Forgiveness

Matt 6:  ¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,^[a]
    but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]’

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

 

I've always had two rules:  we don't interrupt God when he speaks to us (when someone is reading scripture, you better pay attention or suffer the wrath of Russ) and we don't interrupt those who are speaking to God.  It's interesting that Jesus interrupts an example on how to pray with a dire warning:  If we fail to forgive others, then we cannot be forgiven.  Woe to me, a sinner, who have I failed to forgive?

Last night during the Study & discussion time, a question was asked about how we as humans have the authority to forgive.  I believe the point was that forgiveness ultimately flows from Christ, but it seemed that the point wasn't well made, and the discussion quickly began to get deep into theology of our liturgy for communion (wherein we pronounce sins as being forgiven).  Ultimately the question was about the value of confession to others. 

You all know that I tend to be simple-minded and can't grasp the deep mystery of theology.  Fortunately for me, Christ said in Luke 18 "“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”   Therefore, I see forgiveness as a simple concept.  If someone sins against me, I must forgive them, period.  When someone confesses their sins to me, I can pronounce the forgiveness they have already received from Christ.  It is clear to me that atonement (payment for sin) flows from the sacrifice of Christ.  Forgiveness flows from our decision to confess and repent.  Confession is required as is repentance.  Confession to others adds the value of accountability. 

Don't make the concept harder than it is, because the truly hard part is to be honest with myself about my failings.  We tend to be blind to our faults and failures.  Sometimes they are obvious such as when we run a boat into a bridge (sorry Ryan!).  Usually, however, at least for me, my failures are secret and not obvious.  They are attitudes about others that devalue them, or laziness to earnestly seek and patiently wait upon the Lord for direction. 

Let's not debate the simple, instead lets focus on the hard.  Let's develop an accountability partner whom we can trust and confide and open ourselves up to the Holy Spirit and let him move us on toward perfection by breaking down those things that are not Christ-like and remolding us in His image.