Forgiveness

There is an amazing power within each one of us. A power given to us by our Father in heaven. This ability empowers us to endure the sorest of trials and afflictions and to overcome even the most cunning wiles of our adversary the devil (2 Cor. 2:11). Each of us has this power, yet many do not use it. Some refuse, thinking it is too difficult. Others want to, but do not understand how. And some think it's a sign of weakness to employ this God-given ability. What are we talking about? We're talking about the power to forgive. This power is one of the greatest blessings we have.

The Power of Freedom

It has been estimated that more than half of the patients in mental institutions could be released today if they could just learn to forgive. This shows the power that lies at our disposal. Lewis B. Smedes described it in these words: "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." Many are imprisoned by negative feelings and are suffering continually because they refuse to forgive. Some refuse to forgive because of fear; others because of pride. Yet some simply do not know how to forgive because they do not understand what it means to forgive.

Forgiveness is letting go of resentment, ill-will, and the desire for revenge. It is accepting the consequences of another's (or our own) wrongdoing. When you think about it, isn't this exactly what Christ did by dying on the cross? Forgiveness is also giving up our right to retaliate. This is the only appropriate thing for a Christian to do, because vengeance belongs to God alone. "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord," (Rom. 12:19). We have to trust that God will do the right thing.

Forgiveness is not condoning or approving of sin. God forgives, yet He does not approve of sin. Forgiveness does not mean that we make excuses for wrong behavior. While it is good to empathize (to try and see the event from another's point of view) we do not make excuses. Forgiveness is not a restoration of trust. Trust has to be earned. The king forgave the servant who owed him ten thousand talents (Mt. 18:24-27), yet he did not turn around and give him another loan! Forgiving is not forgetting. We may never actually forget a wrong that was done, but we can refuse to hold it against the offender. We are to forgive as God has forgiven us (Eph. 4:32; Heb. 8:12 ), yet we do not think that the omniscient God actually forgets anything. What God does is refuse to hold our offenses against us.

What is forgiveness? Forgiveness is the ability to let go of heartaches and hurts and to take control of our lives. It's the means by which we may become free, free from the shackles of emotional distress, free from the burdens of anxiety and depression, and free from the bondage of anger and malice. The word translated "forgive" in Luke 6:37 means "to free fully." This teaches us that there is no such thing as a partial forgiveness. We either forgive fully or we do not forgive at all. It's time to realize that power and to appropriate it into our lives.

The Beauty of Grace

Forgiveness is an act of grace. The word translated "forgive" in 2 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 4:32; and Colossians 3:13 is the Greek word charidzomai. This word is elsewhere translated as "freely give" (Rom. 8:32), or "gave" (Lk. 7:21). This word is a form of charis, which is translated "grace" elsewhere in the New Testament. This teaches us that forgiveness cannot be purchased, negotiated, or earned. When someone sins against you, there is nothing that person can do to earn your forgiveness. Whatever may be done to repay or repair the damages, forgiveness must be given freely.

The careful Bible student will ask: "What if a person doesn't repent? Should I still forgive him?" Jesus said it this way: "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him," (Lk. 17:3). Repentance is a condition of receiving forgiveness from either God or man. Yet God still offers the forgiveness to those who refuse to repent. "But to Israel He says: 'All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people,'" (Rom. 10:21). We must be willing to forgive, even when others refuse to repent. We must not let our anger against another take control of our lives. We must release our desire to "get even" with the offender. Whether or not they accept our forgiveness is out of our control.

The Blessing of Salvation

Forgiveness is a Christian duty. If we desire to be forgiven by God, we must be willing to forgive others. Our eternal salvation is depends upon it. Consider what the Scriptures say:

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses," (Matt. 6:14,15).

"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another; even as God in Christ forgave you, so you also must do," (Col. 3:12,13).

Much more could be said about this vital subject, yet space will not permit. Our prayer is that we will learn to forgive one another, to forgive ourselves, and to grow closer to our Father in heaven.