General FORGIVENESS

[LeeB]

FORGIVENESS
By
Coni​

Matthew 6:12-15- In order for God to forgive you, you must be willing to forgive others.

Matthew 18:21-35- there is no limit to how many times God forgives us so there is no limit to how many times we forgive our brother.

Luke 17:3-4- The guilty party should ask or repent to receive forgiveness and each time we are to forgive.

Ephesians 4:32 – Forgiveness and mercy is to teach us something.

Colossians 3:13 this is repeated
John 20:23 – We are to become like Jesus who had power on Earth to forgive sins. See Matthew 9:6 and 1 John 4:17 and Matthew 18:15-35.
God is willing to forgive if we ask and repent of our sins and we must accept that forgiveness putting the sin behind us and move forward. Mercy and forgiveness are a function of Gods love extended to us. Just as God will not forgive the unrepentant we cannot either, in this case their sins are retained.
In order to be forgiven, we also have to be willing to forgive others. Sometimes we will have to be willing to forgive repeatedly. There is no limit to the times we may have to forgive, we are in the world but not of the world and this is unfortunately they way things are. We always pray for forgiveness from the Lord, but we as individuals must be able to forgive others as well.

On a personal level, as a converted person, when someone does wrong to you they must ask for your forgiveness, but if they do not ask you for your forgiveness, then we need to forgive them anyway because we are converted and wishing to be more like Christ. For instance when on the cross, Jesus said, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do”. We all do things and think things we need to ask the Lord forgiveness for and we need to forgive others whether they are converted or not. If we as individuals are truly trying to be more like God and Christ, we must behave like Christ, and forgive and forget the sins our transgressors.

Like Jesus, we have the power to forgive sins of others who ask for forgiveness. Being able to forgive is a learned trait for us; it takes practice and is always a work in progress, a development of character so to speak. We will need this character trait in the millennium, so we need to be willing to practice what we believe so that it becomes first nature to us. Even now, we partake of the divine nature of God and of His son Jesus. 2 Peter 1:4 – “by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

God is creating us after His image and likeness and forgiveness is part of this process.

 

[Dave]

So true.

Love is also part of the equation.
I wrote this a while back:

Love Covers​

(1 Peter 4:8) Above all things, have intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

What did Peter mean when he wrote that "love covers a multitude of sins."?

JW publications quote 1 Peter 4:8 and tell us that if we have true love for our brothers and sisters that it will cover over their sins against us.

That may be true, but is that what Peter meant? I don't think so.

Look at what Christ said:

(Luke 7:47) Because of this, I tell you, her sins, many though they are, are forgiven, because she loved much.

The woman's sins were forgiven, because she showed love to others.

Perhaps that is what Peter was talking about. Perhaps he was saying that it is our love for others that covers a multitude of OUR sins. (1Pe 4:8)

I think these scriptures back up that idea:

(Matthew 5:43-46) “You heard that it was said: ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing?

(Matthew 24:12, 13) and because of the increasing of lawlessness, the love of the greater number will grow cold. 13 But the one who has endured (with love) to the end will be saved.

(Luke 6:35) On the contrary, continue to love your enemies and to do good and to lend without hoping for anything back; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind toward the unthankful and wicked.

(1 Corinthians 13:1-3) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy and understand all the sacred secrets and all knowledge, and if I have all the faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my belongings to feed others, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I do not benefit at all.

If we show true love for others, we will benefit, we will be rewarded, with our sins being covered over. (Jas 2:15-16; Mt 6:12; Mt 10:42; Ga 6:10; 1Jo 2:10)


What do you think?

