[Biblemat] A) THE FORGIVENESS OF JESUS

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Thursday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

THE FORGIVENESS OF JESUS

     "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are
doing" (Lk. 23:34) has been written in the hearts of all believ-
ers in Jesus Christ.  These words give us hope and consolat-
ion as we serve the God of heaven.  They remind us of God's
love, mercy, kindness and grace to all mankind (1 Tim. 2:3-6;
Ti. 3:4-7).

     As we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, we have been given
an example of forgiveness that is beyond our comprehension.
Yet, it should be our goal to be like our Lord and Savior in this matter of 
forgiveness.  Peter gives us an explanation of
Christ's  forgiving spirit when he writes, "He committed no 
sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.  When they hurled
their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered,
He made no threats.  Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him Who judges justly" 
(1 Pet. 2:22,23, NIV).

     Remember that Jesus could forgive sins while He was on
the earth:  "But that you may know that the Son of Man has
power on earth to forgive sins" (Mk. 2:10), then Jesus did a
miracle telling the paralytic man to take up his bed and go
home.  This proved He had authority to forgive the man his
sins (vss. 11,12)!

     Jesus was teaching His followers the importance of for-
giveness.  We can not forgive sins in the same way Jesus for-
gave sins.  He is God and He is the Sacrifice for sins.  We are
not!  Yet, Jesus calls upon His disciples to forgive others
their sins (Matt. 6:12).  The Lord explains, "For if you forgive
men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your
Father will not forgive your sins" (vss. 14,15, NIV).

     To forgife someone of sins when they sin against you is the true meaning 
of being like Christ.  We place no conditions
on our forgiveness just like Christ forgave unconditionally on
the cross.

     This does not mean that God does not require certain
things from men and women who have sinned.  Jesus taught
that one needing forgiveness should repent (Lk. 17:3; 13:1-5; Mk. 4:12).  God 
calls all people to repent (Acts 17:30).  We 
must repent of our sins to become a Christian (Acts 2:38), 
and we must continue to repent of our sins while a Christian
(1 Jno. 1:9).

     Nevertheless, forgiving those who sin against us is essent-
ial to truly being like Christ.  He told us to turn the other cheek and even 
forgive our enemy (Matt. 5:38-48).  May we
never be an unforgiving servant after we have been forgiven
of so much (Matt. 18:23-35)!

     Consider this plan of action: brethren -- "bearing with one
another; and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint
against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do" (Col. 3:13; 
Eph. 4:32); non-brethren -- "love your
enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who
hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matt. 
5:44).      ------- Ron Drumm.
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