What Does The Bible Say About Forgiveness?

The virtue of forgiveness is dominant in scripture. We must keep in mind that forgiveness is a commandment of the Lord, not an option (Mark 11;25;Ephesians 4:31, 32). The Hebrew term for forgiveness is the word calach which means to pardon. The Greek term is aphiemi; means to send forth or send away. The meaning we must explore first is that of forgiveness in relation to remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22; Matthew 6:12).

Forgiveness starts and ends with God. He is the author and finisher of it. The first act of forgiveness ever recorded in scripture was when God slew and animal, made coats of skin for Adam and Eve after they sinned in the Garden of Eden. So back in the beginning, God set a standard for forgiveness and covering of sin with the shedding of innocent blood to bear the sins of the guilty. It was the first substitutionary sacrifice in human history (Genesis 3:21).

The most ultimate expression of forgiveness is that of the Lord Jesus Christ when he offered himself on Calvary’s Cross for the sins of the world some 2000 years ago (Matthew 1:21; Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37; Luke 23:34; John 19:30). Forgiveness in laymen’s terms means to pardon the punishment that is due the offender, and the deliverance of the sinner from divine penalty. The sinner must always be mindful of the reality that he is deserving of the punishment commensurate with his offense. However, God in his loving kindness did not hold our sins against us. Hear the words the Psalmist: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity.” (Psalm 32:1, 2).

Even in the Old Testament the Israelites were well familiar with the reality of forgiveness through the offering of animal sacrifices. The children of Israel were required to offer sin and trespass offerings daily for the forgiveness of sins through the shedding of the animal’s blood on the altar. This daily ritual would cause them to be forgiven by the Lord (Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31). The shedding of the animal’s blood was known as Atoning which means to cover. All the incalculable sacrifices in the OT were merely antitypes of the perfect once for all sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Hebrews 10:10-18). The animal sacrifices were never designed to take away sins permanently.

Jesus And Divine Forgiveness

Divine or vertical forgiveness is from the Lord. Why? Because man is utterly depraved and is a fallen creature who does evil continually (Genesis 6:5). The scriptures declare that “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). In the same chapter it reads, “There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). With the aforementioned passages alone one can see man’s hopelessness in the world without the salvation of the Lord.

Jesus is the embodiment of forgiveness. He not only taught on forgiveness, he demonstrated it throughout his earthly life and ministry and ultimately with his death so it’s to him where we must look to exercise this essential virtue in our lives.

Jesus forgave the sins of a man and healed him of Palsy (Matthew 9:2-7). Jesus forgave the woman who poured the alabaster box of oil on his feet and wiped them with her hair (Luke 7:47-50). Note what Jesus said in verse 50 of the seventh chapter: “Woman thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace.” The word saved in the Greek is sozo which denotes to save a suffering one from perishing, one suffering from a disease, to make well, to heal, restore to health. In the case with this woman it was regarding eternal life. We know this because Jesus told her that her sins were forgiven (Luke 7:48). Apparently her actions were far more than what they appeared; that is her weeping along with pouring of the expensive oil on Jesus’ feet and wiping his feet with her hair. This woman recognized her sinfulness and was seeking mercy which Jesus provided by forgiving and saving her. This act proves that Jesus is God in the flesh for only God can forgive sins (John 1:1; Hebrews 1:8).

One of the finest moments of forgiveness ever recorded in scripture was regarding the thief on the cross. Realizing he was being justly condemned for his sins, he acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah and asked the Lord to remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus in agony on the cross forgave the thief and replied, “This very day you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42, 43). The thief was saved at that very moment! Although Jesus was dying, he still had the desire, power and willingness to save life (Luke 19:10). What a mighty God we serve!

True forgiveness is always motivated by a loving and compassionate heart which will no longer hold the offense against the offender nor call it to mind for the sake of retaliation. Jesus also in agony stated, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Jesus having created mankind had a compassionate heart to want to save it since it had fallen away and was utterly hopeless (Ephesians 2:12). Although man hated him, his loved never wavered.

