Does forgiving those who sin against us personally, do anything positive for that person eternally? If they are perishing in their sin, my forgiving them for sinning against me personally is not going to change their condition. It will, however, make me feel righteous. But what good does how I feel do for the one perishing?
It has nothing to with how it makes you feel or what it does or doesn't do that person. It is an act of loving obedience to our Redeemer. And perhaps the Spirit can use it in other ways as well. It should not make us feel righteous. It should be a sweet smelling offering that lifts praise unto the One who forgave us. And on the other side of the coin there is punishment if we do not forgive as well.
The purpose of forgiveness is reconciliation. How can there be reconciliation unless there is repentance? This can only happen between two having the same Spirit in common...Correct?
This would have to be the grace of God working thru his wife. Amazing love, that's all I can say. As for myself I can't imagine being that forgiving, being honest here. In that situation it would have to be God's grace within for me to forgive a tragedy such as this. Randy
If a person does not want to forgive they will find any excuse not to. Even the heathen will forgive if someone offers forgiveness first. So who forgives first? Do two people say 1,2, 3 go! we are commanded to forgive. In fact, great peace have they which love Thy law and nothing shall offend them. We should not even take an offense. We walk in forgiveness. How can we bless and do good to our enemies if we do not forgive them even though they mistreat us?
How utterly sad is the life of a believer who does not forgive. That is where self righteousness comes into play, not forgiving those who trespass against you, as God forgave your trepasses.
A Christian doesn't automatically walk in forgiveness. That comment is distant from reality.
They ought to desire to walk in forgiveness. We are not machines. We have emotions and are regularly offended. When we are mistreated let's wholeheartedly endeavor to bless and do good to those who unjustly provoke, offend and mistreat us.
Your verbal gymnastics as well as your narrow view of forgiveness reveals your lack of understanding of the core of what it means to follow Jesus who asked His Father to forgive those who were taking His life. Go ahead and show forgiveness only to those who meet your requirements and see how far that gets you. Your view of forgiveness is more Islamic than Christian.
Can you imagine? I post about a grieving widow who openly forgives her husband's murderers while his body is still warm in the gave and she prays they find Jesus. And yet I have commenters who desire to argue about who deserves to be forgiven and who does not. I wish to disassociate myself with that brand of religion. Comments closed.
Can I suggest you desire to throw away your question after question approach. Pray to the LORD so that He will bless you with a new, fresh, more straight forward way of communicating.
Just a reminder. God's love doesn't only impact us spiritually but in every area of our life!
The woman in this video "personifies" Christ and what He teaches -
- Love your enemies
Along with that attribute are many more -
- do good to those that use you and persecute you
- treat others as you desire to be treated
- judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven
- love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil
- forgive 70 x 7
- never hold in account a wrong suffered
- imitate God and walk in love as Christ loved us
God help me to have that kind of heart...to be fully submissive to His will and not my own...
Does forgiving those who sin against us personally, do anything positive for that person eternally?
ReplyDeleteIf they are perishing in their sin, my forgiving them for sinning against me personally is not going to change their condition.
It will, however, make me feel righteous. But what good does how I feel do for the one perishing?
It has nothing to with how it makes you feel or what it does or doesn't do that person. It is an act of loving obedience to our Redeemer. And perhaps the Spirit can use it in other ways as well. It should not make us feel righteous. It should be a sweet smelling offering that lifts praise unto the One who forgave us. And on the other side of the coin there is punishment if we do not forgive as well.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of forgiveness is reconciliation. How can there be reconciliation unless there is repentance? This can only happen between two having the same Spirit in common...Correct?
ReplyDeleteThis would have to be the grace of God working thru his wife. Amazing love, that's all I can say. As for myself I can't imagine being that forgiving, being honest here. In that situation it would have to be God's grace within for me to forgive a tragedy such as this.
ReplyDeleteRandy
If a person does not want to forgive they will find any excuse not to. Even the heathen will forgive if someone offers forgiveness first. So who forgives first? Do two people say 1,2, 3 go! we are commanded to forgive. In fact, great peace have they which love Thy law and nothing shall offend them. We should not even take an offense. We walk in forgiveness. How can we bless and do good to our enemies if we do not forgive them even though they mistreat us?
ReplyDeleteHow utterly sad is the life of a believer who does not forgive. That is where self righteousness comes into play, not forgiving those who trespass against you, as God forgave your trepasses.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteA Christian doesn't automatically walk in forgiveness. That comment is distant from reality.
They ought to desire to walk in forgiveness. We are not machines. We have emotions and are regularly offended. When we are mistreated let's wholeheartedly endeavor to bless and do good to those who unjustly provoke, offend and mistreat us.
Blessings,
James
Nothing of Christ comes automatically. In fact, nothing that is of God comes without spiritual labor.
ReplyDeleteAmen!
ReplyDeleteRick, you said "Even the heathen will forgive if someone offers forgiveness first."
ReplyDeleteWhat is true forgiveness? And who grants it?
Also, you said, "How can we bless and do good to our enemies if we do not forgive them even though they mistreat us?"
What is it to be a true blessing?
Isn't it agape love which is "spiritual" blessing towards another, caring for another's spiritual well-being?
Your verbal gymnastics as well as your narrow view of forgiveness reveals your lack of understanding of the core of what it means to follow Jesus who asked His Father to forgive those who were taking His life. Go ahead and show forgiveness only to those who meet your requirements and see how far that gets you. Your view of forgiveness is more Islamic than Christian.
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine? I post about a grieving widow who openly forgives her husband's murderers while his body is still warm in the gave and she prays they find Jesus. And yet I have commenters who desire to argue about who deserves to be forgiven and who does not.
ReplyDeleteI wish to disassociate myself with that brand of religion. Comments closed.
ReplyDeleteGreetings Anonymous 6:51 PM
Can I suggest you desire to throw away your question after question approach. Pray to the LORD so that He will bless you with a new, fresh, more straight forward way of communicating.
Just a reminder. God's love doesn't only impact us spiritually but in every area of our life!
God bless you
Josef Sefton
The woman in this video "personifies" Christ and what He teaches -
ReplyDelete- Love your enemies
Along with that attribute are many more -
- do good to those that use you and persecute you
- treat others as you desire to be treated
- judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven
- love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil
- forgive 70 x 7
- never hold in account a wrong suffered
- imitate God and walk in love as Christ loved us
God help me to have that kind of heart...to be fully submissive to His will and not my own...