FORGIVENESS
Over twelve years ago, my wife and I bought a small, two-bedroom house before our first child was born. It wasn’t top-of-the-line, but, it was special. The house was white with a big back yard and a fireplace. We put some sweat equity into it and stayed there until we found a preaching job that offered us living accommodations. So, as a result of our move we became landlords. We had a few good years of quality renters until the day when we got tenants who NEVER paid their rental fee.
Initially, this family seemed genuine in their Christianity and we even developed some semblance of rapport. We shared family stories and they seemed sincere about my wife’s plight with cancer. Sadly, their actions showed that they had no respect for God or my family (Matthew 7:15-24; James 1:19-27; 2:12-26). Later, I learned that their fraudulence extended to other businesses as well; so, they were official “dead beats” (Zechariah 8:16-17; Romans 13:8-14; Galatians 5:13-26). Overall, it took about six months of patience and wising up before they moved out. It was at this juncture that I studied even more about godly forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15; Mark 11:25; Ephesians 4:29-32; Colossians 3:12-17).
The truth is that God wants us to forgive. Ideally, forgiveness is about reuniting a relationship that went awry and developing a healing between two, or more, conflicting parties (Matthew 5:23-26). How can Christians be one with God if they are not one with each other (John 17:20-21)? Inevitably, there are those who refuse to work out conflict; i.e., rent, adultery, ungodly lifestyle. Do they still owe me rent? Yes. Do I think I will get it? No. So, will I benefit myself physically, emotionally, or spiritually if I hold onto my anger in this unresolved conflict. No! I must “forgive to live”. God’s expectation for me was to forgive them spiritually and, then, turn their “case” over to Him. You see, just because God wants me to forgive those (Christian or non Christian) who wronged me doesn’t necessarily mean that He will forgive them (Christian or non Christian) for wronging one of His own; especially, if they (Christian or non Christian) choose not to abide/live in Him (Psalm 32; Romans 4:6-8; 1 John 1:5-2:11).
Life for a Christian revolves around our “obedient faith in Christ”(Acts 2:38; 6:7; Romans 1:5; 6:17-18; 16:26; 1 Peter 1:22-25). Is there any way to make up for actions that sent Jesus to the cross? No. People have done such a great error to God that it took God Himself – Jesus, to pay our penalty. The reality is that Hell will also be filled with covenant people who weren’t sincere in their obedient faith in Christ; meaning, their lifestyle didn’t represent godliness but ungodliness (Matthew 18:23-35; Galatians 5:16-26; Hebrew 10:26-31). God told us to forgive sincerely but true forgiveness or absolute punishment is God’s job.
Does God want to forgive everyone? Yes (Matthew 9:11-13; 23:37; Luke 19:10)! Will He forgive everyone? No (John 3:16-36; “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to a resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29))! He is the righteous judge and a just God. He is merciful and loving but He is not mocked or manipulated (Galatians 6:7-10). Yes, my renters owe me but I owe God much more. In the overall scheme of things, do I want those renters to receive Hell as a punishment for just a few months of owed rent (Luke 7:41-50; Romans 8:12-17; 1 John 3:11-18; 2 John 1:5-11)? No, I want them to turn to God where they’re at in their life. They may never be able to repay me. They may have such a huge debt that they never could. Yet, they may sincerely turn toward Christ and abide in Him. You see, it is not my job anymore. I turned their case over to God. If He forgives them what do I need to be angry about? I just need to remember that He forgave me (Philemon 1).
I do have benefits with the lifestyle of forgiveness that comes from Christ. It allows me to be wise (James 1:2-5; 3:17-18). It allows me to live. It allows me not to be consumed by anger. It allows me to see life with the mind of Christ. I’m not perfect. People have needed to forgive me and I have also needed to forgive others. It’s not the easiest challenge for me but I’m not without help. God is a great teacher and He has a way to discipline those whom He loves – even in the realm of FORGIVENESS (Job 5:17-27; Psalm 6; Proverbs 3:11-12; John 13:12-17; 1 John 3:23-24; Revelation 3:19-22).
