A few weeks ago we looked at the importance of forgiveness. We all are in desperate need of it and without it we are eternally condemned. Those who are true followers of Christ understand well their need for forgiveness. However, they are not always quick to extend forgiveness to their fellow man. Christ illustrated the foolishness and wickedness of this with a parable. (Matthew 18:21-35) In the parable there is a servant who has an unpayable debt owed to a king. He asks for patience from the king, saying that he would pay him back. The king was merciful and forgave him his debt. However, having been forgiven an unpayable debt the servant does not respond to his fellow servant in the same way. He does not forgive the debt owed him and has his fellow servant thrown into prison. The king then hears what has happened and has the unmerciful servant thrown into jail until he should repay the debt. (Remember that this debt was unpayable) The consequences were great for the unmerciful servant! Jesus ends the parable by saying, “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” These are sobering words for anyone who is not willing to forgive their fellowman. These words are repeated in Matt.6:12-15 in the Lord’s prayer and commanded in other verses in the New Testament (Col.3:13; Eph.4:32). Forgiveness is not an option for the believer.
Photo courtesy of Harley Winborn
Our sins can be completely forgiven through Christ. (Ps.103:12)
The book “The Self Confrontation Manual” outlines how forgiveness is lived out.
Forgiveness in Action
1. Keeps no record of wrongs
1 Cor.13:5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; (the Greek word for irritable includes the meaning of not keeping track of wrongs committed)
2. Not a gossip about a person’s sins to others
Eph. 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear”
3. Not dwell on the offense yourself
Phil.4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
4. Restore fellowship with the forgiven person or the offender, as far as is biblically possible
Rom.12:18,19 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 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.”
It may be that the person who offended you is unrepentant. The transaction of forgiveness can not then happen. You are able to forgive them before the Lord, but if the person is not willing to repent and change then there can be no restoration of the relationship.
Ie David and Saul…Saul at times even spoke of repentance, but there was no repentance and the relationship was never restored. David trusted the Lord to deal with the sin of Saul and yet he did not move back to the palace, because he knew the heart of Saul.
5. Loving God without loving people is an impossibility (1 John 4:20,21). Forgiveness should include comforting those who have sinned and repented, as well as reaffirming your love to them. (2 Cor.2:6-8)
6. Forgiveness is to be granted when requested without limitation (Matt.18:21,22)
It is the Lord’s desire that the body of Christ be united.(John 17:20-26) There can be no unity without forgiveness. We will inevitably sin against one another, but we need to be a people who are quick to repent and a people who are quick to repent. We need to be people who are eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit. (Eph.4:3) We can forgive, because we have been forgiven. We would not understand what true forgiveness is without having experienced the forgiveness of God. When we truly grasp how much we have been forgiven, we will be a lot quicker to forgive. As we forgive we are able to pursue being the kind of church that God wants us to be. I conclude this blog with the words written by Peter in (1 Peter 3:8). “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”