05/10/2018 - THE FORGIVENESS ANNOINTMENT

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If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. John 20:23

After revealing Himself to Mary the savior entered the house where the 12 apostles were met and greeted them saying “Peace be with you” (v.19). He showed them His hands with the holes left by the nails and His side where the sword had penetrated His body removing the last vestiges of blood and water and said again: “Peace be with you” (v. 20,21). Then He clearly said that just as the Father had sent Him, He was now sending His disciples into the world.  Then He instructed them concerning forgiveness.

After having greeted them for the second time, Christ blew His breath over them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit (v.22). Have we given the Spirit of the Lord all the due attention? Even if he had not come as the Comforter, we should examine His mission.  The fact that Christ breathed over His disciples and said that they should receive Him shows the importance of the Spirit in the life of those who have received the same mission as Jesus.  Seek to be filled with the Spirit!

When they received the anointment from Above, the Lord spoke concerning the obligation of who has the Holy Spirit to forgive all offenders.  If they do not, this will be held against them, and the trespasser will not be forgiven.  Why be considered responsible for the suffering allotted to the trespassers for all eternity?  The Spirit of God was given us to enable us to forgive those who have made us suffer.

If the Lord is ready to forgive us all our transgressions, why not do the same? We cannot allow ourselves to be led by the opinion of others and immediate family because forgiveness is a matter of life and death for us and for those that sinned.  If we forgive, that person will be forgiven but if we hold back our forgiveness, this person will not be forgiven.  The responsibility of the offended is as great as that of the offender.

Forgiveness is given before God in a sincere and decisive pray to all those who have affronted us, no matter how small or big the offense. But we must observe what Jesus said in Luke 17:3: Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins [c]against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. Although the person may have said to the Lord that the transgressor is forgiven, he must sincerely repent and ask for forgiveness.

This is the way God acts in relation to our errors and sins. Christ paid the price for redemption: however if we do not recognize our iniquities, do not repent or confess what we did, we will never be forgiven.  When somebody who has caused you material or even moral damage seeks you and asks to be forgiven, this person must confess everything and even  the motive for having done wrong, so that you can consider if that person has repented sincerely or not.

Jesus said that we must examine ourselves, so as not to hinder the work of the Holy Spirit, which leads the sinner to recognize his error.  We cannot come before him and say “I know that you have sinned against me, ask to be forgiven and I will forgive you now”.  The Spirit of God will convince that person of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8).

In Christ, with Love,

R. R. Soares