Forgiveness (Part II)

 Forgiving Others

Pastor Arthur Wilkerson

     Some would say that forgiving someone is as simple as going to the other person, stating the incident and saying that you forgive them.  If they say fine then the matter is done.  Well, I believe it goes a lot deeper than the casual attitude of the former statement.  Some would say only God knows the heart and that’s true, but God gave us the Holy Spirit to discern; to know by the Spirit the spirit of another person.  The problem is that most of today’s secular saved and casual Christians don’t know what’s involved in the giving and receiving of godly forgiveness. That being said, I pray that the following will help soften hard hearts and vengeful minds in the Body of Christ of both old and new Christians alike.

     The FORGIVENESS of Others should be a godly act on the part of the one doing the forgiving.  After judging yourself concerning your part in whatever the friction may have been to make sure the you’re clear with God and standing justified wholly, then forgive.   What does this mean?

     First: Remember the Cross; remember that you stand justified with God our Father by the precious Blood of Christ.  Your redemption and sanctification, the grace and favors you enjoy (the Holy Spirit bearing witness) in this life is because Jesus suffered, bleed and died for you (this has to be personal) and that you have not suffered to blood.  When we remember the Cross and our Lord Jesus and  the price that He paid, it takes away the anger we fill towards the other person.  We can almost hear Him saying as He gave up the Ghost; “Father Forgive them”—the clouds of our hellish demands for retribution is eased and we can see clearly what we must do.

     Secondly: We look deep within ourselves, judging ourselves, (remember now, this is not casual Christianity  wherein we say I forgive you and yet can’t stand to be in the same room with that person for thoughts of vengeance), this is soul saving , peacemaking forgiveness, the kind that will cause the other person to repent.  Jesus, before going to Gethsemane said …”the prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me” (John 14: 30).  The thoughts we have (unrepented of) are doors where the devil’s agents can enter; where roots of bitterness grow into heart hardening hatred.  If this happens, look what we become, this professing Christian that when judged of God will be found lacking because the Prince of this world found something of himself in you.  So then, 

     Thirdly:  We go to that person and say with a pure heart “I forgive you” for whatever it was that hurt or offended you.  Ask them to forgive you even if you did nothing wrong. It would be wise to have a “Neutral” (not your best friend) witness that your word be established.  This is the act of a peacemaker, a mature Christian that’s being led by the Holy Spirit in the spirit of Jesus our Lord.  Now, whether the person receives your forgiving them or not at this stage is between them and God.  With all godly act prayer and fasting is a must, peace and unity in the body of Christ is a reason to fast.   (All Scripture are taken from the Old King James Bible)