Bible Study If we do not forgive?

[arunangelo]

If we do not forgive we can’t be forgiven (Matt 6:14-15). Jesus, by His actions and teaching tells us what it means to forgive.

In the Old covenant people lived by the laws that were written on stone (2 Cor. 3:7). They, therefore, followed the letter of the law. It was, therefore, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (Lv. 24:20). In the New Covenant, we live by the Spirit, because the Spirit of God is imprinted on our fleshy hearts (2 Cor. 3:3). Therefore, the Spirit of God, which is unconditional love, is our heart’s desire. We are, therefore, (Matt. 5: 39-40; Luke 6: 30; Matt. 5: 44) to fight back evil with love; help those who hurt us; give to everyone who asks and do not demand back what others have taken from us; love our enemies; and pray for those persecute us. Jesus showed us that to truly love and forgive, is not only to give up resentment or claim we have against our offenders, but also to compensate for their wrongdoings. Jesus did not sue or abandon those who hurt and killed Him. He offered them salvation by dying on the cross. He, thus, offered the other cheek. We have only two choices, to live like Jesus did or to reject His life.

God always offers us forgiveness. We have to accept it by believing in it. And to believe in it is to forgive others the way God forgives us.

 

[BFSmith764]

If we do not forgive we can’t be forgiven (Matt 6:14-15). Jesus, by His actions and teaching tells us what it means to forgive.

In the Old covenant people lived by the laws that were written on stone (2 Cor. 3:7). They, therefore, followed the letter of the law. It was, therefore, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (Lv. 24:20). In the New Covenant, we live by the Spirit, because the Spirit of God is imprinted on our fleshy hearts (2 Cor. 3:3). Therefore, the Spirit of God, which is unconditional love, is our heart’s desire. We are, therefore, (Matt. 5: 39-40; Luke 6: 30; Matt. 5: 44) to fight back evil with love; help those who hurt us; give to everyone who asks and do not demand back what others have taken from us; love our enemies; and pray for those persecute us. Jesus showed us that to truly love and forgive, is not only to give up resentment or claim we have against our offenders, but also to compensate for their wrongdoings. Jesus did not sue or abandon those who hurt and killed Him. He offered them salvation by dying on the cross. He, thus, offered the other cheek. We have only two choices, to live like Jesus did or to reject His life.

God always offers us forgiveness. We have to accept it by believing in it. And to believe in it is to forgive others the way God forgives us.

Every Christians need to understand that the forgiving the sins of others is a privilege that God has given to us. You see, in the Old Testament only God had the right and authority to for give sins, but in the New Testament God has extend that right, which only He had to us, His children.


God had from before time destined human being to be like himself to rule and judge/forgive/pardon if you will anyone they chose to. That's the reason why Jesus said that the Father has given Him the right to judge, because He is the son of man. A son of man, means a son of Adam. The problem though is that since Adam and Eve sinned, it disqualified him and by extention all of humanity from judging and forgiving because he (mankind) himself was in a state of condemnation, and is not in a position to make that kind of decision.

But since Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, He has restored that authority. That is why Jesus said in another passage of the Bible, whosoever sins you forgive it is forgiven, and whosoever sins you retained/not given it is retained/not forgiven.

The Bible said that when Jesus returns, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. So if we are going to be like Him, it means that all His power and authority will be given to us. Jesus is King of kings, we will be kings. Jesus is called our Great High Priest, we will be priest. Jesus will rule on the earth over the nations, we too will rule on the earth over the nations. Nations shall come and worship before the feet of Jesus; nations will come and worship before the feet of the saints.

So to repeat, Jesus has the power to forgive sins and He has given us the power to forgive sins as well. so when we understand this, we will see that its not just a command but an authority which He has given to us.

 

[DaScribe]

Firends,

I must respectfully disagree with some of the statements being made here.

To tell people that they have the power to forgive sins is not truth in the absolute sense. We can ask for "charges" to be dropped, when someone sins against us or others, but the final call is up to the judge. Our efforts to be like God are to be in attitude and behavior but that does not mean that we are mini-Gods.

