Matthew 6:14 & 15 (KJV)
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:21-35 (NKJV)

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all. Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe! So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all. And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
 

Strong words from the Bible. Forgiveness is not a game, nor is unforgiveness an option if we want to receive God's forgiveness and blessings in our lives. God the Father expects us to be as He is, to act as He does when it comes to loving people, forgiving others. God's plan for our lives is that we, through his Holy Spirit, work at becoming like His son Jesus. We must give away to others what we have received from Him, forgiveness. If we truly understand and comprehend what Jesus has done for us then we will be able to give to others what we have received from Him. We may struggle with it, but we will get there with the Holy Spirit's help.

Luke 23:34 (KJV)
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Jesus, the Son of God, brought before religious rulers who were only interested in protecting their own position and power. Men who said they sought the truth, outwardly obeyed all the laws of God, and professed they were awaiting their Messiah. Here He stood before them. They choose not to recognize Him. Instead they ridicule Him, mock Him, spit upon Him and beat Him with their fists, yet He offers no resistance. He does not complain, nor return false accusation. After they beat Him with a whip, and make Him carry a heavy wooden cross through the town,  jeered by the same crowd that had just day's before welcomed Him as the Messiah, they nail Him to a cross, naked. The same soldiers who had beaten Him, made Him carry the cross, nailed Him to the cross, now "roll the dice" to see which one of them can have His clothing. If that isn't enough, two thieves, placed on His left and right, are crucified with Him. A mocking sign is placed over His head, "This is the King of the Jews". Yet Jesus speaks these words "Father, my Father, forgive them, do not hold this against them, for they do not understand what they do."

A lot of the time we fall into a category like the story in Matthew 18 above. We want  to be forgiven, yet we often fail to extend it to others. Recognizing this is the key: If you have been forgiven millions of dollars in debt, what is it to forgive a penny? What God has done for us is beyond price. By comparison, most of what others do to us is barely a penny.

Sin has a blinding affect on those who are caught in it's web. How many times have you seen a person truly contrite after committing a heinous crime only to find out its too late to say your sorry. When they perpetrated the crime they did not really understand what lay ahead. When reality gripped them,  it was too late to reverse what was already done. How often do we willing choose to sin? I don't know about you, but often I know what is right and wrong, and still choose to do wrong. Why? Because sin has a blinding affect on those who are caught in it's web. All I can see is my own wants and desires through my own sinful nature. If I truly had God's perspective, knowing what the end result is going to be to my spirit, soul, mind, and body, what the total ramifications of my actions while be, I would choose not to sin. Ah, but we are sinful creatures, so we deceive ourselves into thinking there won't be any ramifications, no one will find out, etc, and sin anyway.
My old Pastor Don Thomason used to say, "Sin makes you stupid!" I believe it.

Jeremiah attests to our hearts deceitful nature.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (KJV) "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?    I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

The Apostle Paul also speaks of the woeful state of man's understanding:

Romans 7:15-25.(The New Revised Standard Version)   I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good.  But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.  For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin.
 

1 Corinthians 2:8 (The New King James Version)  " which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory".

In the case of 1 Corinthians 2:8, stupidity paid off for us! (A little Bible humor)

Remember, we are  responsible for our actions. Jesus asked the Father to forgive these people who were caught in this web of sin, from the cross no less.

What we so often fail to grasp is that our unwillingness to forgive effects us, our lives, our families, our friends, all of our relationships, and  everyone we come in contact with. Forgiveness is not as much for the benefit of the offending party, as much as it is for you. In Proverbs we are cautioned to guard our hearts, for out of it flows the real issues of life. Scripture warns against letting any root of bitterness dwell in your heart. Why? Because you have an influence on others wherever you go. You are either part of the solution or part of the problem!! (Evangelist Ray Brooks)  You choose.

Many victims of rape cry out, "I could never forgive what he did to me." And so called counselors saying "then don't forgive them!" But  the truth is, you must forgive or the bitterness will eat you alive, and the horrible crime you endured, as terrible as it was, will be of  less consequence then the unforgiveness harbored within. Forgiveness does not, and I repeat, does not release the offender from responsibility before God in this life for what they have done.

Galatians 6:7-8, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

Even if the rapist comes to salvation in Christ, and yes, God forgives them, as should we, they will still reap from what they have  sown. They will still go to jail and face all of the legal consequences of their actions. Not long ago a woman was put to death for the crimes she committed. She had become a Christian in prison, yet she still faced the penalty for her actions in this life. She reaped what she had sown, yet Jesus was there to meet her on the other side, welcoming her into Heaven. Why? Because she had come to a saving belief in Christ, and received His forgiveness. . Tough issues to think about.

God's forgiveness means that we will enter into His eternal life, and not face eternal judgment.( see previous page)

That said, even when we stand before Him at His judgment seat, we will still have to give account for everything we have done in this life.  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone  may receive the things
done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."  (2nd Corinthians 5:10)

No one is going to "get away" with anything. We will be held responsible for how we conducted ourselves in this life, even if we have been forgiven for it. This has to do with eternal reward, which is  completely another subject, and not eternal life!
This statement is not a contradiction to the Bible, even though on the surface it appears conflicting. Are we forgiven? Yes! God removes the penalty of sin, which is death from us. He, God, no longer remembers our sin by His omnipotent choice. He does however hold us responsible for how we have used the gift's, talent's, abilities, resources that He gave to us in this life. Did we use them for God's Kingdom and glory, or did we consume them on our own selfish desires? I hope you  see the difference. Eternal life versus eternal reward(s). I am sure Billy Graham will have a greater reward than I, but we are both loved the same. I digress.

Only God the Father is qualified to make judgments on man's soul. We are not. Whether it is a sin of lying, or of taking a life, sin ultimately separates us from God. While one faces more consequence in this life than the other, both will have the same effect in eternity. Sin separates us from God, His purpose and blessing.

Let us all decide to be part of the solution.

Extend forgiveness to those who have offended and hurt you. Letting go through forgiveness is the first step in God bringing healing to your spirit, soul, and body.

Remember, forgiving others is a direct reflection of your understanding of how you have been forgiven.

Study the scriptures. Learn how God has forgiven you. See how it applies to your life, and how to extend it to others.
Forgive has you have been forgiven, for if you do, then you will truly reach the deepest understanding of what Christ has done for you, and all mankind.  May God  richly bless you as begin and continue on your journey!
 
 

Danny Young's personal testimony
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Danny's Ministry Background
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Shape Up
Making the transition from techniques to principles
For every negative ... God has a positive!
The conquest of one's soul is the greatest journey of all.
General Colin Powell Quotes and Comments
What Happened to Innocence
Bob Orlando's personal testimony
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7/18/03