Forgiveness 

by Greg Gwin

There are many things about God that our finite minds have trouble grasping. Perhaps nothing is more difficult to comprehend than His amazing capacity to forgive. When we wrong Him again and again, even repeating the same sins over and over, He patiently and lovingly offers forgiveness - for He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). The ultimate sign of this great willingness to pardon us was shown in the sending of His own Son to be a sacrifice for our sins (Ephesians 2:4,5).

For us, the challenge is to be like Him. We are commanded to be "kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32). This may, in fact, be one of the most difficult commands for us to obey. The tendency for us, when wronged, is to strike back - get our revenge. But we are warned: "Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19).

So, there can be no revenge, but forgiveness is a BIG step beyond mere forbearance. Can you forgive your neighbor one time? Maybe twice? Three strikes and you're out! NO! "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"
(Luke 17:3,4). Even seven times will not ultimately be enough. Peter 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" (Matthew 18:21,22).

Can you forgive? Can you pardon again and again, even for the same sin repeated over and over? If not, you have not attained unto the "divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4), and you are in spiritual danger. Think!

 

Other Articles by Greg Gwin
The One Who loved You Enough
Where is the Kiss?
The Mark of the Beast
How to Know What God Wants Me to Do