Human Forgiveness

Human or horizontal forgiveness is also a command of scripture and as all directives of scripture, it must be obeyed. Since God almighty forgave us which he willingly lavished upon us because it pleased him to do so, how much more should we forgive one another? It’s not an option. We must forgive or the Lord will not forgive us our trespasses (Mark 11:25-26).

Peter in Matthew 18:21 asked Jesus, ”Lord how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him -til seven times?” Jesus said unto him, “I say not unto thee until seven times, but seventy times seven.” Was Jesus commanding Peter to forgive someone 490 times? No. The inference is to always forgive just as we’re also commanded to always pray and not faint (Luke 18:1). Forgiveness must be an abiding virtue in the life of the Christian.

How are we to respond when someone offends us directly? (1) we’re to confront the person face to face and tell him/her their sin. If they hear you and confess and forsake their sin and ask for forgiveness, then you’ve won them back and there’s no need for further reprisal (Matthew 18:15). But, if he will not hear you, then (2) take two or three witnesses for in the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established (Matthew 18:16, Deuteronomy 19:15). And if they neglect to hear them (3) tell it to the church. If he neglect to hear the church (4) treat him as a heathen and a tax collector. At this point, the offender is be removed from the assembly due to his refusal to repent – why? Because a little leaven leavens the whole lump (I Corinthians 5:6); which in laymen’s terms means his stay in the church assembly ruins the purity of the church so excommunication is required. From this point he’s to be treated as an evangelistic prospect, not utterly abandoned. Remember, the ultimate goal is to gain him back once he repents so there has to be admonishment in the interim (2 Thessalonians 3:15).

The tragedy of this position for the offender is that as long as he’s impenitent and uncircumcised in heart, he’ll continue to harden himself in sin. His remedy is 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It’s also important that the offender seeks forgiveness from those he offended and when he does, they’re to forgive immediately. At this point, he’s welcomed back into the fellowship of believers. Do not withhold forgiveness from anyone who’s seeking it from you especially when they’ve confessed it to the Lord. To operate in unforgiveness is a clear indicator that the Spirit of God may be absent in the person’s life. Unforgiveness is antithetical to the nature of God and is a clear indicator of perilous times as described by 2 Timothy 3:2.

To sum up the matter, we heed the admonition of Paul in Ephesians 4:31,32: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away for you with all malice, and be kind to one another tenderhearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.”

THE KING'S SPEECH

Communication rancid with venom to boot. The potency of your tongue deadlier than 10 Black Mambas. The sum of the receiver paralysis from head to feet in defeat. Bereft of Holy preservative, you need the king’s speech.

You curse God and men as you shout damning expletives. Your tongue is set on fire of Hell. So intense the heat of your raucous speech, one lick can dry out the Ocean’s Pacific in less than a week.

Must be careful not to offend tongue world traveler. Her clip is full and bullet in the chamber. Please be nimble and be quick! Avoid the verbal assault this week until she’s endowed with the king’s speech.

How can you be so puerile, that your mouth can’t pick it’s battles? Your syllables consumes flesh and crushes bones. You’re a veracious, carnivorous beast!

The king’s speech is the sedative you need, heals mind body and spirit. You’re infirmed in your soul, your tongue a deadly weapon. Not even a vestige of virtue, shame on you.

Fury rules your conversation as evil empowers your rage. Your speech so abysmal it’s stench reaches to Heaven, yet it Genesis is in Hell.

A fool that holds his peace is deemed wise yet you argue your stupidity with no regard. Standing tall as you deliver your dissertation of vanity once again affirming your insanity,

Kings Speech.

You need to invert your grammar. Not becoming to hear wicked phrases. You spew gall and arsenic as you violate your audience. They hate you on the low yet fear their reaction will reciprocate an unholy retraction.

Take the high road with your speech, make it an edifice of exhortation. No longer play the harlot with your member, turning tricks of lyrical infidelity.

Finally prove your penitence. Murder the swagger of your language. Rather taste the sweet honey of repentance this time, the fruit of your lips now giving thanks to his name.

