FORGIVENESS
To forgive is to grant pardon without harboring resentment:
The Christian has tasted the free gift that
comes from heaven. It is only in Christ that a man can be at peace with God.
Forgiveness is not something he can ever win; it is a free gift. It is only
when he comes to the Cross that his burden is rolled away. The Christian
is a man who knows the immeasurable relief of experiencing the free gift
of the forgiveness of God.
Heb.9:15-22 15. And
for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of
death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first
testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.[A man who makes and leaves a will, or testament, at death.]
17. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
19. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people
according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water,
and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20. Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness is a costly thing. Human forgiveness
is costly. A son or a daughter may go wrong and a father or a mother may
forgive; but that forgiveness brings tears, whiteness to the hair, lines
to the face, a cutting anguish and then a long dull ache to the heart. It
does not cost anything. Divine forgiveness is costly. God is love but he
is also Holiness. He least of all can break the great moral laws on which
the universe is built. Sin must have its punishment or the very structure
of life disintegrates. And God alone can pay the terrible price that is necessary
before men can be forgiven. Forgiveness is never a case of saying: "It's
all right; it doesn't matter." It is the most costly thing in the world.
Without the shedding of heart's blood there can be no forgiveness of sins.
Nothing brings a man to his senses with such arresting violence as to see
the effect of his sin on someone who loves him in this world or on the God
who loves him forever, and to say to himself: "It cost that, to forgive my sin." Where there is forgiveness someone must be crucified.
He can bring his request only because he knows the the name--the character of God. "Some boast of chariots," says the Psalmist, "and some of horses; but we boast of the name of the Lord our God" (Ps.20:7). Some people put their trust in earthly helps but we will trust God because we know his nature.
Matthew 6:14-15
14. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 18: 21. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
[also read: Matthew 18:23-35]
Mark 11;25-26
25. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought
against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your
trespasses.
26. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
There is one sin that is not forgiven :
28. Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons
of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29. But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never
forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
further study~> The Golden rule
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