FORGIVE THEM

FATHER, FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.

To forgive means to let go of any offence committed against you such that the hurt that was felt initially at such offence would cease to exist and there exists a new refreshed rapport between the offender and the offended.

We read of Joseph who after GOD eventually elevated him to the position of prime minister in Egypt, he then got the chance to inflict serious harsh punishments on his brethren for selling him into slavery but he instead forgave them and eventually saved their entire families from starvation (Gen. 37-50). Yet another biblical example of one who received forgiveness for an offence committed was the woman caught in adultery and was deemed to be stoned to death according to the law but for the saving grace of JESUS she was left alive, forgiven of her offence (John 8:1-11).

Whenever we offend, the expectation for any reasonable individual is to seek the forgiveness of the one whom he has offended and at many times, rest is lost till such forgiveness is granted.

Luke 17:3 says "Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,"...What this says to us is that we have become custodians of the responsibility to always be ready, willing and able to forgive our offenders, no matter what the offence could be.

Now scriptures didn't categorically say the words "forgive and forget", but many times (Heb. 8:12, Isa. 43:25) illustrates that when you forgive, there should be a wiping off of the slate of the offender so that it seems as if he never even offended in the first place because the hurt initially felt isn't there any longer, you walk by the offender and the experience is just like that of a child, one whom you discipline by beating and in the next few minutes has forgotten all about it and is willing and ready to keep on playing with you because he holds no record of the initial grudge of disciplining by beating. No wonder Jesus declared that those who would reign eternally must have this mindset of the child (Matt. 18:2-4)

Matthew 18:21-22 records of Peter's question to the Lord Jesus on forgiveness,  he wandered that how much offence is one even permitted to endure before bursting out in an anger-response against the offender comparing his argument with the information on Luke. 17:3-4 and Jesus answered him that he would need to forgive a resounding "seventy times seven times per day".

We all know this quote of the scripture well and even make use of it when trying to advice someone else on forgiveness but when it gets to we making use of it personally, we forget or should I say we ignore it.

Forgiveness could be handed to one free of charge or one could also have to pay something tangible for it to be received in some other instances.

Now, we all have offended, whether you like to agree with that fact or not, we offended by the nature of the first Adam, we were born into this world by his form and as a matter of fact inherited the nature of sin, so even before we could do dead works as a result of the influence of this world we were already dead, disconnected from GOD, hence a need to get back to His mercy and that was to be made possible only through the atoning sacrifice of the blameless Lamb of GOD, JESUS CHRIST.

Our offence was that of disobedience, a transgression of the law, a sin (1John. 3:4), and since there must be shedding of blood for the remission of sins (Heb. 9:22), our sins also needed a perfect sacrifice that would be worthy enough to stand-in in our place, Him dying would ensure our living.

Matthew  26:28 declares clearly that "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." The major purpose for His blood being shed is to forgive, to pay for all our sins, that as many as would believe in Him, He would become the atoning sacrifice (1John. 2:2), cleaning off our slate before GOD (Acts. 3:19). HALLELUYAH.

Luke 23:34- This statement on the cross by Jesus gives us full assurance as Christians, knowing that all the offences that we have committed and by a method of extension those we would still commit has all been pardoned such that there is now no more condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1)

"Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses."-Acts 13:38-39.

Perhaps you still aren't so sure if JESUS had you in mind when He asked for your forgiveness before GOD on the cross of Calvary, I would employ you to seek His face today, call upon Him in the name of JESUS, invite JESUS into your life today and you'll be so glad that you did as the weight of your sins which you previously hung around your neck would be taken away.

GOD BLESS YOU