Think About This ... Forgiveness

by Guy LaMar

Brethren, here are some Scriptures of inspiration – from God’s living word.

Upon the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, He will bring with Him His mighty angels, and out of His mouth goes His living word – sharper than any two-edged sword, shining brighter than the sun in its full strength! And, when we see Him, we will fall at His feet as dead. He will say to us, ‘Do not be afraid; I AM the First and the Last.’

Let us also be reminded, brethren ─

“’ But seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, …’”

FORGIVENESS IS REQUIRED FOR SALVATION

“Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I FORGIVE HIM? Up to seven times?’

Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but UP TO SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN.’” – Matthew 18:21-22.

“’ For IF YOU FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’” – Matthew 6:14-15.

“ ‘ … whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets [the Law of Moses and the books consisting of the prophets of God].’” – Matthew 7:12.

Speaking primarily concerning the possibly twelve end-time prophets ending in only the ‘two witnesses’(see Rev. 11:3-12), our Lord Jesus says, “’ Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness [recall 1 John 3:4] will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

But he who endures to the end shall be saved.’” – Matthew 24:9-14.

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER, tenderhearted, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, even as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32.

“’ And whenever you stand praying, if you have ANYTHING AGAINST ANYONE, FORGIVE HIM, that you Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you DO NOT forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.’” – Mark 11:25-26.

Why!? Is it for their benefit!? No. It’s for your benefit! Notice –

“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you.” – Proverbs 25:22.

The Apostle Paul reiterates this point –

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’” – Romans 12:19-20.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and THE TRUTH [God’s living word] is not in us. If we confess our sins [confess only to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” – 1 John 1:8-10.

Brethren, the Apostle Paul admonishes us –

“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only DO NOT use liberty as an opportunity FOR THE FLESH, but through love [the love of God; the Greek word agape] serve one another.

For the law [the whole of the Ten Commandments] is fulfilled in ONE WORD, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

But if you bite and devour one another, BEWARE lest you be consumed by one another!” – Galatians 5:13-15.

Our beloved Paul explains that THE FLESH and THE SPIRIT are in conflict with each other within us, thus it is necessary that we deny any sinful desires and obey the Holy Spirit – the very mind of the LORD God!

“But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren … We urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to LEAD A QUIET LIFE, to MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, and TO WORK WITH YOUR OWN HANDS, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:9, 10, 11-12.

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes [religiously or academically], knowing that they generate strife. And A SERVANT OF THE LORD MUST NOT QUARREL but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, IF GOD PERHAPS WILL GRANT THEM REPENTANCE, so that they may know THE TRUTH, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” – 2 Timothy 2:22-26.

“Let NO CORRUPT WORD [including any FALSE DOCTRINE] proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” – Ephesians 4:29.

“REMIND them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. … But shun PROFANE and IDLE babblings [gossiping], for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like [canker; meaning gangrene, the local loss of blood supply – spread by an infection]. …” – 2 Timothy 2:14, 16, 17.

King Solomon, who was blessed with great wisdom and knowledge from the LORD God adds –

“He who goes about as a [tattletale] reveals secrets; Therefore DO NOT associate with one [who gossips] with his lips.” – Proverbs 20:19.

“Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no [tattletale], strife ceases.” – Proverbs 26:20.

“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his [life] from troubles.” – Proverbs 21:23.

“A perverse man [a person involved in moral error] sows strife, And a whisperer [a gossiper] separates the best of friends.” – Proverbs 16:28.

“Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool.” – Proverbs 10:18.

“He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.” – Proverbs 17:9.

And the Apostle James, a very brother to our Lord Jesus Christ says –

“If ANYONE among you thinks he is religious, and DOES NOT bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

PURE and UNDEFILED RELIGION before God [our Lord Jesus Christ] and the Father [God the Father] is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” – James 1:26-27. □

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