Forgiveness Part 2

I found the Greek word for “forgive.” I went to my Strong's Concordance hoping to find out that the word for forgive when it is me forgiving others was different from the word for forgive when God is forgiving us. That did not help. The word is essentially the same in every passage I looked at that uses the word "forgive." Aphiemi [ἀφίημι]: send away, release, remit, forgive, permit, leave alone. It was not different no matter how it is used.

One thing I learned, from several sources reinforcing each other, is that God’s grace, love and forgiveness are never conditional. It’s not so much that our forgiving others wins kudos from God, as it is what God expects from those who have received His unlimited forgiveness. As we grow in our understanding of the depths of His love for us, and the resulting forgiveness, we should forgive others, even many times over, and even for the same offense. God does that for us. And when Peter asked how many times did he have to forgive someone who had hurt him. Peter thought seven seemed like a good number, but God said,

“I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21, 22.

And, I don’t think we are supposed to keep count. Can you see each of us walking around holding little notebooks, writing names and placing tally marks next to those as we keep a record of all who have hurt us? Ahhh! 490! I don’t have to forgive that person ever again!

That sounds ridiculous. God does not do that to us and we should mimic God. Jesus told us to follow His example:

“For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.” John 13:15.

I was told once that because of my childhood beliefs about sin, I knew without a doubt that I was/am a sinful person worthy of death. The same person also told me that knowing I have been forgiven for those numerous sins could help me understand the depths of God’s love. He paraphrased Luke 7:47 as “He who is forgiven much, loves much . . .” That makes sense to me and leads me back to gaining a little more understanding of the depth of God’s love and His unconditional forgiveness for me.

I need to think (and pray) about this more this next week. More is yet to be revealed.

Forgiveness Part 1

Forgiveness is the central truth that brought me into my relationship with Christ thirty-three years ago. I wanted to be clean inside and out. I worked for a woman on my street when I was growing up and loved it because I could see instant results; I could see what the wall, table, or laundry looked like when it was cleaned. I saw what clean meant. Yet I felt so dirty in the eyes of others and in the eyes of God.

So when I was told there is a way to be clean in God's eyes, to be forgiven for all my sins, which were numerous, I made a decision to give this kind of God a try. (My religious background had clearly identified all my sins, but I never heard about a way to deal with the sin, especially a way that would "stick" and not have to be confessed over and over again.)

Forgiveness is the theme for this month’s sermons at my church. It was also the lesson at Celebrate Recovery Tuesday night. Some of the concepts, ideas, and Bible passages shared challenged (in my mind) the concept of unconditional forgiveness. Example passages:

· Matthew 6:12: “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

· Matthew 6:14 – 15: “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavely Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”

· Mark 11:25: “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.

Does God forgive me just the way I am? Do I have to do something to be forgiven (like forgive others)? I know the quality of my relationships – with God and with others – depends on my willingness to forgive. However the thought that if I am struggling with forgiving others or myself (such as doubting God's forgiveness, living in guilt and shame, holding onto grudges, and having regrets) God withdraws His forgiveness from me is bothersome.

I did some research looking at the Greek word for the forgiveness and I wrote my Pastor and asked for help in understanding the point of passages like the ones above. I think I have a better understanding . . .

More Friday . . .