I keep coming back to forgiveness. I believe I may have written on this subject before, but I can’t let go of it.
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
One added thought I have about this is:
Isaiah 43:25 – I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
While God is all-knowing and does not literally forget anything, the idea is that He no longer holds against us sins He has forgiven. We cannot simply decide to “forget” sins or erase them from our memory. In fact, in some cases it would be unwise or unsafe to do so.
Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
I’ve put such an imperative on forgetting that I didn’t see the other facets of God in it all. As it is stated above God is all-knowing and doesn’t really forget, but more like doesn’t hold that sin against us in the future.
Psalm 103:12 – As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
This is the other aspect I find to be an added thought to how God forgives us. In one place it’s not remembered. Why? Probably because our transgressions are removed so far from us they cannot be brought back up and held against us.
The most important thing to remember is God loves us so much He gave His Son by the shedding of His blood on the cross to bring that separation of our sins to pass.
Put away grudges.
Leviticus 19:18 says, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”
John 13:34-35 – A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Seeking to bear a grudge is another way of saying you haven’t forgiven. Truly forgiving means to put away the feelings of revenge.
We are commanded, not just by way of suggestion, but by commandment to love one another.
I don’t know if I’m getting this across like I wish to, because I’m tired tonight, but hopefully you get something from this.
If you say you forgive someone you have to let the transgression go. Holding onto unforgiveness, means in essence we are holding out for judgment against a person. That reflect back on us.
One thing I’ve learned over my years is that God set into motion His principles and commandments and they are still in effect. He doesn’t have to judge us. We bring judgment upon ourselves by our decisions concerning those principles and commandments. No one has the right to judge us unto condemnation. That is totally not Biblical.
Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
There will be a day of judgment.
Hebrews 9:27 – And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
In this life we bring our own judgment. But once we have passed from this realm God will have the final say.
I will likely come back to rewrite this. I don’t feel I’m making it clear, but hopefully you get something from this.