1. FORGIVENESS may count to some as “FORGETTING”, they are not the same. FORGIVENESS is an attribute of God, whereas to FORGET is MENTAL malfunction. When Joseph saw his brethren after many years, he REMEMBERED their evil work but was not prevented from FORGIVING them [Genesis 50:19-21] Whereas we do not have absolute control over what we REMEMBER or FORGET, in Jesus Christ, we have unfettered power to FORGIVE, “WHO SOEVER SIN YE REMIT, THEY ARE REMITTED unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained” [John 20:23] We have this mandate because God RECONCILED us to Himself in Jesus Christ and we are as Him in this world, “And all things are of God, who hath RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF by Jesus Christ, and hath GIVEN TO US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION” [2 Corinthians 5:18] Our PATTERN OF FORGIVENESS is Jesus Christ, who paid with His BLOOD for our SIN and we are DEBTORS to Him to FORGIVE all those who OFFEND us, “For if ye FORGIVE MEN their trespasses, your heavenly FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU: But IF YE FORGIVE NOT men their trespasses, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER FORGIVE your trespasses” [Matthew 6:14-15]
2. PATTERN OF FORGIVENESS is anchored on REPENTANCE, that is, shedding the OLD MAN to embrace NEWNESS of LIFE, “And that ye PUT ON THE NEW MAN, which after God is CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS and true HOLINESS. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour; …” [Ephesians 4:24-25] Let no man deceive you, REPENTANCE is not a repertoire of words repeated after the preacher, but NEW LIFE occasioned by CONFESSION of SIN to Jesus Christ and receiving Him as Lord and Saviour, “Being BORN AGAIN, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the WORD OF GOD, which liveth and abideth for ever” [1 Peter 1:23] Having made PEACE with God through Jesus Christ, we are instructed by commandment to WALK IN PEACE with all men, that our “GARMENT” be not spotted with resentment in others, so then, “Follow PEACE with all men, and HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD” [Hebrews 12:14] PEACE with all men demands thorough search of our conscience with assistance of the Holy Ghost both to recollect and reconcile with those we OFFENDED in times past or who by our action or inaction bear grudges, “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there REMEBEREST THY BROTHER HATH OUGHT AGAINST THEE; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; FIRST BE RECONCILED TO THY BROTHER, and then come and offer thy gift” [Matthew 5:23-24] Take note, this exercise may involve but not limited to restitution [Luke 19:8]
3. PATTERN OF FORGIVENESS is established on the READINESS of Jesus Christ to FORGIVE without conditions, who in the throes of death prayed for His traducers, “Then said Jesus, FATHER, FORGIVE THEM; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” [Luke 23:34] The flawless example of Jesus Christ places a burden on us, who were once enslaved to SIN but obtained REDEMPTION when the LOVE of God was revealed in FLESH, “But God commendeth HIS LOVE TOWARDS US, in that, WHILE WE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US” [Romans 5:] The same LOVE was deposited in us when we accepted Jesus Christ, as the FATHER manifest in the SON; the Spirit of Christ dwells in us and the same COMPASSION which was in Him is required of us, “According as he hath CHOSEN US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be holy and WITHOUT BLAME before him IN LOVE” [Ephesian 1:4] We, therefore, FORGIVE not because the OFFENDER is prostrate and in tears but that we should be blameless of BITTERNESS and unspotted with collateral residue of SIN, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any ROOT OF BITTERNESS SPRINGING UP TROUBLE YOU, and thereby many be DEFILED” [Hebrews 12:15] Notwithstanding, readiness to FORGIVE is contrary to nature and commonly accounted as weakness and or ignorance, but not so; it is evidence of God in us and we in Him, “For it is GOD which WORKETH IN YOU both to WILL and to DO of his good pleasure” [Philippians 2:13]
4. PATTERN OF FORGIVENESS demands we WALK IN WISDOM to navigate this sinful world and be found unblemished at the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us, therefore, “WALK IN WISDOM TOWARD THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT, redeeming the time. Let your SPEECH BE ALWAYS WITH GRACE, seasoned with salt, that YE MAY KNOW HOW YE OUGHT TO ANSWER EVERY MAN” [Colossians 4:5-6] As long as we are in this body, we must live with ungodly men around us and the meekest of us will be sore tested in readiness to FORGIVE. The preferred way is the instruction of WISDOM, “Behold, I send you forth as SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES: be ye therefore WISE AS SERPENTS, and HARMLESS AS DOVES” [Mattew 10{16] Use your head as does the snake; the serpent has no legs or hand, all its senses are in the head. Learn from experience to avoid people, locations and circumstances that easily provoke you to SIN or OFFEND others. The DOVE is a bird, it feeds on the ground but lives above the fray, that it should not be defiled, likewise, “NO MAN THAT WARRETH ENTANGLETH HIMSELF with the AFFAIRS OF THIS LIFE; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” [2 Timothy 2:4] Beloved, the appearance of the Lord, let us embrace Christ’s PATTERN OF FORGIVENESS that we may be found worthy to reign with Him, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be DILIGENT that ye may be found of him in PEACE, WITHOUT SPOT, and BLAMELESS’ [2 Peter 3:14]
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