When is Forgiveness Afforded?

When is forgiveness afforded?

Proverbs 17:9  AMP

He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,

But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.

Matthew Henry concise commentary

The way to preserve peace is to make the best of everything; not to notice what has been said or done against ourselves.

Miyagi’s commentary

Many people are concern with what others are saying about them.  This is so because they want to look good in the eyes of man.  They will jump over mountains to defend their reputation and protect their pride.  They do this because they value self more than anything or anyone else.   

Some prayer meetings are notorious for gossips.  They bring up people’s problems so that everyone can “pray about it.”  So in a group setting, they have discussions about someone’s problem.  It becomes a gossip session.  And people who gossip are actually busybodies who has too much time on their hands.  They have nothing productive to do, so they meddle in other people’s business.  The church is filled with these types of people.

So the ones who go about peddling information gain confidentiality.  They are evil and are used by the devil to bring division and confusion.  There are many busybodies who go around like tale bearers, and reveals this occasion to elevate himself.

“I already went through that.  So I am not where you are at.”  These type of statements are used to push down others to lift self up.  The slander and murmur will eventually come back to that person.  So when a person thinks that he is something great, eventually he will be humbled and chopped down to size.  Anyone walking around with this attitude of superiority shall be humbled by God because this attitude causes division in the Body of Christ.  We must avoid people with critical spirits, and judgemental attitudes, who are quick to point out the speck in other people’s eyes but are completely blind to their own.

People who are legalistic, critical and who instigates sword fights will be judged in like manner.  The Sword is to be taken out against evil, not your own brother in Christ.  Thus, argumentative, prideful people become defensive and reactive, using the word of God to chop down others.  But guess what, they will eventually be chopped down to size by God.

Jesus Christ is the head of the Body of Christ.  We are to put our faith and trust in Him.  When a person strikes a brother in Christ, he is actually judging Jesus.  One needs to be careful with that.  Otherwise, at the next annual doctor’s visit, judgement may be manifested in that medical report.  And that would be the indicator of where the soul is at.   So for those who are still laughing and having a light attitude towards judging others, watch out.   

Summary conclusion:

If a brother offended us and he repents, we are to forgive him.   If he doesn’t repent, then we are not obligated to forgive him and we have no fellowship with him.

Luke 17:3-4 Amplified Bible (AMP)

3 Pay attention and always be on guard [looking out for one another]!If your brother sins and disregards God’s precepts, solemnly warn him; and if he repents and changes, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him [that is, give up resentment and consider the offense recalled and annulled].”

Miyagi’s commentary

If a brother sins against you seven times and repents, seven times you forgive him.  There should be ashes and sackcloth because he not only offended you but also offended the Lord Jesus Christ.  And God sees all things and man needs to account for everything he says.  If a person is truly sorrowful for an offense, it will show.  Mere words is not enough.  So forgiveness and repentance are related to one another.  Forgiveness is only afforded where there is repentance.

How do we apply this without supporting bad behavior?

Without physical evidence of true repentance, there is no forgiveness.  There are fun-loving, social churches in this world that is more like a social club than a church.  The pastors in these churches will say something like this … “we are all sinners, but we are under grace.”  This type of lukewarm church is neither hot nor cold.  It will dilute everything for the sake of not offending anyone, and that is the prevalent spirit of today.  The pastor will say “we are supposed to forgive” but he has no knowledge of what that really means.  We must go to God’s word to see what He means by forgiveness.

Forgiveness without repentance is false teaching.  If a person continues to make light of the subject of forgiveness and keep grieving the Holy Spirit, there is the danger of falling out of grace.  If the Holy Spirit reveals that an offense is a violation and that person continues to make light of it, he will be on the edge of falling out of grace. If it is an offense against a brother, the Lord and the Holy Spirit, one must know and understand what it really means regarding an offense.  An offense against God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have different meanings.   The statement “please forgive me” are cheap talk.  It has no substance.  It is too casual. God will keep an account of everything.  So though our devotionals may sound directional and correctional, the purpose is to stir the waters.  But nevertheless, the truth needs to be told.

When people go to church, they are there to receive the Word of God.  They should leave the church different with new revelation.  The Word of God must be convincing.  It should pierce the heart and cause true repentance.  If the soul is tied up with the world, the message becomes difficult to communicate and received.  

Jude 1:22-23 AMP

22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy but with fear, loathing even the clothing spotted and polluted by their shameless immoral freedom.

There is simply no blanket forgiveness for sin.  WE contend with that  which is evil so that we will not abuse the grace.  The Word of God is a double edged sword.  On one side, there is grace and mercy.  On the other side, there is righteousness and judgement.  If there is no true repentance, forgiveness is not afforded.

Matthew 18:15-17 (AMP)

15 “If your brother sins , go and show him his fault in private; if he listens and pays attention to you, you have won back your brother.16 But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.17 If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile (unbeliever) and a tax collector.

“If he hears you” indicates repentance.   Before we forgive and overlook an offense, we go to God first.  We go to this passage in Matthew 18 and ask God to help us address a particular situation.  We must be able to discern the rightful application of forgiveness.   This application of forgiveness must be discerned by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God for any particular situation.  There is no such thing as a blanket forgiveness for all situation.  Blanket forgiveness without discernment is foolishness.  There are busybodies in the church who are quick to judge, who look for specks in other people’s eyes, and who gossips and they are being used by the devil to cause division.  This is the Body of Christ, the universal church.  And Jesus Christ is the judge, not the senior pastor.  And those without the Word and the Spirit will not be able to discern what the Spirit is saying.

A brother should be in prayer for another brother in sin, not talk about it and bring gossip.  A brother in Christ would intercede for that brother.  The battle is not against flesh and blood.  If he is in the Spirit, he will battle principalities, powers and rulers of darkness for that brother.  

Questions:

Is judging an expression of forgiveness?

What does the Word say about forgiveness according to Jesus?

Summary conclusion:

The way of love is to forgive an offense.  But if the offender does not repent, then we are to keep our distance.  That is the way of peace.  

The big picture:

Sometimes, we overlook an offense.  And other times, we address it head on.  The Holy Spirit will show us when to do which as we seek Him for guidance.  

The byword:

If forgiveness was afforded to everyone in all situations, then there would be no need for repentance.

Miyagi