Forgiveness - A Two Step Process

Greetings,

 

I want to take a moment to share with you a message that I have never heard taught.  It has to do with un-forgiveness towards the offender and the person who has been offended who must ask seek forgiveness from God for being offended.  

 

Forgiveness: A Two Step process

 

Step One.  You’ve all heard the forgiveness message over and over and over again.  We are to forgive those who have offended us over and over again as it says in Matthew 18:21-22 where Jesus says to forgive “seventy time seven”.  In reality, this is symbolic, as we are to forgive even if it exceeds seventy times seven.  We continue to forgive them until we are not pinged by the thought that caused our un-forgiveness. 

 

Many people have un-forgiveness towards people that have been dead for years and it should not be an issue.  But it is an issue because we have a record of wrongs against offenders both dead and alive.

 

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"  Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.  Matthew 18:21-22  

 

Step Two.  Jesus says to love your neighbor as you love yourself (as God loves you).  Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  So, if we took offense and have un-forgiveness, it is contrary to what Jesus said and that is to love our neighbor.  Therefore, we are in sin for having un-forgiveness towards the person who offended us.  We are to go before God and ask Him to forgive us for having un-forgiveness towards the person who offended us or we go to bed with un-repentant sin.

 

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins (for having un-forgiveness)." Mark 11:25.  Are you with me?

 

I want to share some things that have really helped me in dealing with offenders and un-forgiveness.

 

1. Separate the sin from the person God created. 
2. Love the person, hate the sin. 
3. Look at the person the way Jesus would have looked at the offender.  With love and compassion.
    

We must understand what Jesus knew and that is “they do not know what they are doing.”  We are to forgive them and understand that they may be in bondage and don’t recognize the offenses they have committed.  It does not mean we have to endure their offenses.  But, we must forgive them and love them as God loves us and them. 

 

Lastly, our un-forgiveness compromises our immune system and cause many health issues.  Therefore, we must forgive and seek forgiveness. 

 

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34

 

Don’t ever let your adversaries become your master.  In other words, don’t let their sin control you.

 

Tony Sanchez