As with television, the internet presents humanity with a powerful learning tool. Sadly, both television and the internet have been abused by the powers of darkness, and both need to be approached with care as to what we allow into our intellect. Both affect our subconscious mind, and whilst a great source for information on many subjects, these media forms present equal opportunity to spread propaganda, and misinformation!
On the subject of forgiveness, many touching testimonies exist, however, the internet simply provides too much information to assimilate! Given these “educational tools” cannot be trusted, it is better to go to source oneself. What we learn on television and the internet, must be examined, compared, tested, and tried in the light of scripture! If we do not know scripture, we best learn scripture, as we have no other means to discover the pearls of knowledge and life handed down to us by the Patriarchs!
Forgiving those who have wronged us, is often easier said than done. It is vitally important to forgive men their trespasses, for if a man does not forgive men their trespasses, God will not forgive that man his trespasses. Scripture is perfectly clear. “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses”. Mark 11:25 and 26. Clearly a condition exists to our being forgiven, and it is that we forgive others!
Issues develop though when one feels constrained to forgive in the face of unrepentant conduct! The scripture “judge not, that ye be not judged”, Matthew 7:1, obscurely appears to support unconditional forgiveness, and scripture clearly supports scripture on the matter that it is not man’s place to pass judgment, Romans 2:1 to 3. These are finer points which raise the question whether God requires us to forgive a trespass, without first judging the matter, and appropriately addressing the issues in the manner prescribed in The Word? Going to source in The Word we read as follows. “Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou has gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican”. What we need to see, is that repentance is key!
“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 and 4.
Understanding this simple process for maintaining harmony in the church, supports the doctrine that we shall forgive 70 x 7 if a brother repents. It is written, “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends”, confirms the doctrine that forgiveness requires repentance on the part of the offending party. Proverbs 17:9. Repentance, essentially an about turn in conduct, is unquestionably prerequisite to forgiveness! Without repentance, there can be no forgiveness! Scripture again establishes doctrine, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish! Luke 13:2 to 5.
Simply said, God’s forgiveness is received through repentance. If we will judge ourselves, we will not be judged. 1 Corinthians 11:31. Accepting that “there is none righteous, no, not one”, Romans 3:10, ”for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”, Romans 3:23, we approach God for mercy, “for the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 6:23. We come to the Lord Jesus confessing our sinfulness to accept Him as Savior, and receive His gift of salvation with life everlasting! And this is the record, he that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son, hath not life. 1 John 5:11 and 12.
Forgiveness, translated from “aphiemi” out of the original Greek Bible, or Septuagint, or The Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, literally means to send away, or to send forth. Early use of aphiemi in the Greek language was to denote a total separation of a person, or object, by sending it away from a place, or letting it go. It was also used to convey to leave on dying, to depart from one without taking one as companion, to give up a debt, to keep no longer. Meditation on the aforementioned, will reveal a separation of a permanent nature, is implied with the word aphiemi. It is noteworthy aphiemi is used in the Greek script, where Cain was driven out from the face of the Earth for the murder of his brother Abel. God sent him forth permanently!
Due diligence to research the Greek a little deeper, will reveal the following translations. Forgive in Greek is synchoro, forgiven is synchoreitai, and forgiveness is synchoresi. The Greek word Aphiemi, literally means to separate. It is correctly used in the context that God has separated us from all our sins in Jesus Christ! This is a completed work accomplished on the cross which Christ’s followers accept as the fulfillment of Old Testament Messianic prophecy! Approaching God with sincere contrition for our sinfulness, we come to God trusting in God’s mercy for forgiveness, and God separates us from our sins “so far as the East is from the West, does he remove our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12. Salvation is freely given to us, and we who have received our Lord Jesus, have been sent forth pardoned. 1 John 1:9.
Unconditional forgiveness is therefore not theologically correct. There is a condition to our becoming separated from our sins, that we approach God, coming to Him trusting wholly, and solely in the innocent blood of God’s only begotten Son Jesus Christ, so we may be sent forth of God, pardoned! Our Lord’s words, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more”, John 8:11, to the woman caught in adultery, confirms the doctrine repentance is key! “Let him that stole, steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth”. “For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not His saints; they are preserved forever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever”. Psalm 37:28 and 29.
By Lester Oliver Thomas Flock © 2020