If I
forgive and forget could I have peace with God?
puricarefiles
Forgiveness is a decision of the will.
Since God commands us to forgive,
we must make a conscious choice to obey God and forgive.
"Be
kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in
Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32 English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase “forgive and forget” is
not found in the Bible.
However, there are verses
commanding us to “forgive one another”
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:14 (ESV)
A Christian who is not willing to
forgive others will find his fellowship with God hindered (Matthew 6:15).
He can reap bitterness and the
loss of reward
"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;" Hebrews 12:14 (ESV)
"Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward." 2 John 8 (ESV)
The offending party may not seek forgiveness and might even exhibit
an antagonistic spirit, but that does not negate God’s desire that we possess a
forgiving attitude.
"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," Matthew 5:44 (ESV)
In the spirit of peace, the
offender should do all means to seek reconciliation, but, if not, the victim
can still make a decision to forgive.
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It is next to impossible to truly forget and forgive offenses that have been committed against us. We just cannot erase memories of the hurts and the pains, those sleepless nights, and the agonies of an aggrieved soul. Who can ever forget those debasing words that reduced your self-worth to nothing, barbs of offenses that question even the very purpose of your existence?
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It is next to impossible to truly forget and forgive offenses that have been committed against us. We just cannot erase memories of the hurts and the pains, those sleepless nights, and the agonies of an aggrieved soul. Who can ever forget those debasing words that reduced your self-worth to nothing, barbs of offenses that question even the very purpose of your existence?
God’s Word, the Bible, states that
God does not “remember” our wickedness
"For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12 (ESV)
God, being omniscient, knows that we all have “sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
(Romans 3:23).
God knows and remembers
everything. Nothing could have escaped His attention and memory. But He says He will remember our sins no more.
If we have repented and received
Christ as Savior and Lord, we are positionally or judicially justified – it is
as if we have never sinned at all. God sees us in Christ’s righteousness. It is
the same as saying that our sins were nailed to the cross with Jesus.
Having been forgiven, and
absolutely and eternally forgiven, heaven is ours, as if our sins have never happened
at all. We belong to God by faith in
Christ. God does not condemn us for our sins.
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 (ESV)
"He will again have compassion on us;
he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You
will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea." Micah 7:19 (ESV)
Literally, God promises that He will not take into account our
trespasses against us. In that sense God “forgives
and forgets.”.
The forgiving Christian, by “forgiving and forgetting” chooses to forgive the offender for the sake of Christ and moves on with His life, as if the offense has not happened at all. This is the scriptural and godly course of action.
The committed Christian strives to
forget what is behind and presses towards what is ahead to the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13).
We should forgive each other “just as in Christ God forgave” us (Ephesians 4:32). We must not allow the root of
bitterness to spring up in our hearts and hinder our fellowship with God (Hebrews 12:15).
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Forgiveness is different from trust. It is a must to listen to God’s Word and take precautions, with consequential changes in the warmth of relationships.
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Forgiveness is different from trust. It is a must to listen to God’s Word and take precautions, with consequential changes in the warmth of relationships.
"The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it." Proverbs 22:3 (ESV)
While keeping company with
unrepentant sinners, we must be willing to forgive, yet at the same time being
cautious. It is only wise to limit the level of trust one places in that person.
.
Love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5) and covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).
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Love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5) and covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).
However, the changing and renewing
of hearts is the business of the Lord. It is not until the offender has a true,
supernatural heart change that we give a full trust in him.
Being cautious does not mean we
have not forgiven. It simply means we do not have the attributes of God and we
cannot see the person’s true nature.
Would you want God to
change your life?
God has made it possible
for you to know Him and experience
an amazing change in your own life through
a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ, and have eternal life.
Say the following
prayer:
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have
separated me from You.
I am truly sorry.
I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and live a
new life pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I believe that Your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was
resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and
reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank You that according to Your Word,
I am now born again.
Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do
Your will for the rest of my life. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
Related
Posts:
“Breathe
Upon Me Breath of God”
Benny Hinn
lyrics
Verse
:
Breathe
upon me breath of God
Breathe
upon me Spirit of the Lord
As
I lift my hands in surrender
To
Your Name most high
Chorus
:
I'm
yielding to Your Spirit
I'm
walking in Your love
Jesus,
I adore You
Jesus,
I adore You
Jesus,
I adore Your Holy Name
Truly it is humanly next to impossible to forgive and forget the hurt, especially betrayal, only by the grace and mercy of God.
ReplyDeleteEphesians 4:32The Message (MSG)
Delete31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
Truly it is humanly next to impossible to forgive and forget the hurt, especially betrayal, only by the grace and mercy of God.
ReplyDeletehttp://puricarefiles.blogspot.com/2016/05/mercy-many-christians-are-angry-yet.html
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