23/01/2019 - CONDITIONAL FORGIVENESS

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Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Luke 17:3

The sin that we commit against another person submits us to the authority of that person.  However if we are convicted by the Holy Spirit of our sin, we must seek the gift of repentance and plea to God that that person’s heart may hear and forgive us.  Certainly, Whoever began the good work will fulfill it (Philippians 1:6). Accordingly we can be assured that the lordship of the filthy spirit will be eradicated from our life.  Halleluiah!

Caution is necessary to rebuke one who has sinned against you, because the main objective is to lead such a person to repentance.  We cannot be hasty saying the person is wrong and instantly forgive them.  We must work with and through the Holy Spirit, so that she is not lost.  Notice we suffer from their sin and will be accountable for the perdition that is forthcoming?

We can only offer forgiveness to those who want to abandon the sin.  Otherwise, this individual will devaluate this highly significant gesture. Let it not be your fault if they move away from the presence of the Almighty in sadness.  Unfortunately because they love to sin, many prefer to go to eternal damnation than to leave their evil errors.  Those who are sinners must be treated by God himself.

Forgiving is so serious that if the person repents you are obligated to forgive that person.  Now, nobody repents willingly, but only when convicted by the Holy Spirit. However some people are sorry but no repentant. The repentant shows himself to be devastated, confesses details of their fault and finally implores to be forgiven.  We are forbidden to forgive those who do not repent, for their own good. 

The work must begin with the Spirit of God and end with Him.  If you are now shocked with what you just heard and get mad, seek a time of prayer to receive from the Lord directions as to how to proceed.  After meditating on the divine orientation then cry out and make your decision.  When somebody was convicted by the Holy Spirit of their sin, we cannot deny that person their forgiveness, for finding ourselves fighting against the Lord.  However do not rush to say anything unless that which you feel is from God.

Hearing from Jesus concerning this matter, the apostles asked that their faith be increased due to the seriousness of all.  Faith is given us to be delivered from illnesses and financial worries, family problems and others.  Meditate on the biblical texts concerning forgiveness in order to be able to forgive because everything that does not come from faith is sin (Romans 14:23). Only through faith will you be able to concede true forgiveness and save someone who is at the gates of condemnation.  Watch out and pray!

When they asked Jesus to increase their faith to forgive, He answered: If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you (Luke 17:6). Nobody has ever seen a tree uproot itself from the ground, move to the sea and plant itself there. Meditate on the Word and learn all that is needed for your spiritual life!

In Christ, with Love, 

R. R. Soares