Kings Speech.

IN THE BEGININNG GOD

Discovered something extraordinary. A scientist named Herbert Spencer who died in 1903 said all of Life/reality

can be summed up in (5) categories:

Time

Force

Action

Space

Matter

Now here's the fascinating part, the very first book of the Bible and the first verse fulfills these qualities completely.

Let me prove it. Genesis 1:1," In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth".

In the Beginning - Time

God - Force

Created - Action

Heavens - Space

Earth - Matter

Coincidence? C'mon now!!

Our God is an awesome God!!

WHAT'S BINDING AND LOOSING?

A lot of you I imagine attend churches or have been in churches where you’ve heard either a preacher or parishioner say, “ DEVIL I BIND YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS!” After which you may hear something like, “I LOOSE THE ANGELS OVER MY SITUATION!” The situation can be a variety of things: money, healing, job etc. Sounds spiritual and powerful. But, is this practice biblical? Let’s review two passages and find out.

In Matthew 16:15 Jesus asked the question, “But whom do you say I am?” In verse 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son the living God. Verse 17; and Jesus answered and said unto him, “Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jona (i.e. Son of Jona): for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but my Father which is in heaven.”

And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”.

Now, let’s define some terms.

The word keys in the Greek is kleis. Keys here is used metaphorically of the authority Jesus gave to Peter regarding opening the door to the faith. Peter used this authority on the day of Pentecost when he preached the very first gospel message in Acts 2 and three thousands souls were saved. This was also the birth of the Church.

By the way, these keys belong to every born again believer for we’ve been given the same charge; to lead people to saving faith through the preaching of the gospel message; the only way to salvation. This is a most sacred trust and must be treated with the greatest of care. How do we do this? Through continuing steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine like the early church did (Acts 2:42). Doctrine in the Greek is the word Didachē; means the art of teaching, instructing, tutoring. Remember, the Apostles’ doctrine came directly from Jesus himself (i.e the keys of the kingdom of heaven) which means it’s exactly the same gospel; no variance. Make sure the doctrine you’re hearing and teaching is from this source or it will have no authority to lead anyone to saving faith.

The word bind or bound in the Greek is deo. It’s literal meaning means to tie up or fasten. In this passage it’s dealing with according to rabbinic tradition, to forbid, prohibit or declare to be illicit. The greek word for loose is luo which simply means to release, to dissolve. What is going on here is that The Church is the representation of the Kingdom of heaven on earth. So whatever we bind (or forbid) on earth as long as it’s in accordance with the word of God is already bound in heaven. Also whatever we loose (or release, or allow) on earth has to already been loosed or permitted in heaven. The Church on earth has to agree with the decrees in heaven in order for the binding and loosing to work.

In Matthew 18:18 the same Greek words for bind and loose are used in regards to sin and church discipline. There’s no reference to the Devil, demons being bound or angels being loosed in either of these passages; that is a unbiblical practice. We know this because the word whatsoever is an indefinite pronoun, it's neuter; not gender specific.

The only time Satan or the Devil is bound is in Revelation 20:1-3. An angel from heaven binds him with a great chain and unlocks the bottomless pit (i.e. the Abyss), and consigns him there for a thousand years during the Millennium reign of Jesus Christ.

I CAN'T STAND YOU - GO TO HELL!

WOW!! That’s a lot of anger to tell someone that. Are you using that phrase as a figure of speech? Did you say it in jest? I would venture to say that most people that use that harsh language really mean it. Do not say you didn’t mean it because if you didn’t, you would not have said it. Personally, I’m offended by the expression, in jest or otherwise. It’s a cruel and ungodly thing to say. No Christian should EVER say to someone” GO TO HELL!” Call me a prude if you want to, but let me take it to another level.

