What Does the Bible Say About Forgiveness?

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Forgiveness in the Bible is a prominent theme. Yet, it's not uncommon for Christians to have questions about forgiveness. The act of forgiving does not come easy for most of us. Our natural instinct is to recoil in self-protection when we've been injured. We don't naturally overflow with mercy, grace, and understanding when we've been wronged.

Is forgiveness a conscious choice, a physical act involving the will, or is it a feeling, an emotional state of being?

The Bible offers insight and answers to these and other questions about forgiveness. We'll take a look at the most frequently asked questions and find out what Scripture says about forgiveness.

1. Is forgiveness a conscious choice, or an emotional state?

Forgiveness is a choice we make through a decision of our will, motivated by obedience to God and his command to forgive. The Bible instructs us to forgive as the Lord forgave us:

Colossians 3:13

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)

• More on Biblical Forgiveness

2. How do we forgive when we don't feel like it?

We forgive by faith, out of obedience. Since forgiveness goes against our nature, we must forgive by faith, whether we feel like it or not. We must trust God to do the work in us that needs to be done so that our forgiveness will be complete.

• More on How to Forgive

3. How do we translate the decision to forgive into a change of heart? God honours our commitment to obey Him and our desire to please him when we choose to forgive. He completes the work in his time. We must continue to forgive by faith (our job) until the work of forgiveness (the Lord's job) is done in our hearts.

Philippians 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (NLT)

4. How will we know if we have truly forgiven?

Lewis B. Smedes wrote in his book, Forgive and Forget, "When you release the wrongdoer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumour out of your inner life. You set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real prisoner was yourself."

• More Forgiveness Quotes

We will know the work of forgiveness is complete when we experience the freedom that comes as a result. We are the ones who suffer most when we choose not to forgive. When we do forgive, the Lord sets our hearts free from the anger, bitterness, resentment and hurt that previously imprisoned us. Most times, however, forgiveness is a slow process.

Matthew 18:21-22Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (NIV)

This answer by Jesus makes it clear that forgiveness is not easy for us. It's not a one-time choice and then we automatically live in a state of forgiveness. Forgiveness may require a lifetime of forgiving, but it is important to the Lord. We must continue forgiving until the matter is settled in our heart.

5. What if the person we need to forgive is not a believer?

Prayer is one of the best ways to break down the wall of unforgiveness in our hearts. When we begin to pray for the person who has wronged us, God gives us new eyes to see and a new heart to care for that person.

As we pray, we start to see that person as God sees them, and we realize that he or she is precious to the Lord. We also see ourselves in a new light, just as guilty of sin and failure as the other person. We too are in need of forgiveness. If God did not withhold his forgiveness from us, why should we withhold forgiveness from another?

6. Is it okay to feel anger and want justice for the person we need to forgive?

This question presents another reason to pray for the person we need to forgive. We can pray for God to deal with the injustices, for God to judge the person's life, and then we ought to leave that prayer at the altar. We no longer have to carry the anger. Although it is normal for us to feel anger toward sin and injustice, it is not our job to judge the other person in their sin.

Luke 6:37

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (NIV)

7. Why must we forgive?

The best reason to forgive is because Jesus commanded us to forgive. We learn from Scripture, if we don't forgive, neither will we be forgiven:

Matthew 6:14-16

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NIV) We also forgive so that our prayers will not be hindered:

Mark 11:25

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. (NIV) In summary and in closing, we forgive out of obedience to the Lord. It is a choice, a decision we make. However, as we do our "forgiving," we discover the command is in place for our own good, and we receive the reward of our forgiveness, which is freedom.

Tower Hamlets Christmas Carol Celebration 13th December 2017

It was time for our annual Christmas Carol Celebration. This year we had use of the Council Chamber..

Bola led proceedings

Some gave readings

All were in fine voice

Accompanied by Cello, Violin and Piano

Roy gave a word of encouragement

 There was food provided

And seeking to get the message accross

The Speaker of the Council joined us and as we were collecting for the Speakers's Charity she told of the projects the money was going to.

