Forgiven

What does this simple word mean to you? I am sure it means somewhat the same to all of us. It does matter if we forgive. There will always be people, or persons, hurt our feelings, make us upset, do us dirty, cheat on us, lie, and take advantage of us. This is a fallen world we are living in. Noone is perfect. Many struggle day to day with forgiveness. Everyone has someone they need to forgive. Forgiveness is not just simply something found overnight. It is something of a decision we make each day when we face this world. We put on forgiveness, we overlook others falacies, and we take the walk of life with a stride, doing the best we can. Many of us are living in a state of anger, maybe passive agressive, somewhat always it seems, you are very angry about something and just don't know quiet why, or who, or about what. This is a terrible way to face each day. Many may feel there biggest thing to overcome is to forgive themselves for the past regrets, or sin, or bad decisions, and mistakes made in this life. Some of us beat ourselves up over and over and it is a continuous cycle of destructive self abating abuse. Do we know what forgiveness truly is? Do we forgive? Do we truly let go of offense?

What is forgiveness? The webster dictionary states forgiveness as follows, it is the act of forgiving. So what is forgiving? Forgiving is as stated in the webster dictionary, willing or able to forgive, allowing room for error or weakness. Still yet how is it accomplished? How do we just forgive? Some of us, well most of us struggle desperately with this issue. It is not to be taken lightly. Our bible states in Matthew 6:14, For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,...

and in Mark 11:26, "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions."

Forgiveness is not something that you say with your mouth. It is something that you do with your heart. Many people say they forgive, but they never truly forgive. They harbor a hidden bitterness in their heart. Imagine if God never truly forgave us. Where would we be? Hell where we belong. The only reason that we are able to forgive others is because God forgave us first. Forgiveness comes from God and when we forgive others, that is an earthly reflection of God and His love, being poured out on the cross of Jesus Christ. Jesus is why we forgive. Jesus is why we don’t want to hold on to grudges. He is worthy of it all. The price that was paid for you is too great.

This not only means to forgive others, but we must forgive ourselves as well. I know how hard this is personally, but who are we to place ourselves above the majesty of God, and His sovereignty? He forgives us, so who are we to not forgive ourselves?

Another verse, Isaiah 1:18, says that God will make our scarlet sins as white as wool. Psalm 103:12 expresses the thought in yet another way: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”ves us, it is in the sea of forgetfulness as far is the east from the west. Gone. Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

A sea of forgetfulness represents a place where our sins are sent very far away from us, so that they can no longer affect us. It does not mean that we, as believers, no longer sin or that our sins are erased from God’s mind. It only means that our sins no longer have any bearing on our salvation. Jesus’ perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection is the only means, by which, we are saved (Acts 4:12). When we trust in Christ, we come under a new paradigm. Although our sins still grieve God, and cause ruin in our lives, and in the lives of others, our salvation is secure (Romans 8:1, 31–39). Hallelujah that is worth praises and shouting about, amen!

Many people do not believe they require salvation. They believe that they are good enough to reach heaven on their own merit, and they do not accept the truth about their own fallen state. These people are deceived, and they do not have a relationship with God (1 John 1:8, 10). Every person needs God’s forgiveness and salvation—a relationship based on dependence on His grace. If we admit that we are sinners and trust in Christ, He forgives and cleanses us (1 John 1:9). Our sins are no longer part of the equation and will not be remembered (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:12). John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Thank you precious Lord Jesus, our Savior!