FORGIVENESS

There is a bumper sticker that reads, "to err is human, to forgive is out of the question." Unfortunately, that is how most people view forgiveness. As a result of people failing to forgive, parent-child relationships are broken, marriages fall apart, and churches struggle with unity. Realizing that we are all sinners and imperfect, we can understand that forgiveness is essential in any healthy relationship.

What does it mean to forgive someone? According to the Word Study Dictionary the primary word used for forgiveness in the New Testament means "to send forth or away, to let go from oneself; to dismiss; to let go from one's power, possession, to let go free, let escape; to let go from one's further notice, care, attendance, occupancy, i.e., to leave or let alone; to let go." Therefore, to forgive someone means that I am releasing them from the hurt they caused me. According to Jay Adams in "The Christian Counselor's Manual" to forgive a person means a commitment to not hold the issue against the offender anymore; this is accomplished by (1) a commitment to not bring up the issue again, (2) a promise to tell no one else about the issue, and (3) a promise not to dwell on it oneself. The issue has been released like a helium-filled balloon is released by a child. The offense is sent away and the offender is released from any future punishment due to the forgiven offense.

The same concept is found in the Old Testament in Leviticus chapter 16. God, in giving instructions concerning the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), instructs Aaron, the High Priest, to select two goats. One of the goats will be sacrificed and his blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat. The other goat was called the scapegoat. Aaron would confess the sins of nation while placing his hands on the head of the goat, transferring the sins of the people to the goat. The goat was then sent "away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness" and let go. This was a picture of God's forgiveness. He dismissed the sins of the children of Israel because of the blood sacrifice.

The Day of Atonement is a great picture of how the Lord Jesus Christ forgives sinners. In the New Testament the sinner is seen as a prisoner to sin, enslaved and bound by sin and unable to free himself from the its bondage and run to God. Jesus sets the sinner free from the bondage of sin by taking the sinner’s punishment for sin and by taking away their sins. Jesus is the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat of Leviticus 16. This is why Jesus described His ministry as one of setting captives free in Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance (forgiveness) to the captives (prisoners of war), and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty (forgiveness) them that are bruised, (19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (parenthesis mine)

Therefore, the basis of forgiveness, or the reason the sinner can be forgiven for his sins and forgive others for their sins, is the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Notice these verses:

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission:

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Colossians 3:12-13 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Forgiveness is never earned by the offending person, it is granted by the offended person, just as Christ granted the sinner forgiveness.

The question most asked about forgiveness is, when should I forgive someone who offends me? Should we wait to forgive someone until they ask for forgiveness? Absolutely not! Actually, there are two points to this answer. First, we must spiritually forgive people who have wronged us. In other words, we must forgive them in the sight of God. Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15 "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: (15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." You should forgive the person in your heart immediately, regardless of their desire to be forgiven. Failure to do so results in broken fellowship with God and bitterness toward that person that permeates every area of your life. Forgiving a person in your heart spiritually allows you to easily forgive the person personally when the time comes to do so.

Secondly, we must personally forgive the offender. Luke 17:1-10 is a classic passage on forgiveness in relationships. Forgiveness is not a suggestion, it is commanded by Jesus Christ (v. 3). It is not optional for the believer. When a person is wronged, it is the responsibility of the offended person to go to the offender. The offended are never to wait for the offenders to come to them to ask for forgiveness. Also, forgiveness is to be granted every time it is requested (v.4). It is difficult to forgive someone repeatedly, but it is still commanded. Failure to forgive is not a lack of faith, but a lack of obedience (v. 5-6). Finally, when we forgive in the manner commanded here, we are simply doing our duty (7-10) and no more. It is not the super Christian who forgives in this manner, but the obedient Christian.

So, do your Christian duty and be obedient to Jesus Christ. Go in the supernatural love and meekness of Jesus Christ to those who have hurt you, tell them how they have hurt you, and release them and yourself from the bondage of an unforgiving spirit. Tell them you forgive them because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ and release the balloon into he air as symbol of your release.