Forgiveness is very sweet to the soul. Of course the ultimate forgiveness, and the sweetest, is God's forgiveness to us, which Christ became for us. Jesus is the foundation of all the forgiveness we experience in this life.
Paul says, "And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you." (Eph. 4:32)
Forgiveness is conditional however. Repentance is essential for forgiveness. Paul says that godly sorrow leads to repentance. (2 Cor. 7:10)
If the sorrow is genuine, then the repentance will be. If the sorrow is self-centered, then the repentance is simply a show, and has no roots.
However, if it is true sorrow, which leads to true repentance, then we are to confirm our love for this person, so that he doesn't become "swallowed up with overmuch sorrow", or in other words, become utterly discouraged. (2 Cor. 2:7)
The Body of Christ is all about forgiving, but it's not a "sloppy" forgiveness.
I pray that the Lord would help us learn how to forgive. And that His forgiveness at the Cross would be ever before us as our standard and foundation. Amen.
3 comments:
Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heal that has crushed it.
Mark Twain
Who'd have thought Twain could capture something that profoundly biblical! Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Nice quote Gregorious.
Didn't he write "The Prince and the Pauper"?
Brother,
Indeed he did!
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