The Forgiveness of Christ

When Christ was walking on earth he would say to people, "your sins are forgiven" , when they were repentant and wanted to be forgiven.

However, when He was on the cross he didn't say this to those who murdered Him, He asked the Father to do it, because Christ was not forgiving them, He was asking the Father to extend forgiveness to mankind at that point. That does not mean they were forgiven, except and unless they wanted to be forgiven.

Forgiveness is always available and extended, but is only received when there is confession of sin.

1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Did we see that, "IF we confess." Why do so many people miss this. Without confession there will be no change in behavior. Even the secular self help groups realize this.

Confession is not just for feeling better about ourselves, forgiveness is not just to feel better about ourselves, these things have a purpose and that is to redirect the attitudes and actions of those who need cleansing.

If we want to obey God we expect nothing less than what He taught and the way He operates.

We are commanded not to be bitter and to refrain from revenge, that does not mean that we extend forgiveness when there is no confession.

Forgiveness is for the reconciling of a relationship, when someone is not sorry for their sin then our forgiveness falls to the ground to be trampled on, it goes no where and does nothing for the other person.

We can treat others respectfully and without malice even if the relationship is not reconciled, there is no automatic bitterness in us because an offender will not be sorry.

Many do not understand that forgiveness is a part of the believer, in their inner soul, but it can only be accessed by a desire for a relationship to be reconciled.

Not all relationships will be reconciled, some people are just bad influences on us and bring strife to the relationship.

2 Corinthians 6:17
"17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you."

Proverbs 14:8
"8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving."

The bottom line is this: as believers we desire to forgive others and we desire to be forgiven when we have offended, its in our heart all the time, ready to do so when there is a show of sorrow over sinfulness.

You see, we cannot only be concerned about our own feelings, we must learn to care about what is good for others. It is not good to forgive, to reconcile when someone is not interested in changing their ways. We can love them with prayer and help them if they are injured, but we cannot have a relationship with those who continue their evil behavior without remorse.