James 4:7 tells us, "Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." Scott Ashley in his article in, Good News Magazine of Understanding, writes "Sin can be what we don't do. The Four Gospels are filled with examples of this sin. Jesus often clashed with those who were diligent about strict literal obedience of God's Law, but never realized God expected more of them. In Christ day the Pharisees referred to a detail list of what could and couldn't be done lawfully on the Sabbath; they were diligent about tithing down to the last seed or grain of spice, they spent hours studying the law, fasting and praying. Yet Christ called them blind guides, hypocrites and a brood of vipers."
Ashley goes on to say, " These people simply didn't comprehend the intent of God's Law. They put great effort into not committing sins, they concentrated so much on this struggle, that they failed miserably at doing what they should have been doing." I agree with Asley's assessment and see the same thing in the church today. There are discussions about, is it okay to go to happy hour with friends, should I go see Smokey Robinson if the show is at the Casino, should Christians dance, should a Christian have a glass of wine with their meals, then clothing issues and it goes on and on. In Matthew 25:34 Jesus tells us that, if we want to sit on his right hand, we must feed the hungry and thirsty, cloth the naked,visit the sick and those incarcerated, and befriend a stranger.
Have We Forgotten That The Lord Forgave Our Sins?
We often overlook or have memory laps about the sins we committed prior to our salvation , and even in the mist of our salvation. Many of us came out of lives of fornication, adultery, addictions, crime, abuse, cheating, murder, abortions, and all sorts of sin. Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood so that our sins would be forgiven. In 2 Peter 1:9 we are reminded " he who lack these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Forgiveness was not a easy undertaking even in the time of Jesus and the apostles. In Luke 17 Jesus tells the disciples that if a brother sins against you rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Then Jesus carried it further when He said, "And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, "I repent, you shall forgive him. What? The apostles were smart and said, if that's the case please"increase our faith." The apostles were saying that this is very diffilcult! Lord, you will have to add to our faith for us to pull this off. Then Jesus tells them that all they need is the faith as a mustard seed to forgive. In Matthew 18:21-27 Peter asked Jesus the same question, "Lord how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times as you said in one of our earlier meetings? Jesus answered, " I do not say to you , up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. In other words Jesus was saying forgiveness has no numerical number! Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Yes, that means even forgiving those who have harmed us in some way.
Then in the same chapter of Matthew Jesus offers a parable, " Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts one was brought to him who owed him ten thousands talents. But he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and that he had, and that payment be made.
"The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all." Then the Master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. "But the servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denaril; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, "Pay me what you owe!" "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you all." "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. "So when his fellow saw what had been done,they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. "Then the master after he had called him, said to him, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me, "Should you not also had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?" "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the tortures until he should pay all that was due to him. " So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
This parable is to let us not forget the great debt that we owe our Lord, and all the sins that He forgave us. We seek grace from the Lord for the forgiveness of our sins, but we seek justice when others sin against us!
Forgiveness Means There Is A Change In You! It Does Not Mean That The Trespasser Changed!
The Lord expects us to forgive those who trespass against us no matter how awful the trespass. He expects us to find it in our hearts to let go of thoughts of revenge and vengeance. Forgiveness does not mean remaining in a dangerous situation of possible harm. In past years the church was approaching forgiveness in a very dangerous way. A women in the church would tell of physical abuse, and seek guidance from the church. The church would talk to the abuser and the abused, often telling the women that she had to stay in the relationship because scriptures would not allow her leaving except in the case of adultery. The abuser would say he was sorry, asked for forgiveness, and promised never to do it again. Well guess what, it did happen again. Here is a situation where the wife should forgive her husband, but should leave the relationship for her safety. Forgiveness does not mean remaining in a dangerous situation. Also, forgiveness does not mean that one does not inform the legal authorities if a crime against humanity has been committed. A prime of example of this is the recent events in the Catholic Church and priest. The church leaders would forgive the priest and transfer them to another parish endangering children with sexual exploitation and abuse at the new site. The thief on the cross asked Jesus to forgive him of his sins, and Jesus did, but he was still executed.
To forgive some one can mean a change of personal boundaries with them. I can forgive a person who I trusted and stole from me, but I don't have to give them the keys to my home to prove my forgiveness. I know some of you are confused by this and find it a contradiction to forgiveness.
Steps To Forgiveness!
