FORGIVE

Every responsible person will need forgiveness because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). To forgive is to give up resentment and desire for revenge. To pardon is to free from punishment. God can both forgive and pardon upon acceptance of His divine plan. Alexander Pope wrote, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” The church is not a group of high and mighty people, of pedigreed bluebloods. No! But it is made up of us who were living in all kinds of sin (“such were some of you, but you are washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God” (I Cor 6:9-11). Forgiveness does not release us from all consequences of our sins, but when man meets the conditions of forgiveness, God cancels the guilt and remembers it no more (Matt 18:27; Heb 8:12). When the sinner returns, the Father does not penalize him or remind him of his sins (Luke 15:11-32; Psa 103:12). We may have trouble forgetting it, but God forgets. How sweet and wonderful forgiveness is! Praise God for it! [Thanks Curtis Ramey for these thoughts]
Ask for booklet on forgiveness, printed or email.

(#193)