The Superior Word Bible Study on Forgiveness
Mar 23, 2019 0:04:46 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Mar 23, 2019 0:04:46 GMT -5
Are Christians Required to Forgive?
1) Jesus on the cross said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34 They will say, Jesus forgave them so you must too. First, Jesus didn't forgive them, He asked the Father to. Secondly, the sin was unintentional. Third, after Jesus' ascension, Peter explained what occurred and said to these same people that they must repent or be destroyed and cut off - he even called them a "wicked generation". Their destruction occurred 40 years later when Israel was destroyed and the Jews were dispersed, just as Jesus predicted.
2) But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:15 This is taken entirely out of context as a stand alone verse. The entire surrounding verses are about asking for forgiveness first. When we do, He does. And we are to do likewise when someone repents toward us.
3) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 Again, "just as in Christ God forgave you" is the key. We had to receive Christ and ask forgiveness first. Our forgiveness in Christ is potential only until we ask for it. It is only actual after that. Anything else is Universalism and means everyone is forgiven automatically and there is no hell; those who refuse to accept Christ are forgiven and go to heaven even against their will. This is actually heresy.
4) "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him." Luke 17:3,4
In this verse, it clearly states "if he repents."
5) In a comparable passage in Matthew 18 people tend to only quote the forgiveness part - "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." vs 35. However, the entire parable is based on one getting on his knees and first asking forgiveness.
6) If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. John 20:23
Pretty clear here. Jesus' followers can retain the sins of others and they are not forgiven.
7) We are not (clearly not!) forgiven by God until we turn to Him and accept Jesus as Lord. The forgiveness is unconditional and offered to all -
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 /// and /// When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins Colossians 2:13,
However, this is not in effect without turning to God through Jesus Christ. To teach otherwise is universalism - (all are saved) - which is a heresy. In other words, the forgiveness of Jesus Christ is POTENTIAL to all, but ACTUAL only to those who accept it when He is confessed as Lord - O GOD, FORGIVE ME... A SINNER.
Christians are not punching bags, and we are not expected to be held to a higher standard of forgiveness than God provides. We MUST forgive when someone repents - even to 7 times 70 in a day. But to say that we must forgive everyone without them acknowledging their actions appears to be unbiblical.
When we say the Lord's prayer - "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" we are acknowledging God as our forgiver and we are asking for that forgiveness. It therefore would logically be the same with those who "trespass against us."
Having said all that, the consequences of not forgiving are tremendous and when we don't forgive (even before being asked to do so), we allow our hearts to become cold to our circumstances and another soul, for whom Christ died, has sins which he retains. We need to be ready and willing to forgive at any time (potential) as commanded. We should also be willing - depending on the person and the trespass - to forgive without being asked (actual).
This is how the Bible presents these things, but there are many who will disagree and say we MUST forgive everyone all the time. This is 1) unrealistic, and 2) holding ourselves to a higher standard of forgiveness than is expected of us in order to be saved - repent, then receive forgiveness.
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23, 24
1) Jesus on the cross said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34 They will say, Jesus forgave them so you must too. First, Jesus didn't forgive them, He asked the Father to. Secondly, the sin was unintentional. Third, after Jesus' ascension, Peter explained what occurred and said to these same people that they must repent or be destroyed and cut off - he even called them a "wicked generation". Their destruction occurred 40 years later when Israel was destroyed and the Jews were dispersed, just as Jesus predicted.
2) But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:15 This is taken entirely out of context as a stand alone verse. The entire surrounding verses are about asking for forgiveness first. When we do, He does. And we are to do likewise when someone repents toward us.
3) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 Again, "just as in Christ God forgave you" is the key. We had to receive Christ and ask forgiveness first. Our forgiveness in Christ is potential only until we ask for it. It is only actual after that. Anything else is Universalism and means everyone is forgiven automatically and there is no hell; those who refuse to accept Christ are forgiven and go to heaven even against their will. This is actually heresy.
4) "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him." Luke 17:3,4
In this verse, it clearly states "if he repents."
5) In a comparable passage in Matthew 18 people tend to only quote the forgiveness part - "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." vs 35. However, the entire parable is based on one getting on his knees and first asking forgiveness.
6) If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. John 20:23
Pretty clear here. Jesus' followers can retain the sins of others and they are not forgiven.
7) We are not (clearly not!) forgiven by God until we turn to Him and accept Jesus as Lord. The forgiveness is unconditional and offered to all -
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 /// and /// When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins Colossians 2:13,
However, this is not in effect without turning to God through Jesus Christ. To teach otherwise is universalism - (all are saved) - which is a heresy. In other words, the forgiveness of Jesus Christ is POTENTIAL to all, but ACTUAL only to those who accept it when He is confessed as Lord - O GOD, FORGIVE ME... A SINNER.
Christians are not punching bags, and we are not expected to be held to a higher standard of forgiveness than God provides. We MUST forgive when someone repents - even to 7 times 70 in a day. But to say that we must forgive everyone without them acknowledging their actions appears to be unbiblical.
When we say the Lord's prayer - "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" we are acknowledging God as our forgiver and we are asking for that forgiveness. It therefore would logically be the same with those who "trespass against us."
Having said all that, the consequences of not forgiving are tremendous and when we don't forgive (even before being asked to do so), we allow our hearts to become cold to our circumstances and another soul, for whom Christ died, has sins which he retains. We need to be ready and willing to forgive at any time (potential) as commanded. We should also be willing - depending on the person and the trespass - to forgive without being asked (actual).
This is how the Bible presents these things, but there are many who will disagree and say we MUST forgive everyone all the time. This is 1) unrealistic, and 2) holding ourselves to a higher standard of forgiveness than is expected of us in order to be saved - repent, then receive forgiveness.
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23, 24