But the
world, the flesh, and the devil don't forgive sins and they
don't forget sins. In this, there is real danger.
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“Every
heart needs godly repentance, forgiveness,
and
love. It's the narrow road we seek....”
|
“God
forgives perfectly and God forgets perfectly.” I like
to tell this to my friends who confess they are bothered by the guilt
of past sins. But the world, the flesh, and the devil don't forgive
sins and they don't forget sins. In this, there is real
danger.
Daily,
we see politicians, the establishment, the world, the media,
government, business, even the church, seek out the sins or alleged
sins of a target to proclaim--for excitement, sexual intrigue, or
character assassination. No matter, how true or false. No matter the
details. No matter how deep in the past. No matter how previously
resolved, or forgiven, or paid for. No matter the consequences.
It's
too easy a task to condemn others!
For
there is none sinless. No, not one. And it's just as much fun to go
into a feeding frenzy over someone else's sins, be they true or
totally contrived.
“If
we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and and the truth is
not in us,” says John the Apostle (1 John 1:8 NIV). Have you
ever met some goodly persons who claim to be without sin? There's
nothing more nauseating.
God
has a reply for the contrite.
“I
live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and
lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the
heart of the contrite” (Isaiah 57:15 NIV).
Jesus
told us about the tax collector who prayed beating his breast, “God,
have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13 NIV).
Forgiveness
demands repentance.
Think of
the repentance of King David, (politician) who committed adultery and
murder, (2 Sam 12); the sinful woman (unwed mother) who washed and
kissed the feet of Jesus in repentance (Luke 7); the woman (harlot)
taken in adultery, about to be stoned (John 8); the last minute thief
(criminal) on the cross who accepted Jesus (Luke 23).
Think of
the denial of Peter (church leader) (Matt 26); of Paul (evangelist),
guilty for the persecution, arrest, and death of the early Christians
(Acts 8:3, ch 9, 22:4, 26:10). All these are forgiven.
Those
who accuse falsely or even seek out the resolved sins of others are
guilty of slander. People create their own slander, and they believe
their own slander they create.
God
has a reply for slander.
“Do
not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor
adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy
nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom
of God” (1
Cor 6:9-10 NIV).
Jesus
warns us to forgive.
Jesus
wants us to look on others with the same love as he looks on us. The
same love, that we want for ourselves.
“For
if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly
Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their
sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matt 6:14-15 NIV).
It is a
serious mistake with eternal consequences not to forgive others with
the love of Jesus. There's no one in Heaven who bears a grudge!
--Bill
Hunt
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