We collected £73,61

Rremembering God's Mercies

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:21-23 God is faithful. He's full of compassion. His mercies are new every morning. As a believer, you know all that. But simply knowing it is not enough. For it to do you any good, you have to recall it. You have to remember it again and again in order to rekindle your hope and stir your faith. So, make it a point to remind yourself of God's faithfulness every morning. Remind yourself of the benefits that are yours in Jesus. What are those benefits? Psalm 103 spells them out: 1. He forgives all your sins. 2. He heals all your diseases. 3. He redeems your life from destruction. 4. He crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies. 5. He satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6. He executes righteousness and judgement for you against oppression. 7. He sets you free. 8. He makes known His ways to you. 9. He gives you His grace and mercy in times of need. Make it a point every morning to say those things out loud to the Lord. Stand before Him in prayer and recall His mercies to you. Keep it up and you'll be stronger in faith and more confident of God's love than you've ever been before. Don't just settle for knowing God's blessings. Remember them every day and watch them come alive in you.

Dealing with Unbelief, Abide in the Word and Locate Your Faith

From Bola Tobun

Dealing with unbelief

"Let us labour therefore to enter into God's rest lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief" (Heb.4:11).

Heb 4:2b says "the word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it".

To live the extraordinary life you have to be a believer in the revealed word of God. 

The bible describes unbelief as an evil heart (Hebrews 3:12) which prevents us from entering into God's rest (God's best) and thereby making the word unprofitable.

We need to daily ask for a fresh revelation of God's word that Christ will dwell in our heart's through Faith. Eph 1: 17-21 and Eph 3: 14-21  are  prayers we should encouraged to pray everyday and as we consistently hear God's word, Faith will come; and no situation will be impossible because we believe (Mark 9:23) For with God all things are possible.

Therefore make His word final authority in your life, desire and feed on His word as if your life depended on it and because you believe nothing shall be impossible.

 *Abiding in The Word* (by Pastor Segun Okubanjo)

I believe it is important that we remind ourselves of this important truth to abide in the word because of the times and seasons we are in. 2Tim 4:3-4  tells us: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables_*"

That is why we are admonished in Heb. 2:1‘_therefore  we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.’_*

It’s easy to think this exhortation to give the more earnest heed is not directed to us but directed to unbelievers; but it is something “mature” Christians must be challenged with also. So that we should not become desensitized to the glory of Jesus’ message, thinking we know it all, and have experienced it all.

A lot is going on in the Body of Christ now, that the emphasis on God’s Word is no longer there. There are so many traditions of men, fables, politics, and many other things going on. Some even interpret the scriptures in the light of their present political persuasions etc. forgetting that it's only the Word of God that abides forever.

Bro. Paul when in Miletus on his way to Jerusalem sent for the Elders of the Ephesian Church and spoke passionately about his ministry. He charged them,knowing he might not see them physically again and said in Acts 20:32 "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified._*

It is the Word of God that is guarantee to build us up consistently. Other activities we do as Christians is good but the foundation is the Word. The word will lead us to enjoy our inheritance in Christ Jesus.

Let us look at the main text of our study this week.

John 15:4-5_Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The word ‘Abide’ means to remain, dwell, to rest, to tarry, to continue permanently in the same state. This shows what our dispositions should be towards the Word of God, we are to remain in the confines of the Word.

One of the thoughts that gets to me is the vital dependence on Christ Jesus that we can absolutely do nothing without Him, also the vine is not able to do its work in the world without its branches; the branch stretch far from the root, to bear its strength and sweetness to those who stand outside away from the vine.

We need the Lord Jesus, but He also needs us. Without us He cannot bless men as He would. What a sublime thought is here-that Jesus needs something which I can yield to Him!

Service to God and man is possible only through abiding union in Him, for it is in Him that we live, move and have our being. Have a blessed and fruitful day.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.—Luke 6:45

‘Locate Your Faith’

You can locate your faith by your own words. Your words are your faith speaking. Now, it’s good practice to consciously speak good words over your circumstances. But if you want to find out where you really are in your faith walk—or why some things aren’t going right in your life—then listen to yourself talk when the pressure is on. See what comes out of your mouth when you’re not making a conscious effort to speak something good. In other words, see what comes out of the abundance of your heart. Then you’ll know if you need to make some adjustments. It’s like a bank account. The bank sends you a statement each month. If you want them to add more to the final balance, what do you do? Put more money in the bank, and the next statement will show the difference. It’s the same way spiritually. When you want something to show up outside, deposit the treasures of God’s Word inside. Feed on the Word continually. Treat your inner man like a bank vault and just keep depositing God’s Word in there. Once the Word is deposited in your inner man, you’ll believe it; once you believe it, you’ll say it. And then your entire being will reflect the treasure of God’s Word.

Confession: I deposit healing Scriptures in my heart. I don’t talk about symptoms, even when the pressure is on. I open my mouth and say, “Thank You, Father. Your healing power is working in me.”