Daily Friendship with God #24 Forgiveness

Our Father in heaven,  Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins,

For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.” (Luke 11:2-4) 

Directly after teaching on how to pray in Matthew six Jesus makes the following statement: 

“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. (Matthew 6:13-15) also read Mark 11:25-26, Luke 6:37

Forgiveness is a really big deal with God and He takes the topic very seriously. The Gospel is that Christ died for our sins was buried and rose again.(1 Corinthians  15:3-4). At Christ death His blood was poured out as noted in John 19 “one of the soldiers pierced His(Jesus) side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.” (John 19:34) 

As a result of His blood being poured out “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins…” (Ephesians 1:7)

John the Baptist openly proclaimed Jesus as the only one Who could remove the sins of the entire world as noted in John chapter one. 

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29). 

The entire sacrificial system of the old testament is founded on the concept of God making a way for people to have relationship with God. Sin separates our life from relationship with God (Isaiah 59:2, Colossians 1:21) . To deal with the issue of sin and separation from God, He came up with a system of sacrifice in which blood was poured out. This is based on the understanding that life exists in blood (Leviticus 17:11). If a person takes a life then he shall be put to death as noted in Exodus 21:2-23 life for life. Jesus Christ came and gave His life by allowing His blood to be poured out as the lamb of God (Read Exodus chapter 12). He did this to take away sin and remove the separation between God and man. In this He provided forgiveness of sins to all who will believe that He gave His life in order that we would gain His life which is eternal. 

As was noted in Daily Friendship with God #3 The Trinity Jesus was and is God and Man in one. The scribes and the Pharisees did not understand that Jesus was and is God. Jesus was fully submitted to God in His humanity. Jesus healed a man out of His love in order to prove that He had the power as God united with man to heal. In addition the healing gave validity to His power to forgive sin.  All forms of sickness and pain entered the world after sin entered the world. When all sin is removed sickness and pain no longer will exist (Read Revelation 21:4). Jesus came to give us the example of what a life united to God is like. In Luke He proved as God and Man united He had the power to forgive sin. 

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” (Luke 5:21-24)

As Jesus was on the cross dying in the place of all humanity in order to remove the sins of the world He said the following.  “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34a). Sin is destructive and not forgiving sin is equally as destructive.  When we understand that it is a lack of understanding of sin and what it does to the individual who is sinning, as well as to those that they are sinning against, then we like Jesus will forgive even the most terrible sin. It has been said that unforgiveness is like drinking deadly poison and then watching and waiting for your enemy to die. But If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

God forgives all sins except for just one. 

“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.  “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matthew 12:31-32)

It is the non-acceptance and rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit that God does not forgive. The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8). It is the rejection of the Holy Spirit’s work to convict individuals of sin that is the primary blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The rejection of the Holy Spirits work leads individuals to not believe in Jesus work to take away their personal sin. If an individual will not accept Jesus work to take away their sin then they are not forgiven. “He (the Holy Spirit) will glorify Me (Jesus), for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you (John 16:14). As a result of the primary blasphemous rejection of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is not glorified by the individual believing in His death burial and resurrection. Jesus said the following concerning Himself being glorified. 

But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.  Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again. ”Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him. ”Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.  Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.   And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.(John 12:23-33)

Once you have accepted the work of the Holy Spirit by receiving the Gospel 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, then you are forgiven from all your sins as noted in Colossians.  

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones (a child of God). Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sin’s against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”(Luke 17:1-4)

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?(Romans 6:1-2)

Repentance of sin means you have changed your mind about the wrong you have done and you are willing to do whatever it takes to make it right for the person that you have wronged. Jesus noted it is the evidence of your salvation. 

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvationhas come to this house.. (Luke 19:7-9)

Once a person repents then they are forgiven and as a result they have received Salvation. Prayer and confession leads to healing and forgiveness. 

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.. (James 5:15-16) 

Confession means to agree with, so when a person confesses their sins they are agreeing that what they have done is wrong. Confession of sin has a vertical and horizonal axis. The vertical is speaking to God and the horizonal is confession to other people. The word healed here means to free from errors and sins, to bring about (one's) salvation which means you are forgiven. 

I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. 

(1 John 2:12)

God forgives for His Name’s sake that others will call upon His name and be forgiven and saved

 “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; (Acts 13:38)

‘to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' (Act 26:18)… whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.( 2 Corinthians 4:4) 

It is Satan who is the god of this age who keeps people in darkness so that they will not  receive the Gospel. His plan is that, people will not hear the Holy Spirit Who points them to Jesus, for acceptance and forgiveness of sins. 

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace Ephesians 1:7 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:14)

Redemption in scripture means Jesus has ransomed us from sin by the payment of His blood. Forgiveness of sins comes from entering into a personal relationship with Jesus based on His death for our sins. Not only are we forgiven but with forgiveness, Jesus also was buried to leave our sins in the grave and He was also resurrected to give us new life.  

The good news about forgiveness is God is willing that all be forgiven. He has provided forgiveness by Jesus statement on the Cross “Father forgive them” and by pouring out His blood. Based on that truth if  we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Take some time to thank God for His heart to forgive you of all your sins. At the same time it is always good to check in with Him to see if He knows of anyone you have not forgiven (including yourself). His grace is so kind that He will gently help you to forgive based on His forgiveness for you. (read Matthew 18:21-35)