MORE ON THE NATURE OF JESUS’ FORGIVENESS
FORGIVENESS IS ONE OF THE CHIEF CHARACTERISTICS OF JESUS. HE SETS THE EXAMPLE FOR US.
Like many of you, I have had people hurt me deeply; people I trusted have violated that trust and stabbed me in the back. Jesus, through His loving nature, set an example and left instructions for how to deal with these people.
Jesus forgave Judas Iscariot, who ratted Him out to the Pharisees who had Him killed. Jesus forgave the Pharisees who tricked the Romas into killing Him for them. Jesus forgave the very people He created for spitting on Him, ridiculing Him, and mocking Him. Jesus forgave the thief on the cross, who was clearly guilty.
An aside, it is a medical fact that hanging on to bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. They release highly toxic chemicals into our brains and organs. They pollute our minds and bring us into agreement with the evil one, not Jesus, the King of Love. Forgiveness does the complete opposite.
When we forgive others their trespasses, we align ourselves with the infinite, uncompromised, unqualified Love for each of us, just as we are. Jesus has forgiven those who hurt us at the cost of His blood sacrifice and paid the price for their sins with His blood.
Letting go of old wounds has been very difficult for me. On one occasion, a person hurt me so badly that I could not forgive them. I went to Jesus and explained that it was just impossible for me to forgive them.
Jesus told me to let go, hold His hand, and He would help me forgive them all. That includes me. Forgiving myself is very difficult.
Here is the prescription for forgiveness that He showed me:
Jesus did not come into the world to judge or condemn it but that it would be saved through Him. Through Jesus’s incomprehensible Love for us (you, fill in your name), He saved the world (fill in your name) by being punished for our sins and by the shedding of His blood at the point of a whip. He forgave ALL OF OUR SINS, PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE, ONCE AND FOR ALL!
(Psalms 103:1-3 and 12, Isaiah 53:4-5, John 1:29, Hebrews 8:12, Hebrews 10:10-18)
So, then who are we to judge and condemn others, including ourselves? Jesus taught us how to deal with those who spitefully use us:
THE KING OF KINGS ON FORGIVENESS.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor fellow man and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may show yourselves to be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous and the unrighteous.
What reward do you have if you love only those who love you? Do not even the tax collectors do that? And if you greet only your brothers, wishing them God’s blessing and peace, what more than others are you doing? Do not even those who do not know the Lord do that? You, therefore, will be perfect, growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
(Matthew 5:42-48)
Boy, is that easier said than done!
It takes work!! But it is worth it. Jesus’s instructions regarding forgiveness produce enormous spiritual and physical benefits.
We cleanse our souls and spirits when we release bitterness, resentment, hatred, anger, judgment, and condemnation. We also heal our bodies by releasing the poisonous toxins that are produced by our brains and released into our bodies when we hang on to our scorekeeping record book.
Scorekeeping is sickening. Remember, in the Holy Spirit’s love message to Paul, our teacher, where He told Paul to tell us that Love keeps no record of wrongs. I believe the reason for that is that scorekeeping destroys Love and makes us sick. It is by far the primary ingredient of unforgiveness.
(1Corinthians 13:1)
What Forgiveness Is And Is Not:`
The word Jesus used was translated into the Greek word (aphiemi) meaning forgive, forsake, lay aside let alone, omit put away, pardon.
That is forgiveness.
What forgiveness is not: Becoming a victim. Allowing narcissist’s, abusers, mean spiteful people or people who have no remorse about hurting others and enjoy causing pain to us or others, to come back into our lives and do it again. Forgiveness is not allowing people with a history of hurting us to put a target on our back and do it again.
So when we forgive those who have hurt us the worst, our physical bodies are healed. It is a medical fact. When the poison leaves us, it is replaced by good endorphins-like chemicals.
When the poison of unforgiveness leaves our hearts, minds, and spirits, it is replaced by peace, joy, gladness, and Love.
Another teaching given to Paul by Holy Spirit for us is that we can do all things through Jesus, who gives us the strength to do them.
(Philippians 4:13)
I TRIPLE-DOG DARE YOU!!!
Trust Jesus. Try His prescription. Think of someone you have not forgiven and don’t believe you can. Dial up Jesus and Holy Spirit, and ask Them to hold your hand and help you forgive that person. Pay no attention to your flesh-driven mind. Just believe that you have forgiven that person and fight your long-held feelings.
Try it; it works!! Start with forgiving yourself.
