What does it mean to forgive?

Is forgiveness the ‘absence of punishment’ or is there something more?

“Give us today our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”[Matthew 6:11-12 NIV]

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” [Matthew 6:14-15 NIV]

“Come now, let us settle the matter, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” [Isaiah 1:18-20 NIV]

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” [1 John 1:9 NIV]

Let’s think about this; how does God forgive us of our sins? Is it that he doesn’t punish us or is there something more?

Actually, forgiveness of sins is NOT ‘the absence of punishment’, rather, it is the ‘redemption’ of the offender. What I mean is this; if you say you have forgiven someone of his wrongs, it means that to you, that person doesn’t have that wrong in his account anymore. It is as if he never did that wrong. When you see him, you do NOT relate that particular sin to him anymore. So you can’t tell your spouse you have forgiven him, and then remind him of his wrongs the next day or months later with the same anger, as if you had put him on hibernation all these while. “The other time you did this. You are always like that. why are you so evil? I just can’t take it anymore.’ No!

How does God forgive you? Does He remind you of your wrong doings over and over again? Does His love or attitude change towards you because of that wrong you did which you have confessed to him? I don’t know if you are getting me. If someone does wrong A, and apologizes, and you say that you have forgiven him, then you are saying that, according to you wrong A never happened. As in, that person doesn’t have that wrong in ‘his account’.  Henceforth, when you see that person, you don’t attribute that wrong to him. You just see a blank sheet over them. Thus, your forgiveness to the person has erased that ‘debt’ from their account. You feel me?

This is how God forgives you of your sins, and he wants us to do same to our neighbours, or else He wouldn’t forgive us of our (numerous) sins. When you are remorseful, and you come to God to ask for his forgiveness, he forgives you. Thus, ‘the sheet which contained the account of your wrongs has been cleared and clean.’ Hence, when God looks at you, he doesn’t see ‘a former fornicator or liar’. He just sees you, his dearly beloved child. That is all. That is how you are supposed to forgive your neighboour. But most of us think that forgiveness means “I won’t punish you, or I won’t punish you now’ or ‘I am sparing you now’ or ‘I have put the account of your wrongs in hibernation. If you do it again, I will pull everything down.’ No! No my dear! Do you remember that when God was describing Love in 1 Corinthians 13, he mentioned that ‘Love does not keep record of wrongs.’? That is forgiveness Pro Max…lol. When you forgive, there is no record of wrongs to the person’s name anymore. So should the person even repeat that wrong doing again another time, it will be their ‘first time’ again. That is all.

Forgiveness is NOT the absence of punishment per se. Actually, God can forgive you, yet punish/discipline you for your wrong deeds. #Ask King David (a man after God’s own heart).

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined – and everyone undergoes discipline – then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we all have human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in other that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”[Hebrews 12:7-11 NIV]

The next time your spouse does something wrong to you, do you say, ‘I forgive you’, and then shelve the hurt or pain? No! Now, you know that forgiveness means wipe their slate clean. So if you can’t forgive without first having a good communication between you two, then make sure you both talk it over, before you say, ‘I forgive you.’ Else you will be a hypocrite. Also, if talking with each other fails, thus, if the other partner is not cooperating, then go to God, be real with Him, and tell him that you are really hurt and need His help and strength to forgive this ‘flawed human being’, and to move pass the hurt.

God knows what is best for us. If you lie to yourself and say, ‘I forgive you’, with your lips, yet your heart is holding account, your body will reveal its ill effect later on. You are wired (body, soul and spirit). You are like an inseparable trio, and they all depend on one another. Don’t ‘bribe’ one with falsehood, and think that the other two won’t tell on you.

I Love You. Stay Safe.

#Forgive, and forget.

#Forgiveness can come with punishment. It is called discipline; parenting.

#Love is true

#Love Never Fails (1 Corinthians 13:8)