To tell someone to go to Hell is tantamount to murder. Why? It’s an expression of hatred. Jesus in Matthew 5:22 states, “But I say to you that whosever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. The prior verse, verse 21 says that whoever murders shall be in danger of judgment. Not only is the act of murder punishable, the thought of it is evil and is murderous at heart. The murderous act begins in the mind and in the heart. The term Judgment is the greek word krisis which contains several meanings-the primary of which means the process of investigation, the act of distinguishing or separating. Just like today’s judicial system, evidence is examined in a trial and the result will be either an innocent or guilty verdict. How much more will God judge our evil intentions? Why would anyone tell someone they claim to love to go to Hell? Apparently you don’t love them. You have to hate them to tell them that. We need to think very carefully about what we say before we open our mouths.

Here are some reasons why we say the harmful things we say to one another: Let’s first take a look at Matt 15:18-20, Jesus said, “But the things that proceed out the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things that defile a man. Matthew 12:34 says, “Brood of vipers! How can you being evil speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” From these two verses alone we see that it is the heart that is the problem. People are filling their hearts with the wrong things and thus they are contaminating, blackening the soul. We must follow the example of King David, ”create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Have you done that? If not, do it today for your own well being.

Another reason we do not want to consign someone to Hell is because it’s not God’s desire.

Ezekiel 33:11, “Say to them, as I live says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?”

The Lord is displeased when we rejoice over the failure of the wicked:

Proverbs 24:17-18, Do not rejoice when your enemy falls and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

We ruin our witness to the lost

Proverbs 25:26, A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well.

When we curse men with ungodly speech, this gives the unsaved an occasion to dishonor God; in this instance, it’s our fault.

Demanding someone’s damnation is the total antithesis of why Jesus came.

Luke 19:10 – Jesus said, “I came to seek and save that which was lost.”

God came to the earth to save men through his perfect blood sacrifice, not condemn them.

Look at John 3:17 – Jesus said, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

So, in essence what you’re doing when you condemn someone to Hell, you’re actually a hindrance to the kingdom of God and a tool for the devil. Once again, your hate speech is murderous at heart and that’s the “Modus Operandi” of Satan himself, to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). You have cast your vote with the arch enemy of Almighty God!!

Beloved, I would watch my mouth if I were you (James 1:19). As wise man told me long ago. “you have two ears and one mouth; you should listen at least twice as much as you speak.” That’s a good rule to live by don’t you think?

The perfect description of a forked tongue

In the book of James 3:2-10 it says, For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is perfect man, able to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. (Here’s the analogy) Look also at ships: although they are large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be.

My friend, that says it all.

What I would recommend to tame your tongue: Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16).

Your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against thee (Psalm 119:11).

Remember the Word of God contains dynamic, explosive power to change your behavior if you let it. The more the word gets in you, the more Christ-like you’ll become. We should all be making this our life pursuit.

This is a difficult one, very difficult: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse (Romans 12:14).  Dear Lord, help me with this one, please!!

Do not overcome evil by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

CAN YOU GUESS THE RIDDLE?

YOU MAKE ME SICK

A lamentable Riddle

Adversary of all the earth. You’re a pandemic that’s slain countless innocents against the transgressions of a few. I hate you! You make me sick for you laugh at my defeat as I give you life with misdeeds of the flesh.

Your manifestations are infinite. Your allurement appears benevolent, yet it’s all a snare, a pursuit of fools as the decay in character ensues.

You make me sick for you’re an insatiable foe, your hunger never dies. Your eyes travel the cosmos seeking devourees. Much to your delight, your journey is multi booked as malefactors are willing to submit.

You make me sick for fornicators worship you, as do murderers, thieves and liars alike. They’re conforming to your image, you’ve merchandise your craft well, you lay up cadavers enumerable.

You implore the world to apply for all are qualified for employ. Wages lamentable, a stipend of death. Resign yourself to live.

Am I really sick of you? That’s my profession. Yet my wickedness betrays my speech. I’ve played the Hypocrite again, loving what I should hate. My being is torn in two.

You’ve filled the whole earth as it groans in agony. Your DNA has made slaves of men. Inoculated all against righteousness, they now love the debauchery they practice.