:^)
Dave
[email protected]

da.getmyip.com

Last edited 01-04-2021 (Date created 12-23-2020)

 

[LeeB]

True love is agape love, the love GOD has, and this agape is what is needed to fulfill the law. Romans 13:10
The sins of anyone are only forgiven upon GOD granting them repentance. Luke 13:3 2 Timothy 2:25 Acts 11:18 Only a Christian has this grace, the unconverted people in the world do not. Christian agape is a gift by the holy spirit of the FATHER. Romans 5:5 The Christian is to agape GOD and neighbor with this gift. The agape we have then cannot forgive the sins of others unless they are also of the spirit, 1 Peter 4:8 is Peter speaking to the church, to Christians, not to the world. Since agape fulfills the law, does no harm, then agape covers all manner of sin. With this said we need to also follow the example of Christ who said, Father forgive them for they know not what they do. Christians must be forgiving if they want GOD to forgive them. While we forgive those who sin against us this in no way commits GOD to forgive. GOD wants to see the attitude in us that HE has, the desire to forgive, but GOD will hold everyone accountable for their sins. Galatians 3:22 John tells us that the unconverted world is under the control of the wicked one. 1 John 5:19 We show agape, we show the character of GOD and Christ because we forgive but the final judgment on this GOD has given to HIS son. John 5:22
Remember that forgiveness is only offered to those who are in Christ and under grace. The unconverted world is yet in their sins. John 9:41 John 3:19,20,21 while a Christian has the desire and willingness to forgive this matter is ultimately in GODS hands. Romans 14:12 If a Christian could go about forgiving everyone of their sins then what would that do to the message of the gospel ?

 

[Dave]

You said "GOD will hold everyone accountable for their sins".
What do you mean by that?

:^)

 

[LeeB]

You said "GOD will hold everyone accountable for their sins".
What do you mean by that?

:^)

You said "GOD will hold everyone accountable for their sins".
What do you mean by that?

:^)

Romans 2:6,7,8,9,10,11 When we sin we sin against GOD, Psalm 51:4 GOD gave us HIS son to make possible the forgiveness of sin. GOD holds all of us accountable for our sins. Sin is the transgression of the law. this is what all of us at one time were bound by because before our conversion we were condemned to death for our sins. GOD provided a way in HIS son to have the sins of the church, of Christians forgiven. Christians are now under the law of agape that Jesus gave of agape GOD and agape neighbor. the definition for sin has changed for the church only to: whatever is not of GODS agape is sin. Remember agape is the fulfillment of the law.

 

[Dave]

Perhaps you should reword that sentence.
Then way it is written it sounds contradictory to your other statements.
If we repent and are forgiven by God, then we will not be held accountable.
Right?
Or am i not understanding what you mean?

:^)

 

[LeeB]

Perhaps you should reword that sentence.
Then way it is written it sounds contradictory to your other statements.
If we repent and are forgiven by God, then we will not be held accountable.
Right?
Or am i not understanding what you mean?

:^)

Only a true Christian can have access to repentance and forgiveness. The world does not. One must be "in Christ" to have the blessings that flow from the FATHER through Jesus to us. Your statement is true, we are blessed who are forgiven. Psalm 32:1,2 This statement does not apply to the unconverted, only to the church. With this in mind the church is to show the attitude, the character of GOD by their willingness to forgive but ultimately this rests in GODS appointed judge, Jesus. I am showing how GOD has drawn a line between the church and the world. This line separates us from the world, 2 Corinthians 6:17KJV We do not draw this line , GOD does. 1 Corinthians 11:31,32 The church is being judged now, 1 Peter 4:17 The judgment of all others is at the great white throne.

 

[LeeB]

I do apologize if I have caused a lack of clarity.

 

[Dave]

ha ha, no problem.

:^)

 

[LeeB]

ha ha, no problem.

:^)

It is a very good thing to question until you have an answer that scripture will confirm. Too many fail to do this to their own folly. You keep asking, seeking and knocking Dave and the door will open.

 

[Dave]

True that. I have had many doors open for me, which you can see at:

da.getmyip.com

:^)

 

[LeeB]

I would encourage you to share what you have been given here by your own hand. People usually need this, it is what I do even though I have writings on line as well. I find that giving to much at once overwhelms so I share a little and if someone asks I will if I know give more. My style of writing is no holds barred so to speak and that may offend some but it is my enhanced nature to be bold and direct using scripture to confirm my writing. There is another here on the forum who is different. He is gentle natured with an approach that is not intimidating as mine is at times. Even though our styles are different the message we share is the same. I hope you have opportunity to share with him.