We live in a polarized world. Look around and notice the animosity prevailing among various people groups and communities. Even people of similar ideologies and lifestyles find it difficult to stay together. Instead of living peacefully in harmony, they fight against each other. Often, the so-called leaders subtly promote aggression not reconciliation.
Sadly, this mindset of the society is reflected among the people of God too. An unforgiving, aggressive attitude is destroying relationships. Personal preferences and differences are shown out of proportion, leading to perpetual enmity. Many find it difficult to forgive the failures and wrongdoings of their fellow believers.
The startling fact is that even the spiritual leadership prefers to turn a blind eye to this resentment and ill-feelings found among Christians.
In the parable of the Unforgiving Servant, the Lord Jesus underlines the power of forgiveness and the consequences of an unforgiving attitude (Matthew 18: 21 – 35). Let us consider seven lessons on forgiveness from this parable....
Ministry of Reconciliation
One of the major aspects of the present work of God is the ministry of reconciliation through Jesus Christ (2Cor. 5: 18, 19). If God who has all the right to punish sinful man, chose not to impute their sin unto themselves, but declared them innocent in Christ, how can we harbor hostility against anyone? Any believer who experiences God’s wonderful work of salvation will gladly show mercy to one another.
Whether in the family, assembly, or workplace, it’s very much essential to bear with people. For none of us are perfect, so we all fail in one way or another. Let us learn to forgive, forget the past, and move forward. Is it not our blessed privilege to enjoy God’s forgiveness and pass on the same
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Outline:-
Seven Aspects of Divine Forgiveness
Three different terms are used in the Bible to describe the FORGIVENESS OF GOD
A. PARDON is used only in the Old Testament not in the New Testament
B. REMISSION is used only in the New Testament not in the Old Testament
C. FORGIVENESS is used in both Testaments more than 100 times
The Word FORGIVENESS deals with our sins, which means sins are gone, REMISSION deals with the sentence of the sins, and PARDON, a royal term, it’s about superior grace over inferior
The first occurrence of FORGIVENESS is mentioned in Genesis 50:17 – Joseph forgiving his guilty brothers. Man forgiving his brothers.
The last occurrence of FORGIVENESS is mentioned in 1 John 2:12 – “Sins are forgiven by God”. Yes, God in Christ Jesus forgives guilty sinners Fully, Freely, and Frankly.
Lord Jesus preached Forgiveness on one mountain (Matthew 6:14), and He practised it on another mountain (Luke 23:34)
There are instances in the Bible either man forgive men or God forgives men. But we will see 7 aspects of “Divine Forgiveness on Guilty Sinners.”
1. God of the Forgiveness (Father) – Micah 7:18
2. Ground of the Forgiveness (Son) – Ephesians 1:7
3. Guarantee of the Forgiveness (Holy Spirit) – Hebrews 10:15-17
- It is solely a Triune Act
4. Gospel of the Forgiveness – Luke 24:47; Acts 13:38
- We are not told to preach the Gospel of Finance, but the Gospel of Forgiveness.
5. Gift of the Forgiveness – Acts 10:43
6. Gain of the Forgiveness – Acts 26:18; Col. 2:15
- It's through faith only.
7. Gladness of the Forgiveness – Psalm 32:1,2
God gives and forgives! What a wonderful God we have!
By Bro. David Manchala, Hyderabad
Anecdote: -
Fault Box
A couple married for 15 years began having more than usual disagreements. They wanted to make their marriage work and agreed on an idea the wife had. They planned to drop a slip in a "Fault" box for one month.
The boxes would provide a place to let the other know about daily irritations. The wife was diligent in her efforts and approach: "leaving the jelly top off the jar," "wet towels on the shower floor," "dirty socks not in hamper," on and on until the end of the month.
After dinner, at the end of the month, they exchanged boxes. The husband reflected on what he had done wrong. Then the wife opened her box and began reading. They were all the same, the message on each slip was, "I love you!"
— Source: Unknown
Exhortation: -
FORGIVENESS – OUR EFFECTIVE WEAPON!
We often proudly and rightfully declare that we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood,” as we dearly cling to the passage from 1 Peter 2:9. The fact that every Christian belonging to the ‘royal priesthood’ also comes with some inalienable demands upon our lives.
The priests are to be involved in priestly duties. The New Testament priests are to offer themselves as a ‘living sacrifice’ to God [Rom 12:1] We have heard of the stories of several missionaries who went to various hostile parts of the world and suffered greatly, and some got killed down through the centuries.
More recently, Graham Staines, the Australian Missionary, along with his two sons, Philip, and Timothy, were burnt to death in India by opposing religious fanatics in 1999. The most recent news from Manipur, India is truly heart-wrenching and troubling to us as it strikes close to our hearts.
WEAPON OF DEFENSE
Shouldn’t Christians be outraged at the atrocities committed against the children of God? In our natural mind, we ought to feel outraged, but the scriptural standards are quite different.
The scripture requires us to use forgiveness as one of the choicest weapons of defense against the prevailing vices and trust in the mighty power of God. We are called to march to the beat of a ‘different drum.’ Yet, we fall easily to the fleshly urge to get even with those who mistreat us, whether from within the family of God or from outside.
CHRIST OUR EXAMPLE
Apostle Peter reminds us that we are ‘called’ by God with a purpose – a purpose to represent Jesus Christ while in His bodily absence on this earth. [1 Peter 2:21-23] We are to follow His steps. We are to pattern .... >>>More
By Bro. Tom Johns, Dallas, Texas
Meditation: -
FORGIVE FOR JESUS’ SAKE (Eph 4:32)
An unforgiving spirit creates all kinds of problems. In my pastoral ministry, I have counselled some who have had physical difficulties, not because of sickness, not because of injury but because of attitudes in their heart. Many psychiatrists have observed that people who have emotional problems often have an unforgiving spirit.
This is why the Holy Spirit directed Paul to write in Ephesians 4: 30 – 32,
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Remember Paul was talking about family members forgiving one another – those in the church family who need to forgive each other. Let us consider two things about this matter of family forgiveness.
I. Evidence of an unforgiving spirit
- Corrupt communication
When we have an unforgiving spirit, we say things about people that we shouldn’t say. If I am the kind of person who immediately jumps at the chance to say something evil about a person, that means I am holding a grudge against him. If we cannot say something good, it may mean that we have something bad in our hearts......>>>More
By Warren W. Wiersbe
Gospel -
Forgiven and Free
Have you ever felt the need to set your relationship right with someone you’ve offended - that longing to be reconciled; that desire to be restored; that need to be free from guilt?
Sinful woman
There was a woman, who in her city was infamously labelled a sinner (Luke 7:36-50). What her sin was is not recorded. But that sin of hers tarnished her public image.
One day Lord Jesus visited that city and was invited to a house for a meal. While Jesus sat at meat, this woman went to the house with a very costly ointment. She stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment.
What she was doing no one in that house understood. Some were offended at that sight. Some were shocked. But that didn’t stop ... More
By Aby Kuruvilla, Mumbai
Worthy Quotes:-