You make me sick, your mission’s complete when the wicked die forever apart from God. You’re an enigma to some, a taboo of mention to most, you agree with Hell. What? What you’d say, you have iniquity for sell?

Who are you?

Written March 2, 2011

The Law of God is a murderer so is it holy?

I know you must be saying, “That’s a provocative statement and question!” Does the Law actually murder people? Well, yes it does, but not like you might think.

To answer this all important question, we must turn to the scriptures for the answer(s).

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines law as the system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and may enforce by the imposition of penalties.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words defines law as: Greek word is nomos. It means to divide out, to distribute. Also means that which is assigned.

Simply put, you break the law, you pay the price; whether that be a fine of some sort, could be jail time, or even worse if the offense is severe enough, death. And this is natural law.

So, what happens when we violate God’s Holy Law? Do we deserve to be punished, or should we be given a pass as some believe because God is “so merciful?” Often the proverbial “God loves me” expression is uttered when one loves their sin and are unwilling to confess it, for that would be an admission of guilt. They know, however, they’re guilty for their conscience will not excuse them.

Now, let’s make a comparison. Human law exists for our well being and safety to provide us with boundaries and limitations so that we do not harm someone or ourselves. For instance, we can’t drink and drive for we know drinking impairs judgment and sensibilities when one is under the influence of alcohol.

As a matter of fact, there were 10,839 Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatalities in 2009 here in the U.S. according to The Century Council and The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) . 

Because you have transgressors of the drunk driving laws, over ten thousand innocent people lost their lives. That’s an alarming statistic hence the importance of enforcing the law and punishing the guilty who sinned against it. It’s obvious that drunk driving laws are good and necessary for our physical well being. For with knowledge of this law, drivers know the penalties if they violate it.

Even more so, the Law of God is good. Why? Because with knowledge of the Law also comes the knowledge of sin in our lives. The Law is a mirror that we look into. When we discover its demands and violate them, we’re guilty before God and deserve to be punished. We can never keep it because of the sin that’s resident within us. The Law is our schoolmaster; it’s an instructor to lead us to Christ and that’s as far as it goes (Galatians 3:24). The Law was never designed to save for by no deeds of the Law will any flesh be justified (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16). Its role is to condemn us, and break us down so that we’ll cry out to the savior for mercy and deliverance because it’s a yoke no one can bear (Acts 15:10). The bible says sin through the Law "worked all types of coveting of every kind for apart from the Law sin is dead. I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment (when I was made aware of its existence and its force), sin became alive (I was made aware of my sin due to the revelation of the Law) and I died; and this commandment which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; for sin taking an opportunity through the commandment deceived me, and it through it killed me. So then, the Law is holy and righteous, and good" (Romans 7:8-12). Sin then is the cartage agent (Forgive me, I work in transportation hence the phrase) for the Law; delivering unto them (the sinner) the commandment to slay them in guilt for, without the law, the sinner believes he’s alive and free to do as he pleases because there’s no written code to forbid his wickedness. Thank God for the Law for it crushes the sinful pride of man and it will hopefully stop him in his tracks once he realizes his sin is exceedingly sinful; an abomination to the Lord (Romans 7:13) and thus he will agree that the Law is good (Romans 7:16).

This is a masterpiece of Spirit filled instruction by the Apostle Paul.

God’s Law by condemning us is actually exhibiting love toward us albeit tough love. Think about it this way, God has to break us down with the letter of Law which kills us with judgment, sin, and self-righteousness before he can resurrect us with tender Law of grace. We won’t appreciate the Law of the grace of God in salvation until we suffer his tough love in his condemnation of our sins through the Law. To me, the severity of his love in righteous punishment also exudes a sweet smelling redemptive element. Why? God knows all things, knew the ultimate peril man is in so the condemnation of his sin must be swift in order that man can, in turn, acknowledge his sin, confess it, repent with contrition, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.

Romans 7:4-6 shares this wisdom: Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the Law were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

This makes the rescue mission complete.

Paul said it this way in II Corinthians 3:6, “The letter killeth, but the Spirit gives life.