Forgive Them!

One of the most controversial subjects that the body of Christ is still debating over is the issue of forgiving one another.  It’s interesting that we would struggle with that but more so than not we do.

One of the reasons that we struggle is because we’re trying to intellectualize it, emotionalize it and try to rationalize it. The question that comes up most of the time when we think about forgiving one another is that we feel something should be done when a person doesn't come to a point of repentance.

Many people believe that we should forgive, but only when the person that we’re forgiving repents. Sometimes that can be a little confusing when we are reading some of the Scriptures, but we always need to read in context.

The best solution to any controversy is to look at Jesus who is the author and the finisher of our faith. He is the initiator and definer of what forgiveness is. When He died on that cross He took all of our sins upon Himself.

Just before His life ended, Jesus said in Luke 23: 34a, “Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." This verse shows that He forgave us before we ever came to the point of repentance.

The fact of the matter is that because of His great unconditional love (forgiveness without needing repentance) we eventually came to that place, we were drawn by His love and we repented.

So the answer to the question is that every one of us is commanded to forgive, not based on the condition that a person repents or not, but based on the love, compassion and forgiveness that God gave us. Freely we have received and therefore freely we give. Even though that's very straightforward and biblical (no ifs ands or buts) we still find that this is very controversial in the body of Christ because we live our lives many times in the emotional realm rather than the spirit realm.

Let’s be led by the Spirit, let's follow the example of Jesus and be His disciples and forgive! The greatest blessing that we can ever give to someone is to set them free through forgiving.

Release the presence of Jesus Christ to deal with their hearts. Holding back forgiveness keeps them bound up by the devil; doing the same old same old. Forgive unconditionally… that's the only way to forgive.