First of all we have to believe that we can do all things through Christ that strengthen us!..Then in John 5: 5-14-17 were Jesus says, "You are My Friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servant, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you fiends, for all things that I heard from My father have made known to you. "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the father in My name He may give you. You can, like the disciples, ask for more faith in order to forgive!
Secondly you need to take out a piece of paper and write down the names of all those that you have found it difficult or impossible to forgive. You are bringing these issues to the surface to address them once and for all. Then draw a line down the center of the paper and write on the top of paper pros and cons of forgiving this person! You must take into consideration what the scriptures say and add this to the list. Once you write these things out you have been lifted out of the sea of denial!
Then you must pray for the release of your hurt, anger, an feeling of vengeance:
Dear Lord help me with my unforgiveness. This person has done something awful to me and I am finding it so difficult in letting it go. I know its not good for me spiritually or physically to feel this way but Ijust can't get it out of my mind. Lord I know all things are possible through you who strengthens me. Lord take this anger, and hate from me so that I can be in your perfect will. I now know I can't dealwith this without you, so I am giving up ownership of my will to you.
This is just a sample prayer, you will have to pray a prayer that comes from your heart with sincerity.
Summary:
Hopefully you now have a better understanding of the Lords command to Christians regarding the duty to forgive. We now realize that the Lord bases His forgiveness on our ability to forgive others. We find examples in the scriptures that tell us that we need the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit in order to achieve the difficult task of forgiveness. We have been told, by scriptures, that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
In order to begin the step of forgiveness, we must first admit that we have a unforgiving heart. We must be able face our inability to forgive those who have hurt, abused, or traumatized us. We learn that we must let go of all thoughts and feelings of vengeance, revenge, and prayers of destruction towards our transgressors.
We have learned that forgiveness constitute a change in you, and not necessarily a change in the transgressor. The Transgressor may have asked for forgiveness, or may have denied your accusations and your perceptions of the incident. The transgressor may have died, in prison, or completely out of your life. It is not important how the transgressor responds, it is only important that you forgive. Forgiveness does not mean allowing yourself to be a ongoing victim!
Why is forgiveness so important to the Lord. He knows the toll of unforgiveness has on the psychological, emotional, physical, and spiritual health of His children. Research has shown that holding such strong negative emotions in over a period of time may result in illness such as cancer, high blood pressure, and heart disease. The Lord does not want to see the human spirit so bound up and imprisoned that it becomes incapable of showing love. It is so difficult to love the Lord thy God with all our heart, soul, and mind with the weight of unforgiveness weighing us down. The scriptures tells us that love covers a multitude of sins.
It behoves us to pray for the release of our unforgiving spirit, and if necessary we might have to fast and pray. We learn that the sins of omission are as serious as the sins of commission. It is important to study what Jesus said in regards to the Spirit of the Law versus the Letter of the Law. As a New Covenant Church we spend too much time in Old Testament Teaching. Jesus warned against putting "NEW wine" in old wine skins. Is this as clear as mud? Amen
In order to begin the step of forgiveness, we must first admit that we have a unforgiving heart. We must be able face our inability to forgive those who have hurt, abused, or traumatized us. We learn that we must let go of all thoughts and feelings of vengeance, revenge, and prayers of destruction towards our transgressors.
We have learned that forgiveness constitute a change in you, and not necessarily a change in the transgressor. The Transgressor may have asked for forgiveness, or may have denied your accusations and your perceptions of the incident. The transgressor may have died, in prison, or completely out of your life. It is not important how the transgressor responds, it is only important that you forgive. Forgiveness does not mean allowing yourself to be a ongoing victim!
Why is forgiveness so important to the Lord. He knows the toll of unforgiveness has on the psychological, emotional, physical, and spiritual health of His children. Research has shown that holding such strong negative emotions in over a period of time may result in illness such as cancer, high blood pressure, and heart disease. The Lord does not want to see the human spirit so bound up and imprisoned that it becomes incapable of showing love. It is so difficult to love the Lord thy God with all our heart, soul, and mind with the weight of unforgiveness weighing us down. The scriptures tells us that love covers a multitude of sins.
It behoves us to pray for the release of our unforgiving spirit, and if necessary we might have to fast and pray. We learn that the sins of omission are as serious as the sins of commission. It is important to study what Jesus said in regards to the Spirit of the Law versus the Letter of the Law. As a New Covenant Church we spend too much time in Old Testament Teaching. Jesus warned against putting "NEW wine" in old wine skins. Is this as clear as mud? Amen