Jesus affirmed the Old Testament in several places and the pillar of how we are to live is the same as the phrase He used to summarize the Law, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and love the Lord Your God with your entire being. The old wine and new wine are both made of grapes. Too many Christians today dismiss the Old Testament as inferior or obsolete. Remember, Christianity is technically a sect of Judaism that believes Jesus was and is the Messiah.

 

[BFSmith764]

Firends,

I must respectfully disagree with some of the statements being made here.

To tell people that they have the power to forgive sins is not truth in the absolute sense. We can ask for "charges" to be dropped, when someone sins against us or others, but the final call is up to the judge. Our efforts to be like God are to be in attitude and behavior but that does not mean that we are mini-Gods.

Jesus affirmed the Old Testament in several places and the pillar of how we are to live is the same as the phrase He used to summarize the Law, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and love the Lord Your God with your entire being. The old wine and new wine are both made of grapes. Too many Christians today dismiss the Old Testament as inferior or obsolete. Remember, Christianity is technically a sect of Judaism that believes Jesus was and is the Messiah.

Here are a few scriptures to support my point.

God is the Judge of the earth

Genesis 18:25 (ASV)
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

1 Chronicles 16:14 (BBE)
14 He is the Lord our God: he is judge of all the earth.

The saints will judge the world and angels

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 (ASV)
2 Or know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more, things that pertain to this life?

The kingdom of God

Psalms 145:13 (ASV)
13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

God the Father will give us (Christians) His kingdom

Luke 12:32 (BBE)
32 Have no fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

The saints will reign with Jesus

2 Timothy 2:12 (ASV)
12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us:

Jesus is king of kings and lord of lords

Revelation 17:14 (ASV)
14 These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful.

The saints will kings and rule forever

Revelation 22:5 (KJV)
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Revelation 1:6 (KJV)
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus forgives sins

Mark 2:5-7 (ASV)
5 And Jesus seeing their faith saith unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins are forgiven.
6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
7 Why doth this man thus speak? he blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but one, even God?

The saints has the right to forgive sins also

John 20:23 (ASV)
23 whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Nations will come and worship before the feet of God /Jesus

Psalms 86:8-9 (ASV)
8 There is none like unto thee among the gods, O Lord; Neither are there any works like unto thy works.
9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify thy name.

Nations will come and worship before the feet of the saints

Revelation 3:9 (ASV)
9 Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

 

[DaScribe]

1. Notice the key phrases about us reigning are all preaced by "will."

2. I'm not convinced that Jesus giving Peter that authority means it trickles down to all of us unconditionally. If anything, it may indicate that people in the proper positions of authoity within the church may have that authority.

 

[BFSmith764]

1. Notice the key phrases about us reigning are all preaced by "will."

I don't see your point, because I was not implying that we are ruling now....we will reign when Jesus returns and establish His kingdom on the earth, over the nations.

2. I'm not convinced that Jesus giving Peter that authority means it trickles down to all of us unconditionally. If anything, it may indicate that people in the proper positions of authoity within the church may have that authority.

Well then, you might as well eliminate the vast majority of the Bible as far as it being applied to us, from your point of reasoning. But if that’s what you believe that’s fine with me. But as for what I know from regular personal Bible study, I know it applies to all of God’s people, past, present and future. One would be amazed to know what God will reveal to someone that has a humble mind, seeking to be instructed and learn from His word.
I have observed that those with similar way of thinking as yourself usually have difficulty understanding a lot of what is written in the Bible, and stick to some of the easier parts….basically a hand full of scriptures here and there. This is not an attempt to put you down, but as I said the right attitude makes a whole lot of difference.
Even Jesus, when He was physically walking this earth dealt with people similar fashion. For example, when He told a parable publicly, the people did not understand what He was saying (the disciples also did not understand), but in private He explained it to His disciples. Because the people were of a different spirit, and did not believe that anything that He said applied to them; especially the religious leaders, they were not allowed to know the mystery of the kingdom of God.