“i forgive”

What lovely words these are; especially if you have wronged someone and you are sorry! Jesus set the example of forgiving for you and me to follow: “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” [Luke 23:34] This is forgiveness that would certainly be difficult to imitate; nonetheless, if we are indeed Christians we must imitate all examples that our Lord has set for us to follow. As a matter of fact Jesus has commanded us to forgive: [Mark 11:25] “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.” Have you ever trespassed against God? Yes indeed you have: [Rom. 3:23] “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Since each of us has sinned that means we need God’s forgiveness and Jesus says that the only way we can obtain God’s forgiveness is to forgive others. When we think of forgiveness like this it is indeed a very important subject for each of us. We need to allow God to take care of vengeance: [Rom. 12:19] “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” 

When the subject of forgiveness is brought up a question that often arises is, “How often should I forgive those who have done me wrong?” I believe that Jesus inferred that our forgiveness should be unlimited: [Matt. 18:21-22] “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?  ²²Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” At this point in Peter’s life he wasn’t much different than many of us, he wanted specific numbers.

To make this matter a little more personal I would like for each of us to consider our sins against God. When I recall the person that I once was I am compelled to wonder how God could ever forgive such a sinner as I was. When I think about the days and years of my life that were filled with sin and all the time that God gave me to repent I have to be very grateful that He spared my life until the gospel of Jesus Christ had an affect upon me! I know that there had to be days I would have surpassed the “seventy times seven” But thanks to God’s “longsuffering” He did grant me time to repent and when I did He forgave me: [Eph. 4:32] “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” If you have not obeyed the gospel I hope you will stop to reflect upon your life and come to realize that God will also forgive you just as He has countless numbers in the past and is still willing to do so today. Not only has God forgiven you so has Jesus Christ: [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.” Again I ask you to think of the sin that has been in your life and then let God know how grateful you are for His “longsuffering” and “forgiveness”.

Are you aware that when you forgive others it brings you glory? [Prov. 19:11] “The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.” If you make an honest effort to overcome evil with good you will attain true glory. To receive glory we must be slow to anger and forget about revenge.

Forgiveness should be accompanied with “forbearance”: [Col. 3:13] “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man has a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Friends, if you don’t have one you won’t have the other. Now let’s add “kindness” to this: [Rom. 12:20] “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” Have you ever tried this? The inspired apostle says it will work. Let us try a little harder to be forgiving like Jesus Christ is.

-Bud