of situations.
John 14:26-27 – But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
1 Peter 5:7 – Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.
Philippians 4:13 – For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
2 Corinthians 12:9 – Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take
Intercessory Forgiveness
We need to ask pardon for others also. There are times when others hurt us unknowingly. We need to ask God to forgive them too. Like an unbelieving family member, nation, government. God releases forgiveness and heals.
Numbers 14:19-21
19 In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” 20 The LORD replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth,
Matthew 26:28
28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Acts 3:19
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
Ephesians 1:7
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Colossians 1:13-14
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
GOLD.
—All you have got to do is to prove that you are a sinner, and I will prove that you have got a Saviour.
—Do you believe the Lord will call a poor sinner, and then cast him out? No! his word stands forever, “Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out.”
—If God put Adam out of this earthly Eden on account of one sin, do you think He will let us into the Paradise above with our tens of thousands sins upon us.
—The only charge they could bring against Christ down here was, that He was receiving bad men. They are the very kind of men He is willing to receive.
—”Lord, you don’t really mean that we shall preach the Gospel to those men that murdered you, to those men that took your life?” “Yes,” says the Lord, “go and preach the Gospel to those Jerusalem sinners.” I can imagine Him saying: “Go and hunt up that man that put the cruel crown of thorns upon My brow, and preach the Gospel to him. Tell him he shall have a crown in My kingdom without a thorn in it.”
Sandra wife of Virjil . The New Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that New Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
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