Biblical Forgiveness

Forgiveness is something we hear about quite often, whether in Christian circles, or not. People have an idea of what forgiveness means. In fact, every right thinking individual desires that the world at large, would be more forgiving. However, from reading the scriptures, there appears to be a common misconception, not about what forgiveness is, but about its grounds.

Proper Interpretation

One of the most well known, and commonly referred to passages of scripture, is the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7). And in that mighty sermon of our Lord, we read,

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matt 6:14-15

From that, many are quick to assume that we ought to forgive people, no matter what. But is this biblical?
These verses of course, like all parts of the Bible, are true. But they must be interpreted in the light of other scriptures. The Bible is one book, and it must always be read and understood as one book.

In Matt 18:21-22, we have what we might term, the scope of forgiveness,

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

But in Luke 17:3-4, we learn the terms of forgiveness,

“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”

So you see, forgiveness is based upon the grounds of the offenders repentance. If the offender offends a million times, but repents every time, then he is to be forgiven. Make a note however, that remorse is not repentance. Remorse is a sorrow for your sin, usually only because you got caught or discovered. Repentance is a hatred for your sin, and you intend as much as is possible, never to commit the sin again.

Forgiveness With God Is The Same

This is the way God forgives too. He doesn’t forgive everyone for no reason, he forgives those who repent (turn away, and have a hatred for their sin). Only, unlike humans, when God forgives, he never remembers the offences of the past ever again. Humans have the knack of saying they forgive, but will throw it up in the offenders face in the future. This is not true forgiveness. The reason God can completely forget the offence, is because true repentance comes from the knowledge that the sin must be paid for, and that it was paid for in Christ, in His death upon the cross. Jesus shed His blood and died, so that God could forgive and forget the sins of those who put their trust in Him.

So, unless your offender repents of their wickedness against you, you do not have to feel guilty about not forgiving them. However, that does not give us the right to hate anyone. Hatred is forbidden, but you can love a person, even though you may still hold them responsible for their wickedness.

A Biblical Response

So how does one respond exactly, when they’ve been the victim of a sinful act? Do you just wait around, hoping that the offender will see their sin, and seek forgiveness from you? Matt 18:15-16 says,

“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established”

This works with a Christian, or an unbeliever. Rather than harbouring thoughts of the offenders wickedness, desire their repentance, and seek for it.

There is more I could say on this issue, but I’d prefer it if the conversation developed from your thoughts…

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• Do You Know the Presence of God?
• Series - What if…?
• All things are possible to him that believeth

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