Forgiveness

Randy Fry's blog

308

stars

readers

Forgiveness

November 02, 2007

719 reads

For quite some time now I have been trying to understand how God forgives so that I will know how to forgive others.

6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:14-15

God wants us to forgive others so He can forgive us. But God doesn't forgive us unless we repent and ask Him to forgive us.

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. 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Mark 11:25-26

To make sure we get it, He tells us again. This time He tells us to forgive others while we're praying.

17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 17:4 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 17:3-4

In Luke He tells us to forgive our brother after we rebuke (reprimand) our brother for his trespass, and if our brother repents (feels sorrow or regret) to forgive him. And to do it over and over and over... I suppose we rebuke our brother in case our brother doesn't know they trespassed against us. Sometimes God rebukes us, in those cases where we are oblivious to the fact that we have trespassed against God. Sometimes He lets us figure it out for ourselves.

God forgives us if we repent and ask for forgiveness. So does that mean that if our brother does not repent that we don't forgive? How do we live with that?

<< previous post
Wee Can Can

>> next post
Little By Little

Reader favorites:
Chocolate Logic
Ancient Hymns
Broken Hearts

To add a comment to "Forgiveness"

	Already have a MyChurch account?
	Log in here

Bridget Eastin

November 02, 2007

I think we can forgive in our hearts so that we're not overtaken by anger or hurt. The we Give it to God and have faith that he will deal with it. Don't let the hurt consume us. However, the relationship is not restored usless repentence is sought out. For example, God has already forgiven our sin in Christ before we repent, but the relationship...the fellowship and communion....is not restored unless repentence is asked for and given.

Lora

November 02, 2007

I am so glad you asked this question! This same question occurred to me just recently! Before, I had never thought about it that way. It does make it hard to forgive someone when they don't repent or tell us they are sorry. Makes it even harder when we know that God doesn't do this.

This is where I think I better just trust God on this even though I don't fully understand. Forgiveness is hard, and sometimes it just takes time, not always an immediate thing.

Tim Morton

November 02, 2007

This thought just hit me: Could we repent had not God already made our forgiveness possible? In other words, does He enable our repentance (turning) by extending His offer of forgiveness?

Transferring that thought to the earthly level, perhaps our forgiving spirit can enable our brother's repentance.

Tony

November 03, 2007

We are to mimic Christ in everything. The bible clearly states that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (an act of forgiveness) before anyone had a chance to ask for his forgiveness and accept his work on the cross for our trangressions. So Randy, whether the person that has caused you pain has ask for forgivness or not, we are to forgive them in Christ. This will not allow anger or bitterness to settle within our hearts and fog our walk with Christ. if you like I will put together a blog on this to help better understand. let me know. Peace be with you and remember, we are to walk in love, the first and formost commanment of Christ, even with our enemies if possible!!!