Forgiveness
Page
1
Welcome
to Page 1 on the subject of - Forgiveness.
Forgiveness
is an extremely important issue in the lives of all people. If
you have come here, I am sure you know this to be true. Everyone needs forgiveness.
Forgiving others leads to life, both abundant life here and now and eternal life, which will last forever with the LORD. Forgiveness of others is not an option if a person wants to receive
Let's
talk first about the flip-side of forgiveness,
which of course is unforgiveness.
Have
you ever known someone who is so emotionally dried up and bitter that they won't allow
anyone "inside" their walls? The cause is usually a deep hurt that
has been allowed to remain in the heart. This pain is caused by: unforgiveness.
Unforgiveness leads to death. If a person refuses to forgive they will eventually become a bitter person.
Some
people are afraid to enter into the realm of friendship or marriage as a result of an
inability to forgive
others.
The worst effect resulting from inability
to give forgiveness is
the inability to receive forgiveness.
The
end point can be a terrifying and harsh existence.
How important is forgiveness?
Here
is what JESUS told the
disciples after giving them what we like to call the LORD'S
Prayer:
Matthew 6:14-15
"If you forgive those
who sin against you, your HEAVENLY FATHER
will forgive you.
But if you refuse to forgive
others, your FATHER will
not forgive your
sins."
This may seem a bit harsh. Of
course, you are forgiven on
the basis of JESUS dying
for your sins on the cross. And that is the exact point. JESUS
died for you while you were in sin! And your
sin was laid on HIS spotless
and perfect shoulders at Calvary. HE
forgave you so completely
that it cost HIM, HIS
life!
Now you must be
willing to do the same for others. And here is why:
Forgiveness
brings freedom. Not just for the person you are not
forgiving, but also for y-o-u!
That's right. Not forgiving
is like taking a chain and wrapping it around y-o-u-r-s-e-l-f
and the person y-o-u are refusing to forgive,
tying you both together. Nothing can break that chain but an act of y-o-u-r
own will. Your will, not your emotions.
If you have been
devastated by an act of hatred or evil against you, you may not want to hear
this now. But, it is in your best life-long, even eternal, interest to pay
close attention here. When you forgive
someone who does not deserve it, you free them to have a
chance to receive the Gospel. No matter your personal opinion of the person you
are having problems with, or not even trying to forgive,
from GOD'S standpoint
this is extremely important. HE has
made the Ultimate Sacrifice to see that all people come to HIM.
Think about it, you do not want to face HIM
one day and try to explain why you would not follow HIS
example and forgive those
who have sinned against you.
"I've
tried and I can't" is the most common statement spoken by Believers who have
been hurt or betrayed by someone very important and close to them. While forgiveness
is an act of your will, you need help from the ONE
who modeled forgiveness in your
behalf.
To discuss the steps of forgiving someone,
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