FORGIVE THEIR TRESPASSES

When I forgive you, I don't really do anything for you. It is for myself, actually. It satisfies God's requirement and removes resentment, bitterness and vengeance from my heart. Jesus said, "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." [Matthew 6:15, KJV] Trespasses are not light easy things, the Amplified Bible puts it this way: "reckless and willful sins". So, not only are they reckless, but they are done with willful intent in many cases--and we are still required to forgive even these, "seven times seventy". Forgiving others of their sins against us, large or small, is the only way we will enter eternity with Jesus. Not one of us will see Jesus, in peace who has failed to fully forgive and release even one of our offenders. If we have people in our lives that we have "forgiven, but not forgotten (what they have done to us, or others)", we have not actually forgiven them. Forgiveness completely releases and restores full fellowship as if the offense never occurred. There is no arm's length forgiveness in God's Kingdom.What if Jesus forgave us the way we forgive one another? Incompletely and, at arm's length; giving natural life and breath, but withholding His Spirit to enable us to live godly in this world. Or, perhaps, He might keep back some of the other things we hold so dear in vengeance, as a reminder that we hurt Him.

Luke 17:1-5 says: "Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith."

The reason we struggle with forgiving people is we want to see our offenders pay for the hurt that they cause us (or others). We are not satisfied with the promise of God that He "will repay". Perhaps, we don't want to wait, or we are afraid they will repent--like Jonah, and not suffer the consequences for their sin. Jonah wasn't afraid to preach to Nineveh. He vehemently hated the people of Nineveh because of the brutality they had inflicted on Israel. The destruction of Israel was probably still freshly burned in Jonah's memory, being not more than 40 years prior (1 Chronicles 5:26). Jonah was angry (Jonah 4:1) when he saw that the Assyrians at Nineveh repented and God forgave them. Jonah prayed, "I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live." Jonah was so vexed by the Lord's forgiveness and restoration of his enemies that he wanted to die! Are we much different? We would rather do anything rather than forgive them and restore them. Until we can embrace them in love, as we did before the offense--as if it had never occurred (or offenses, though they be multiplied), there has been no scriptural forgiveness; and we are not Heaven-bound. There will be no unforgiveness residing in glory. We have two options: either we will forgive our offenders here and now--and it is urgent; or we will spend eternity in Hell, along with our offenders if they stubbornly refuse to ask for forgiveness. They have a responsibility, too. It's just as great--if not greater, according to Jesus: he has to ask for the forgiveness he needs. We have to ask for forgiveness when we offend. Repentance isn't assumed or imputed; the Amplified Bible makes it clearer: "If your brother sins (misses the mark), solemnly tell him so and reprove him, and if he repents (feels sorry for having sinned), forgive him. And even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and turns to you seven times and says, I repent [I am sorry]...". The burden is not only on the one who has been offended to forgive, but also on the offender to seek forgiveness. We have often (rather, tragically) mistakenly taught forgiveness incompletely and only from the point of view of the offended. Offenders have a major responsibility; in fact, if offenders become more proactive in seeking forgiveness, it goes a long way in facilitating healing and forgiveness in those offended. Offenders only avoid the "woe" by seeking and repenting for their offenses. Repenting for offenses done to people, is not merely repenting before God. That is a copout, and it is immature; and it is the low road that we have taken for too long, now. It is time to "man up" and ask for forgiveness--to say "I am sorry" or "I apologize" to those we know we have offended. We didn't only offend God; we can't only seek His forgiveness. Pride is the enemy of forgiveness. Ask God for the humility to seek forgiveness.   

There is also the tragedy of having lived a life of serving God, but having this one thing--unforgiveness, keep us from the eternal rest that is promised to His children. Many of us, are preaching, teaching, singing, raising up ministries, and more in His Name and souls are being saved and blessed; but because we have failed to forgive none of it will matter in eternity. Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." [Matthew 7:21-23] He made the point here in this passage and elsewhere (and the apostles, reiterated it), we are only known and recognized by "fruit", not outward things. God is not saving and redeeming based on preaching, teaching, etc., but on the basis of the "fruit" that is visible in us. He wants people who are willing to put pride aside and walk in love, willing to forgive no matter how deep the wounds. That is what godly love does. The cross ought to remind us of the power of God's love to forgive--and that same love resides in all of us who have His Spirit. We simply have to allow the Spirit to control us and change our stony, rebellious hearts. I'm so glad Jesus doesn't hold grudges! Where would we be??!!!

Release every offender in your life, and find the amazing, all-encompassing peace of God. Too many of us, are going to church week after week, avoiding people who have (or we think have) offended us. Worse still, many of us, have separated ourselves from, family members, other brothers and sisters in Christ over "trespasses" that occurred years ago--or even yesterday. Whatever the case may be, it is past time and the hour is far too late to hold on to any vestige of resentment, anger and bitterness. We have to be able to embrace each other in love here, genuinely, if we expect to embrace anyone in Glory. Choose ye this day.