Forgiving Others in Grace

Not Letting the Sinner Own Your Soul

Good Morning!

In this space recently we’ve talked a good bit about standing strong for the Lord amid the trials of the world as it is right now. There’s been a lot of challenges thrown out and this week in our prayer and worship help I want to spend some time on you. That is, your personal walk with the Savior, in a way that doesn’t include a call to action per se, but includes a reminder of your need to rest in Jesus. Specifically, we’re going to look at how seeking forgiveness for others especially grants you peace as you, and I, deal with so much on our hearts and souls.

To start off it’s always important to define words. What do we mean by forgiveness? What does that look like? Seeing as we are coming to this from a Christian perspective it is likely a good idea to start with what the Bible has to say. In the seraphic opening chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he writes, “…to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” The Apostle here is speaking of the declaration of God the Father that we who are His are forgiven of our sins through the life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That we received this gift not by anything we had done, but by the free blessing of that unmerited favor from above is central to the message. Rightfully we often focus on what we as believers get out the Lord’s amazing grace. For a moment today I want us to think about this from the perspective of the Godhead. Because of Emmanuel’s offering up of Himself there has been reconciliation between fallen man and the Triune deity. No longer is there enmity between Heaven and Earth, but having been reunited in love both God and man are able to experience what Adam had destroyed, yet it is even better than that. Redeemed humanity is in a stronger, more robust bond with Jehovah because of the consummation of the covenant of grace.

In Sabbath School we have spent the last couple of months in Song of Solomon and I have noted in our time together it is a book which expresses for us in unambiguous detail the love of Christ and His Church for one another. The Shulamite in chapter one knows she is black (that is sinful), yet she knows the aura of forgiveness because it emanates from the presence of her Beloved. It is who He is and so every time He is near she is filled with joy and thanksgiving saying things like, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—For your love is better than wine. Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, your name is ointment poured forth; therefore the virgins love you. Draw me away!” and “While the king is at his table, my spikenard sends forth its fragrance. a bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, that lies all night between my breasts.” She speaks like this precisely because she knows Christ’s love for her, and the Church expresses the same emotion when she worships Him on the Lord’s Day, and we do this also when we show forth that same love which has been provided to us unto others.

When it comes to forgiveness we are to follow our Savior’s example.

In Mark 11 our Lord is beginning to go into Jerusalem to make ready for the day of His death and His triumph over it in the resurrection. To help others, especially the disciples, understand what He is doing He gives them object lessons (like the fig tree) and instructs them about the nature of what His work will do for them, both today and forevermore. Hear what Jesus has to say in Mark 11:24-26:  

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.

There we see the key point for today. Often we carry such burdens on our hearts because we refuse to forgive those who have sinned against us. We may say it, but there is a huge difference between words and actions. Those who have committed evil unto us, whether by what they have said or what they have done (or both) can have a double negative effect on our souls if we refuse to forgive. You know the old saying “living rent free in your head”, well that truth applies here. By continuing to hold that grudge or remember that transgression done unto you there is an allowance of them to continue to own that hurt in you. You are allowing them to feed on your pain. It’s like wearing a hot bracelet or having a bee under your pants. They are there causing continual trouble until they are released from your presence. To use another bible verse here (Matthew 17:21) these come out by prayer and fasting.

Remember what is said of the angels when men and women come to repentance?

There is joy in Heaven when a person comes under conviction of sin and flees from the wrath to come. The same can be said when you no longer allow that grievous sin to rule your interactions with that person. Go back for a second and re-read what Jesus says in the passage above from Mark 11. Our forgiveness of others is based on God’s forgiveness of us. Those who have been forgiven much (and we’ve been forgiven infinity times infinity) are to forgive much. That doesn’t mean we are to be blind to reality and not deal in honesty with those who have done evil to us. If someone is an ax murderer it is not “forgiveness” to allow them to roam free around Haddonfield. Forgiveness is not forgetfulness. What it does mean is that we no longer allow that sin to have power over us, and we do not treat that individual with malice and hatred.

We simply are not interested in the way the world deals with injustice, by destruction and denigration. How does that all happen?

By grace through faith.

The Holy Spirit’s example of David and Saul is a perfect place for us to end this. Saul desired David’s death, but David when given opportunity to return evil for evil refused to do so. Why?

Hear the word of God from 1 Samuel 24:10-12:

 Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. 12 Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. 

Be blessed today and remember who vengeance belongs to, and who has been called to turn the other cheek.

Here’s a bit to chew on:

https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/can-i-forgive-someone-who-doesnt-confess-wronging-me

Blessings in Christ,

Rev. Benjamin Glaser

Pastor, Bethany ARP Church