What is Forgiveness?

Perhaps too often when we read God's Word we tend to gloss over words that we think we understand, such as forgive, without fully appreciating the depth of meaning and importance in our lives. It requires consideration of all the lessons provided by our Lord to define and truly understanding its meaning. So what does it actually mean to forgive, and why is it so important to every one of God's children? Consider carefully what Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:14-15 concerning forgiveness and why it is so important to our own standing with God. Jesus said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you do not forgive their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

     Understanding the depth of this word is therefore critically important to ourselves who need forgiveness of our sins by the Lord. We should also consider the related and important principle Jesus reveals in Matthew 7:2: “For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged, and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.” If we are hard in any way, or generous in any way, we will be recompensed for that behavior, whichever it is. This important principle can be applied to the quality or depth of the forgiveness we "mete out," and therefore will certainly be the measure of forgiveness that we ourselves will receive from the LORD. We must remember what God's servant David says in Psalms 32:1-2 and which was essentially repeated by Paul in Romans 4:8. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

     True forgiveness is perhaps the greatest demonstration of Love, and requires the sacrifice or giving up of one's own perceived rights to take hold and be led by the true riches of God's Spirit. Is simply walking away from conflict a demonstration of forgiveness? I do not believe it is at all.

     How does one justify walking away from a brother or sister that has inflicted some harm, as a demonstration of forgiveness? If someone has sinned against me, or vice versa, we need to establish reconciliation with each other. The goal is love for our brother and reestablishing him in the right way. Should we not let our light shine and truly forgive. If the fault is with us and we know we have wrongfully offended a brother, we need to remember Matt. 5:24,

“Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift". Let us remember what God tells us in Hosea 6:6, “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”

     Forgiving is not an easy thing to do, as feelings are often bruised, and pride….oh, that evil pride, must be overcome. We must submit ourselves to the will of God, and not just walk away. Remember what Jesus tells us in Mat 5:11-12, “Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” To be persecuted for the Lord's sake must involve the doing of the Lord's will -- having suffered wrong without fault. And it is certainly the strong and mature Christian who must reach out to the weaker offender. Reaching out requires strength of character to "turn the other cheek," and forgive, forgive, and forgive, remembering that when we were sinners, the Lord loved us, and gave His Son for us.

   And we must also have the Wisdom and Understanding that not only considers the one who was in the offence but also the needs of those who may be affected by anything less than full reconciliation. Most of all we must discern the will of God to love our neighbor as ourselves. We must take to heart what Jesus tells us in Matt. 5:46-48, “For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans do the same? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the publicans do so? Be therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

     We should not become discouraged, for God does not expect us to do the impossible, or to change the world. But God does want us to overcome the world, self, and pride, and to follow the example of His Son. We should be the light of the world, as Jesus tells us in Matt. 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Overcoming self to do the will of God is what is required. Our Heavenly Father is glorified by our love for others, which in His sight demonstrates our love for Him.

     I can remember a time when reading Philemon that I felt Paul was very bold and even presumptuous in his request to Philemon concerning his run-away servant, Onesimus, who attached himself to Paul and aided him in his service to the Lord. Paul entreated Philemon "for love's sake," to take back Onesimus, but this time "not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto you, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?" Paul was requesting that Philemon demonstrate his ability to put aside the wrong inflicted him, and to embrace Onesimus now as a brother in Christ…..to forgive the one who wronged him. This is not an easy thing to do, for it runs contrary to the spirit of this evil world, and the flesh. We should never rationalize our behavior that is less then forgiving, but instead embrace God's Spirit of love to forgive.

     Jesus gave us the wonderful and very moving parable of the Prodigal son in Luke 15, who like Onesimus, was touched by God's providences in his life. This son came to realize through hardship his unworthiness to be a son. Yet his father upon just seeing him again, demonstrated forgiveness with great joy, because he loved his son, even as God loves us, giving His Beloved Son for us, that we may be reconciled to Him.

True forgiveness is being reconciled to an offender….and has nothing to do with walking away or overlooking an offense. It requires us in fact to try to help the erring one overcome their own faults to not cause such injuries in the future. But if they will not, that is between them and God. But for us, it is necessary to forgive, so that we are in a position to want to help them when they should need it. And in forgiving, we are not caught up with the acid that affects the one who cannot forgive. And thus we are prepared to go on in a positive attitude and help others.

So our forgiveness of others is to help them move ahead, but especially to help us remain helpful to all. But everyone who sins, sins against God as in Psalm 51:4, and eventually to be right with him, they have to seek his forgiveness to return to a profitable relationship with him.

It requires an understanding of the will of God in our lives, and the strength through the leading of God's Word and His Holy Spirit to overcome self and pride. Let us therefore adorn ourselves with a "meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

J. DiCesare

© CDMI

Quotes on Forgiveness

“He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man has need to be forgiven.” Thomas Fuller

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”
Mark Twain

“When you forgive, you in no way change the past -- but you sure do change the future.”
Bernard Meltzer

“Forgiveness is the final form of love.” Reinhold Niebuhr