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves
For a related article; see, “Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” in my website.
Initially, this family seemed genuine in their Christianity and we even developed some semblance of rapport. We shared family stories and they seemed sincere about my wife’s plight with cancer. Sadly, their actions showed that they had no respect for God or my family (Matthew 7:15-24; James 1:19-27; 2:12-26). Later, I learned that their fraudulence extended to other businesses as well; so, they were official “dead beats” (Zechariah 8:16-17; Romans 13:8-14; Galatians 5:13-26). Overall, it took about six months of patience and wising up before they moved out. It was at this juncture that I studied even more about godly forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15; Mark 11:25; Ephesians 4:29-32; Colossians 3:12-17).
The truth is that God wants us to forgive. Ideally, forgiveness is about reuniting a relationship that went awry and developing a healing between two, or more, conflicting parties (Matthew 5:23-26). How can Christians be one with God if they are not one with each other (John 17:20-21)? Inevitably, there are those who refuse to work out conflict; i.e., rent, adultery, ungodly lifestyle. Do they still owe me rent? Yes. Do I think I will get it? No. So, will I benefit myself physically, emotionally, or spiritually if I hold onto my anger in this unresolved conflict. No! I must “forgive to live”. God’s expectation for me was to forgive them spiritually and, then, turn their “case” over to Him. You see, just because God wants me to forgive those (Christian or non Christian) who wronged me doesn’t necessarily mean that He will forgive them (Christian or non Christian) for wronging one of His own; especially, if they (Christian or non Christian) choose not to abide/live in Him (Psalm 32; Romans 4:6-8; 1 John 1:5-2:11).
Life for a Christian revolves around our “obedient faith in Christ”(Acts 2:38; 6:7; Romans 1:5; 6:17-18; 16:26; 1 Peter 1:22-25). Is there any way to make up for actions that sent Jesus to the cross? No. People have done such a great error to God that it took God Himself – Jesus, to pay our penalty. The reality is that Hell will also be filled with covenant people who weren’t sincere in their obedient faith in Christ; meaning, their lifestyle didn’t represent godliness but ungodliness (Matthew 18:23-35; Galatians 5:16-26; Hebrew 10:26-31). God told us to forgive sincerely but true forgiveness or absolute punishment is God’s job.
Does God want to forgive everyone? Yes (Matthew 9:11-13; 23:37; Luke 19:10)! Will He forgive everyone? No (John 3:16-36; “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to a resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29))! He is the righteous judge and a just God. He is merciful and loving but He is not mocked or manipulated (Galatians 6:7-10). Yes, my renters owe me but I owe God much more. In the overall scheme of things, do I want those renters to receive Hell as a punishment for just a few months of owed rent (Luke 7:41-50; Romans 8:12-17; 1 John 3:11-18; 2 John 1:5-11)? No, I want them to turn to God where they’re at in their life. They may never be able to repay me. They may have such a huge debt that they never could. Yet, they may sincerely turn toward Christ and abide in Him. You see, it is not my job anymore. I turned their case over to God. If He forgives them what do I need to be angry about? I just need to remember that He forgave me (Philemon 1).
I do have benefits with the lifestyle of forgiveness that comes from Christ. It allows me to be wise (James 1:2-5; 3:17-18). It allows me to live. It allows me not to be consumed by anger. It allows me to see life with the mind of Christ. I’m not perfect. People have needed to forgive me and I have also needed to forgive others. It’s not the easiest challenge for me but I’m not without help. God is a great teacher and He has a way to discipline those whom He loves – even in the realm of FORGIVENESS (Job 5:17-27; Psalm 6; Proverbs 3:11-12; John 13:12-17; 1 John 3:23-24; Revelation 3:19-22).
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves
For a related article; see, “Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” in my website.