According to
Wikipedia,
forgiveness is
the intentional and voluntary process by which a victim undergoes a
change in feelings and attitude regarding an offense, lets go of
negative emotions such as vengefulness, with an increased ability to
wish the offender well. Wow! What a definition, highly elaborate. And a
matter of fact,
forgiveness is that one big subject that the Bible
is not silent about. It's a subject that came to be some years after
creation if you can remember, when Adam and Eve sinned against God. God
forgave and gave them a new life.
It's
this same character that Jesus has, that of forgiveness and forgetting
it. So, everything about God is forgiveness, it was as result of that He
sent Jesus to die for the sins of the humanity. And so he came and gave
Himself up for a divine sacrifice, that was established on the cross of
calvary.
Forgiving
and being forgiven are two names for the same thing. The important
thing is that a discord has been resolved.” -C.S. Lewis
God's
character is that forgiveness, several passages hit this particular
area about God's character as that of love and forgiveness. Let's take a
look at them one after another.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17
Gladden
the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For
you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all
who call upon you. Psalm 86:4-5
The
LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast
love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He
does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to
our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great
is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is
from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:8-12
Come
now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like
crimson, they shall become like wool. Isaiah 1:18
Like Father, Like Son...
The concept of the trinity is truly a concept of harmony and like the saying goes, like father, like son... Jesus Christ took after God the Father in the character of forgiveness. The opening section of this article clearly explains forgiveness. There
are several places in the Bible that Jesus manifests this wholesome
lifestyle of forgiveness. Let's walk around and see this areas.
But
I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable
to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council;
and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if
you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your
brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the
altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and
offer your gift. Matthew 5:22-24
“…
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and
lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is
easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
“…Therefore
I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much.
But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your
sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:47-48
“And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43
Jesus
said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be
thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a
spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14.
Why we must all get to heaven...
Everything
God is supernatural, and He has made every provision for your
transition into heaven. Frankly speaking, the ball is now in your court
to either embrace or ignore God's eternal gift of forgiveness. This is why everyone cannot go to HELL. Believe this and you have it.
…
let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God
raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This
Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has
become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there
is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be
saved.” Acts 4:10-12
Let us therefore believe and trust Him for forgiveness in every area we have erred, just as Alexander Pope put it... “To err is human, to forgive, divine.” God who is ever ready to pardon and forgives is patiently waiting for you to come ask of Him.
Do you believe that God forgives, have then been forgiven if you so believe? If not Why?
All quotations are from the "English Standard Version" (ESV) All Rights Reserved.
Author: Chris Awodi
Head Admin,
@Soulzmp3
07069027539
