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Forgive — Be Forgiven
††† Forgiving others begins with a choice, then a trust on God and a faith in Christ by the power of the Spirit. It is a choice motivated by love “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart,” (1 Peter 1:22). Love will always forgive. We begin the day with a prayer (Luke 11:4) “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” It is a plea for forgiveness but includes forgiving everyone. The devil tempts us to withhold forgiveness, but our prayer to God includes “lead us not into temptation." Forgiving is a choice—(not an option) and a command—(not a suggestion) from the only One who can forgive us. Jesus’ parable reminds us that the unforgiving servant received the severest of sentences. “In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed,” (Matthew 18:34-35). "In the same way my Heavenly Father will deal with you, if you do not all of you forgive one another from your hearts" (WEY). Satan tempts to resent, hold grudges, and be bitter, but God gave His Son to save us (John 3:16) and is waiting for “everyone to come to repentance,” (2 Peter 3:9). No one would perish if they would be willing to repent of their sins and to forgive from the heart. (1 John 1:9), “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” It is a choice to be right with God. Satan is the accuser and tries to tell us that we will not be forgiven because we sinned deliberately or made too many mistakes. Neither are valid reasons because God will forgive the moment anyone repents. He told Moses (Exodus 34:6-7), "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished.” Every human life is of eternal value so God has waited for centuries for anyone to turn back and love Him with all their heart. God chose Israel to be His people but they sinned and rebelled many times. The apostles said to the Jews (Acts 13:46), "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.” Everyone has an equal opportunity to escape the wrath of God, but the individual must make a choice, and it begins with repentance, turning to God, believing in His Son, and forgiving others. God is love (1 John 4:8 & 16) so He waits and gives opportunity after opportunity for us to admit our sin and repent. When we confess—God forgives (but we often forget to forgive others—first). God is even willing to forgive mistakes made in anger. He said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke,’” (Exodus 34:1). When we are willing to confess and forgive, God is willing to forgive and forget. (NLT Psalm 32:5), “I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” Forgiveness is a lost art today—as the headlines reveal the dominate attitudes of this age—resentment, anger, hate, rage, revenge and paybacks. A willingness to forgive never enters the mind of the world, but a follower of Christ must maintain a forgiving attitude all day (every day). Case in point: The Jews had insulted and seriously threatened God’s Son with false allegations, fabrications and lies. In their anger, wickedness and rage they murdered the Messiah. Such an outrageous crime would call for the most serious punishment. There would be no possibility of leniency, mercy, or plea-bargain. It was the premeditated murder of an innocent Man and would call for the death penalty. God just asks us to do what He is always ready to do, because even after this wicked and brutal crime against Him, forgiveness is given. (Acts 2:22-23), "Men of Israel, listen to these words. Jesus of Nazareth was a man approved by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.” Everything Jesus said or did was to help His people, but they hated Him. As guilty as they were of the worst crime possible, mercy is shown and forgiveness granted. (37-38) "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'" The apostle says, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." The sentence for the worst crime in the history of the world is an invitation to repent and to receive a gift. (39) "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." Mercy was shown and forgiveness is offered to those charged and guilty of a brutal murder. God even extends mercy to their children (and to anyone else willing to repent, forgive, and live by faith in the atonement work of Christ). God completed His part and now we must carry through with ours. An enormous price was paid to atone for our sins. The cross witnesses to the love of God and the seriousness of sin. Saul of Tarsus was going to Damascus with authority to prosecute and execute followers of Christ (Acts 9:5), but even guilty of that, God's mercy is offered. Jesus asks him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Saul responds, "Who are you, Lord?" "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." God's mercy spares his life and Christ’s sacrifice saves his soul (if he will respond correctly to the instructions given). If he would accept the Lord’s forgiveness, his life would never be the same. Saul was determined to destroy anyone who followed Jesus, saying (1 Timothy 1:15-16), "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 unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." Because God is love, the apostle is forgiven—(and given the opportunity to begin again as an ally not an enemy). God does not permit a child of His to hold resentment. We must always forgive everyone because God always does. “Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you,” (Colossians 3:13—Matthew 6:12; 18:35; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:37; 11:4; Ephesians 4:32). The world resents anything and everyone (for any reason), but the follower of Christ must be ready to forgive the moment they are wronged. Lord, I choose to forgive them because You have forgiven me. The number and seriousness of our sins against God does not cancel forgiveness, so the number and seriousness of the insults against us is no justification for us to withhold forgiveness. If we appreciate God’s forgiveness, we will give the same to an offender. “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 sons of the Most High" (Luke 6:35). No matter how many times (how serious or how deliberately) we have sinned (or even who we have hurt in the process), forgiveness is available to any repentant sinner. “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven,” (Matthew 12:31). Jesus even says (Matthew 12:32) “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven.” Satan may suggest many things, but God forgives every sin (when we admit them and confess them in prayer). The forgiveness bill is paid and has been placed in front of us awaiting our acceptance (by our willingness to “forgive those who have sinned against us”). All things are possible with God, when we trust Him to help us forgive. The only escape out of this wicked world is through a genuine faith in Christ (that endures to the end). Everyone has to make a choice to accept Jesus (and be saved—for an eternity), or they can choose to reject Him (and be lost—forever). God cannot make that choice for us, but He wants us to make the right choice. The only right one is to repent, forgive, and trust (God). “Many are called, but few chosen," due to lack of faith (Matthew 20:16). Anyone can be part of God’s family, but a choice to accept Christ comes first. Choosing not to forgive keeps us in sin. (Romans 5:8) "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” and even the young ruler who rejected Jesus’ advice on financial trust, was still loved by the Master (Mark 10:21). Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35) but our choices can separate us from His family of believers. God’s love for us never changes but our love for Him can change. (James 2:5), “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” It is a promise based on love. God is love so He forgives—anyone who loves Him enough to forgive from the heart. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you,” (Colossians 3:12-13). That is all it takes to be right with God.†††
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Century Gospel Church © 2010 |
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