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One of the greatest evidences of maturing in Christ is the ability for the believer to forgive. Forgiveness is extremely important because it is perfected in Christ. After all, Jesus came to earth, suffered and paid a tremendous price to FORGIVE His people of their sins.
"she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." - Matthew 1:21.
Forgiveness for the believer on the other hand may at times be difficult, but the fact of the matter is, that when we are able to overcome difficult situations in accordance with the word of God, then we are all the more blessed and made stronger in overcoming such difficulties.
Our measure of forgiveness is stated very clearly by God. We are to forgive seventy times seven; this has the same spiritual meaning we read of in Luke 17; in other words, our forgiveness is to be unlimited, as God forgave us.
"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants." - Matthew 18:21-23.
"Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. " - Luke 17:1-4.
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." - Ephesians 4:32.
Forgiveness also has benefits to the believer because it is in turn a basis on which God does or does not forgive or spiritually cleanse us.
"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 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. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." - Mark 11:22-26.
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." - James 5:16.
The inability to forgive may be an indication that perhaps an individual is not saved:
"So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." - 2 Corinthians 2:7-11.
God alone does all the forgiving of an individual; no person on earth can forgive another persons sins and thus we see such with the Papists who control their worshippers like one would a brute beast. Forgiveness alone comes from God that's why forgiveness is not a good work on our part.
"I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." - Isaiah 43:25.
"Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." - James 1:16-18.
This planet would be a much different place if everyone were full of forgiveness. There would be no wars, divorce, fights, conflicts and alot less courthouses.
The Bible also gives us equipment as believers by example. There are may examples outside of Christ the LORD, of pious men in the Bible who showed forgiveness, these include: Joseph, Moses, Solomon, Stephen and Paul, to mention just a few. Forgiveness is synonymous of God's pardon and His remembering no more of our iniquites.
"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." - Isaiah 55:6,7.
"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." - Jeremiah 31:33,34.
The basis of forgiveness lies in the fact that it is God's nature:
"Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me." - Psalm 86:1-7.
"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins" - Colossians 1:13,14.
As forgiveness shows the righteousness of our LORD, our forgiveness of others reflects the fact that God is working in us to will and do His good. Note Romans 3:
"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." - Romans 3:24-27.
In closing, although this has been a brief look at the nature of forgiveness, I feel the verses presented above speak to the great importance of the subject. I'll end the exhortation with Luke 24:47 and its context. This verse reminds us that forgiveness must be preached or discussed as we as ambassadors of Christ bring His gospel to a world desperately in need of it and forgiveness.
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.- Luke 24:46-53.
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