Forgiveness - (What it is and What it is not)
Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines forgiveness as the act of forgiving, allowing room for error and weakness, giving up resentment of or claiming to requital, and granting a pardon or canceling a debt. (Merriam-Webster, Incorporated , 2021)
Forgiveness is not saying the offense did not happen or that we were not hurt by what the person did. It does not mean understanding why the person did what they did. Forgiveness is not acting as if the event never happened. Forgiveness does not depend on the offender apologizing first or changing their behavior. Forgiveness is not letting the offender avoid the consequences of their actions, and it is not letting the offender hurt us or other innocent people again. Forgiveness is not trusting people again right after they have hurt us. (American Bible Society and SIL International, 2021) Forgiveness is about releasing the pain to God, taking the initial loss, granting a pardon, and deciding not to take vengeance against the offending party. Forgiveness requires that we show mercy and trust God to handle the justice part. Micah 6:8 says," He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" In other words, God wants us to treat people fairly, be impartial, extend grace, and have compassion toward others. He wants us to learn to value and respect people, His marvelous creation, even when they are undeserving of our respect and mercy!
In Luke 17:1-3, Jesus tells His disciples that it is impossible to avoid offense. Hurt is part of life. He encourages them to be mindful of their behavior towards others and forgive when others hurt them. This would be almost impossible in our own strength, but God, by His Holy Spirit, will and can help us forgive. Jesus laying down His life on the cross at Mt. Calvary was the perfect example of love and forgiveness. According to Romans 5:8, we were all sinners, doomed to spend an eternity in Hell and separated from God. But Jesus, without apologies or repentance on our part, willingly decided to pay our sin debt with His blood. He died so that you and I could receive a pardon for our sins and live in a close relationship with God, our creator, and be free from bondage.
Maintaining that freedom and close relationship with God requires that we forgive others. Matthew 6:14-15 says, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." In other words, our continued forgiveness depends on our willingness to forgive and release all resentment towards others.
The word Forgive is listed in the Bible 127 times. Forgiveness is important to God and vital to your spiritual health.
Let's take a moment to review the following scriptures about forgiveness:
Proverbs 19:11 - The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression.
Matthew 6:14-15 -For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Luke 6:37 – Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 17:1-3 – Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Ephesians 4:32 -And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Colossians 3:12-15 – Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Let's Pray
Lord, Jesus, I thank You for the sacrifice You made for my redemption. I repent, Lord, and ask for your forgiveness today, and thank you for forgiving me, for canceling my sin debt. Thank you for the loving-kindness, mercy, and grace you are showing me. I love you, Lord, and I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. In and of myself, that is impossible; I know that, so I ask you, Father, to help me by your precious Holy Spirit, to help me to forgive any and everyone who has ever wronged me. I choose today to forgive them. I choose today to release all bitterness and resentment towards them. I let it go, Lord, and I trust you with the outcome. Heal me, Father, heal my heart, restore my soul, restore what has been lost in sin and through ignorance and at the mishandling of others, and fix what is broken in my life. Father, pour your love, mercy, and grace into my heart and over my life, the more! Then use me to show others that same type of love and grace, in Jesus' name. Amen!
American Bible Society and SIL International. (2021). Healing the Wounds of Trauma: Facilitator Guide for Healing Groups (Stories from North America). Philadelphia, PA : Trauma Healing Institute.
Merriam-Webster, Incorporated . (2021). Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary . Springfield, MA : Merriam- Webster, Incorporated . Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forgive